Esc key

Esc key

The Esc key is a key labeled "Esc" or "Escape" that is used to generate the ASCII Escape character (Control- [, ASCII code 27 in decimal), the character code traditionally used to initiate an escape sequence. As most computer users no longer are concerned with the details of controlling their computer's peripherals, the task for which the escape sequences were originally designed, the escape key was appropriated by application programmers, most often to mean "Stop". This use continues today in Microsoft Windows's use of escape as a shortcut in dialog boxes for "No", "Quit", "Exit", "Cancel", or "Abort".

The ESC Key is also known to stand for "extra services control" not escape (Essentials of 80x86 Assembly Language By Richard C. Detmer pg.14)

A common application today of the Esc key is as a shortcut key for the "Stop" button in many web browsers.

On machines running Microsoft Windows, prior to the implementation of the Windows key on keyboards, the typical practice for invoking the "start" button was to hold down the control key and press escape. This process still works in Windows XP and Windows Vista.

In Mac OS X, one common use for the Esc key, used in combination with the Command key, is switching to Front Row. Additionally, it's indicated as a circle with an arrow through it (U+238B, ⎋) as defined in ISO 9995.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Esc Key —   [dt. »Esc Taste«], Esc …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Esc key — /esk kē/ (computing) short for ↑escape key …   Useful english dictionary

  • Esc key — grįžimo klavišas statusas T sritis informatika apibrėžtis Klavišas, lietuviškojoj klaviatūroje žymimas „Gr“ ir ↑piktograma. Iliustraciją žr. priede. Jį paspaudus grįžtama iš paprogramės į programą, į ankstesnę programos būseną arba veikseną.… …   Enciklopedinis kompiuterijos žodynas

  • esc key — key on a keyboard used to exit programs …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Esc key — noun a key on the keyboard of personal computers used to generate the escape character …   Wiktionary

  • ESC — can refer to: * As an abbreviation ** Ecole Supérieure de Commerce a business school in the French system of Grandes Ecoles , such as Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rennes ** The Edmonton Ski Club ** Electric Sheep Company. ** Electronic… …   Wikipedia

  • ESC — Electronic Stability Control; Elektronisches Stabilitätsprogramm; ESP * * * Esc 1. 〈Abk. für engl.〉 Escape 2. 〈Abk. für portug.〉 Escudo * * * Esc = ↑ Escudo. * * * I …   Universal-Lexikon

  • key — ▪ I. key key 1 [kiː] noun [countable] COMPUTING 1. a part of a computer with a letter, number etc on it that you press with your fingers to make it work: • Press any key to continue. ˈalt key COMPUTING …   Financial and business terms

  • Esc — grįžimo klavišas statusas T sritis informatika apibrėžtis Klavišas, lietuviškojoj klaviatūroje žymimas „Gr“ ir ↑piktograma. Iliustraciją žr. priede. Jį paspaudus grįžtama iš paprogramės į programą, į ankstesnę programos būseną arba veikseną.… …   Enciklopedinis kompiuterijos žodynas

  • KeY — is a formal software development tool that aims to integrate design, implementation, formal specification, and formal verification of object oriented software. It supports programs written in Java (more precisely: in a superset of Java Card) and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”