Mac: What is the Option key?
Every Apple keyboard on Mac and Co. contains a so-called "selection key". But what exactly is this special key all about? We will clear you up!
Mac's Option key
The option key is labeled "old", together with the Unicode symbol ⌥. However, it fulfills other tasks than the [Alt] key on Windows. The five most useful functions:
- [⌥] + [L] results in the @ sign.
- Option-drag a file to a new folder. Here the file is not moved but copied.
- Hold down the Option key and click the Close Window icon. Then all open program windows are closed at the same time.
- In iTunes, you can create an “intelligent playlist” by holding down the Option key.
- With the Option key pressed and the arrow keys forward / back you can jump one word forward or back in the text.
More useful keyboard shortcuts for Mac can be found here.