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The Option key, also known as Alt key is a modifier key present on Apple Macintosh keyboards. It is located between the Control key and Command key on a standard Macintosh keyboard. For desktop keyboards, there are usually two, while a laptop may have only one to make room for the arrow keys. The key usually has the word "alt" written above "option" as well, for compatibility with Windows programs running under emulators, as well as Unix programs. In Mac OS X and Mac OS 9 however, it functions differently from the Alt key under Microsoft Windows and Unix-like systems. Most notably, it is not used to access menus or hotkeys, but is instead used as a modifier for other command codes, and also to provide easier access to various accents and symbols.
Apple commonly uses the symbol ⌥ (U+2325, 8997 in decimal) to represent the option key. This symbol represents a microswitch, allowing the current to go one of two directions.
Use of the Option key
Alternative keyboard input
The use of the Option key is similar to that of the AltGr key on European keyboards of IBM compatible PCs, in the sense that it can be used to type additional characters , symbols and diacritical marks. The options available differ depending on the keyboard input locale that the user has selected.Alternative buttons and menu items
The key is also used to provide for alternative menu items and buttons when pressed down. Examples:- Safari, Finder - the Option key causes the "Close Window" menu item to switch to "Close All Windows" when pressed down.
- Dock - the Option key causes the "Hide" and "Quit" menu items in the context menu of a Dock icon to switch to "Hide Others" and "Force Quit."
- iTunes - the Create Playlist and visualizer buttons switch to Create Smart Playlist and fullscreen visualizer buttons.
- iPhoto - the rotate image button toggles between a "rotate right" and a "rotate left."
Common Keyboard navigations
In text areas, the Option key can be used for quick keyboard navigation.- Option-Left/Right - navigate to the previous/next word.
- Windows equivalent: Ctrl-Left/Right
- Option-Up/Down - navigate to the head/end of current line. Equivalent with Cmd-Left/Right.
- Terminal equivalent: Shift-home/end
- Windows equivalent: Ctrl-home/end
- Option-Page up/Page down - navigate caret up/down a page. Without the Option key, Page up/Page down keys lets the page view scroll up/down a page without moving the caret.
- Windows equivalent: Page up/Page down
Alternative Mouse actions
When keeping the Option key pressed when using the mouse, the mouse action can change behaviour- option-mouse clicking an application other then the current one, automatically hides the current application and switches to the clicked application.
- When dragging an item (file in the Finder for instance), keeping Option pressed will make sure you Duplicate something instead of moving it.
File downloads
In browsers such as Safari and SeaMonkey, the option key (like the shift key for Windows) can be used to download a file. Pressing the option key when clicking a hyperlink causes the link target to be downloaded. Also, pressing down the option key when hitting enter in the address bar causes the URL-specified file to be downloaded.Miscellaneous
Some applications make unique uses out of the alt key:- Terminal (including at least version 1.4.6) - Option-L/R arrows navigates between open Terminal windows in a loop. Usually, programs use Cmd-` and Cmd-Shift-`, which are also supported for Terminal.
- Scroll bars (including at least OS X 10.3.x) - Option-clicking a scroll bar arrow can cause the view to jump to the next page instead of moving by a few lines. Option-clicking in the scroll bar can cause the view to jump to that position instead of jumping to the next page. This behaviour can be reversed in System Preferences: Appearance.
See also
Other modifier keys:
External links
"Option key"