page_title: Arrow keys
section_title: WAXD (including QEZC)
hierarchical_section_title: Arrow keys / Alternative keys / WAXD (including QEZC)
caption_attribution_description: Photograph of the cursor keys (surrounding 'S') of the PLATO IV keyboard. Crop of an existing Wikipedia Photo.
context_page_description: Arrow keys or cursor movement keys are buttons on a computer keyboard that are either programmed or designated to move the cursor in a specified direction.
  The term "cursor movement key" is distinct from "arrow key" in that the former term may refer to any of various keys on a computer keyboard designated for cursor movement, whereas "arrow keys" generally refers to one of four specific keys, typically marked with arrows.
  Arrow keys are typically located at the bottom of the keyboard to the left side of the numeric keypad, usually arranged in an inverted-T layout but also found in diamond shapes and linear shapes. Arrow keys are commonly used for navigating around documents and for playing games.
  The inverted-T layout was popularized by the Digital Equipment Corporation LK201 keyboard from 1982.
context_section_description: Another variation is WAXD, using either 4 or 8 keys surrounding the "s" key.  Eight directional arrows were printed on the keysets of PLATO terminals developed in the 1960s and 70s, and many games (including Empire, Dogfight, and more than a dozen dungeon games such as Avatar) utilize this layout.  The TUTOR language display editor, character set (bitmap) editor, and line set editor also use these keys on that system and its successors.  For ballistic targeting, key combinations (e.g. "we", "de", etc.) are used to get angles in multiples of 22.5 degrees.  In many programs the "s" key is often used to either "select" or "shoot", depending upon the application.
  This layout also appears on the numeric keypads of some keyboards, using 8462 (including 7913).
caption: WAXD keycaps of PLATO IV
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