A
numeric keypad,
numpad or
tenkey for short, is the small, palm-sized, seventeen key section of a computer keyboard, usually on the very far right. The numeric keypad features digits 0 to 9,
additionAddition is the mathematical process of combining quantities. It is signified by the plus sign . For example, in the picture on the right, there are 3 + 2 apples—meaning three apples and two other apples—which is the same as five apples. Therefore, 3 + 2 = 5...
(+),
subtractionSubtraction is one of the four basic arithmetic operations; it is the inverse of addition, meaning that if we start with any number and add any number and then subtract the same number we added, we return to the number we started with...
(−),
multiplicationMultiplication is the mathematical operation of scaling one number by another. It is one of the four basic operations in elementary arithmetic ....
(*) and
divisionright|thumb|200px|In mathematics, especially in elementary arithmetic, division is the arithmetic operation that is the inverse of multiplication...
(/) symbols, a decimal point (.) and
Num LockNum Lock is a key on the numeric keypad of most computer keyboards. It is a toggle key, like Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. Its state is commonly represented by an LED light built into the keyboard....
and
EnterIn computer keyboards, the enter key in most cases causes a command line, window form or dialog box to operate its default function...
keys.
LaptopA laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile use and small and light enough to sit on one's lap while in use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device , speakers, and often including a battery, into a single...
keyboards often do not have a numpad, but may provide numpad input by holding a modifier key (typically labelled "Fn") and operating keys on the standard keyboard.
A
numeric keypad,
numpad or
tenkey for short, is the small, palm-sized, seventeen key section of a computer keyboard, usually on the very far right. The numeric keypad features digits 0 to 9,
additionAddition is the mathematical process of combining quantities. It is signified by the plus sign . For example, in the picture on the right, there are 3 + 2 apples—meaning three apples and two other apples—which is the same as five apples. Therefore, 3 + 2 = 5...
(+),
subtractionSubtraction is one of the four basic arithmetic operations; it is the inverse of addition, meaning that if we start with any number and add any number and then subtract the same number we added, we return to the number we started with...
(−),
multiplicationMultiplication is the mathematical operation of scaling one number by another. It is one of the four basic operations in elementary arithmetic ....
(*) and
divisionright|thumb|200px|In mathematics, especially in elementary arithmetic, division is the arithmetic operation that is the inverse of multiplication...
(/) symbols, a decimal point (.) and
Num LockNum Lock is a key on the numeric keypad of most computer keyboards. It is a toggle key, like Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. Its state is commonly represented by an LED light built into the keyboard....
and
EnterIn computer keyboards, the enter key in most cases causes a command line, window form or dialog box to operate its default function...
keys.
LaptopA laptop is a personal computer designed for mobile use and small and light enough to sit on one's lap while in use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device , speakers, and often including a battery, into a single...
keyboards often do not have a numpad, but may provide numpad input by holding a modifier key (typically labelled "Fn") and operating keys on the standard keyboard. Particularly large laptops (typically those with a 17 inch screen or larger) may have space for a real numpad, and many companies sell separate numpads which connect to the host laptop by a USB connection. It also provides a calculator-style keyboard for efficient entering of numbers.
Numeric keypads usually operate in two modes: when Num Lock is off, keys 8, 6, 2, 4 act like an arrow keys and 7, 9, 3, 1 act like
HomeThe home key is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. The key has the opposite effect of the end key.-Microsoft Windows:In modern Microsoft Windows text editing applications, it is primarily used to return the cursor to the beginning of the line where the cursor is located...
,
PgUpThe Page Up and Page Down keys are two keys commonly found on computer keyboards.The two keys are primarily used to scroll up or down in documents, but the scrolling distance varies between different applications...
,
PgDnThe Page Up and Page Down keys are two keys commonly found on computer keyboards.The two keys are primarily used to scroll up or down in documents, but the scrolling distance varies between different applications...
and
EndThe end key is a key commonly found on computer keyboards. The key has the opposite effect of the home key.-Microsoft Windows:In modern Microsoft Windows text editing applications, it is primarily used to put the cursor at the end of the line in which the cursor is...
; when Num Lock is on, digits keys produce corresponding digits. These, however, differ from the numeric keys at the top of the keyboard in that, when combined with the Alt key on a PC, they are used to enter characters which may not be otherwise available: for example, Alt-0169 produces the
copyright symbolThe copyright symbol, designated by © , is the symbol used to provide notice of copyright in works other than sound recordings . The use of the symbol is described in United States copyright law, and, internationally, by the Universal Copyright Convention...
. These are referred to as
Alt codesOn Personal computers running the Microsoft Windows or DOS operating systems, additional characters to those available in the current keyboard layout can be typed using the alt key in conjunction with the keyboard's numeric keypad. This technique is generally called a character code.The mapping...
. On
Apple ComputerApple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics and computer software products. The company's best-known hardware products include Macintosh computers, the iPod and the iPhone...
MacintoshThe Macintosh, or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced on January 24 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than a...
computers, which lack a Num Lock key, the numeric keypad always produces only numbers. The num lock key is replaced by the
clear keyThe Apple Keyboard is a keyboard designed by Apple first for the Apple line, then the Macintosh line of computers.- Layout :To serve the functionality of the Mac OS , the Apple Keyboard's layout differs somewhat from that of the more ubiquitous IBM PC keyboard, mainly in its modifier and special keys...
.
The arrangement of digits on numeric keypads is different from that of
telephone “Touch-Tone” keypadsA telephone keypad is a keypad that appears on a “Touch Tone” telephone. It was standardised when the dual-tone multi-frequency system was introduced in the 1960s, and replaced the rotary dial....
—this may be confusing for those who use one of these arrangements more often. However, the arrangement of the numbers is similar to that on the keyboards of
calculatorA calculator is a device that is used for performing mathematical calculations. It differs from a computer by having a limited problem solving ability and an interface optimized for interactive calculation rather than programming...
s.
Numeric keypads are useful for entering long sequences of numbers quickly, for example in
spreadsheetA spreadsheet is a computer application that simulates a paper worksheet. It displays multiple cells that together make up a grid consisting of rows and columns, each cell containing either alphanumeric text or numeric values...
s, financial/accounting programs, and calculators. Input in this style is similar to that of a calculator or
adding machineAn adding machine is a type of calculator, usually specialized for bookkeeping calculations.In the United States, the earliest adding machines were usually built to read in dollars and cents. Adding machines were ubiquitous office equipment until they were phased out in favor of personal computers,...
.
Chinese input methods
The numeric keypad is used by some
systems for input of Chinese charactersSince the Chinese language uses a logographic script — that is, a script where one or more "characters" correspond roughly to one "word" or meaning — there are vastly more characters, or glyphs, than there are keys on a standard computer keyboard.-Overview:...
, for example
CKC Chinese Input SystemThe CKC Chinese Input System is a Chinese input method for computers that uses the four corner method to encode characters.The encoding uses a maximum of 4 digits to represent a Chinese character. All possible shapes of strokes that forms any given Chinese character are classified into 10 groups,...
and
Q9 input methodThe Q9 input method , invented by Qcode Information Technology Ltd. of Hong Kong, is an input method that uses only the number keys on a numeric keypad to input Chinese characters into a digital device. It is considered an easy method to use even though it is a "structural" input method...
.
Computer games
Numeric keypads are also used for playing some computer games where the player must control a character, for example
roguelikeThe roguelike is a sub-genre of role-playing video games, characterized by randomization for replayability, permanent death, and turn-based movement. Many early roguelikes featured ASCII graphics. Games are typically dungeon crawls, with many monsters, items, and environmental features...
s. Unlike arrow keys, the numeric keypad allows diagonal movement. For keyboards without a numeric keypad, some games provide alternative movement keys, such as classic
RogueRogue is a dungeon crawling video game first developed by Michael Toy and Glenn Wichman. It is generally credited with being the first "graphical" adventure game, and was a favorite on college Unix systems in the early to mid-1980s, in part due to the procedural generation of game content...
's HJKL keys.
The numeric keypad can also be an alternative for navigation in computer gaming from the WASD keys. The
mouseIn computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
would be used in the left hand instead of the right.