Many keys and key combinations perform special actions. These actions have names that may not correspond to the keytop labels on your keyboard. ``special keys'' shows which keys on a typical keyboard correspond to special actions on systems. A list for your particular login device is in keyboard(7). Many of these keys can be modified by the user -- see stty(1).
special keys
| Name | Action |
|---|---|
| <Enter> | terminates a command line and initiates an action. This key is also called the <Return> key; the keytop may indicate a down-left arrow. |
| <Esc> | exits the current mode; for example, exits insert mode when in the editor vi. This is also known as the ESCAPE key. |
| <Del> | stops the current program, returning to the shell prompt. This key is also known as the INTERRUPT key. |
| <Bksp> | deletes the character to the left of the cursor. The keytop may show a left arrow (do not confuse it with the keypad arrow keys). |
| <Ctrl>D | signals the end of input from the keyboard; exits the current shell, or logs you out if the current shell is the login shell. |
| <Ctrl>H | deletes the character to the left of the cursor. This is also called the ERASE key. |
| <Ctrl>Q | restarts printing (or displaying) after it is stopped with <Ctrl>S. |
| <Ctrl>S | stops printing (or displaying) at the standard output device, such as a terminal. This keystroke does not stop the program. |
| <Ctrl>U | deletes all characters on the current line. This is also called the KILL key. |
| <Ctrl>\ | quits current command, creates a core file -- see core(4). This is also called the QUIT key. Recommended for debugging only, but can be used as a last resort when the <Del> key does not stop the current command. |