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  * [ Wikimedia Commons  ](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Function_keys)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Key on a computer or terminal keyboard

For the modifier key featured on most compact keyboard layouts, see [ Fn key
](/wiki/Fn_key "Fn key") .

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A **function key** is a key on a [ computer ](/wiki/Computer "Computer") or [
terminal ](/wiki/Computer_terminal "Computer terminal") [ keyboard
](/wiki/Computer_keyboard "Computer keyboard") that can be programmed to cause
the operating system or an application program to perform certain actions, a
form of [ soft key ](/wiki/Soft_key "Soft key") .  [1]  On some
keyboards/computers, function keys may have default actions, accessible on
power-on.

[ ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Qwerty.svg/500px-
Qwerty.svg.png) ](/wiki/File:Qwerty.svg) A 104-key [ US English keyboard
layout ](/wiki/QWERTY#United_States "QWERTY") with the fu