Keycap

What Does Keycap Mean?

A keycap is a small plastic cover placed over a key on a standard computer keyboard. Each keycap is marked with the letter or function the system performs when the respective key is pressed. The standard material used for keycaps is plastic and the most common color is black, although they are also available in white, gray and other colors.

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Techopedia Explains Keycap

Early keyboards were manufactured with keycaps and key switches as one unit. Later, with the introduction of overlay keyboards, the keycap became a separate component so that it could be placed in the user’s desired location. In order to increase their usability, blank keycaps are also available with no pre-printed label. This is especially useful for overlay keyboards. The lettering on keycaps is usually done either by stamping or by laser for durability.

Custom keycaps have become a popular computer modification, with keycaps available in a wide variety of colors and styles.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…