Break key

A standard telegraph circuit connects all the keys, sounders and batteries in a single series loop. Thus the sounders actuate only when both keys are down (closed, also known as "marking" — after the ink marks made on paper tape by early printing telegraphs). So the receiving operator has to hold their key down or close a built-in shorting switch in order to let the other operator send. As a consequence, the receiving operator could interrupt the sending operator by opening their key, breaking the circuit and forcing it into a "spacing" condition. Both sounders stop responding to the sender's keying, alerting the sender (a physical break in the telegraph line would have the same effect).

File:ASR-33 Teletypewriter REPT, BREAK keys.jpg]]

The teleprinter operated in a very similar fashion except that the sending station kept the loop closed (logic 1, or "marking") even during short pauses between characters. Holding down a special "break" key opened the loop, forcing it into a continuous logic 0, or "spacing", condition.{{Cite_book |url=https://deramp.com/downloads/teletype/Model%2033/TTY-33%20Theory%20of%20Operation.pdf#page=7 |title=33 Keyboard: General Description and Principles of Operation |date=1971 |publisher=Teletype Corporation |year= |location=Skokie, Illinois |page=7 |language=en |chapter=Line Break}}{{Cite_book |url=https://www.navy-radio.com/manuals/tty/tgc14-mite-course-7207.pdf#page=19 |title=AN/TGC-14(V) Teletypewriter I & O Maintenance. Study guide |date=1972 |publisher=Department of Communications and Missile Training. Sheppard Air Force Base |location=Texas |page=3-5 |language=en |chapter=Line Break}} When this occurred, the teleprinter mechanisms continually actuated without printing anything, as the all-0s character is the non-printing NUL in both Baudot and ASCII. The resulting noise got the sending operator's attention.

This practice carried over to teleprinter use as a terminal on time-sharing computers. A continuous spacing (logical 0) condition violates the rule that every valid character has to end with one or more logic 1 (marking) "stop" bits. The computer (specifically the UART) recognized this as a special "break" condition and generated an interrupt that typically stopped a running program{{Cite book |last=Schur |first=Lee David |url=https://archive.org/details/timesharedcomput0000schu/ |title=Time-shared computer languages: an introduction to conversational computing |date=1973 |publisher=Reading, Mass., Addison-Wesley Pub. Co |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-0-201-06761-3 |pages=270 |chapter=PL/1 (RUSH). Using the terminal}} or forced the operating system to prompt for a login. Similarly to teleprinters, video terminals kept the {{keypress|Break}} key{{Cite_book |title=Tektronix 4010 and 4010-1 Users Manual |date=1972 |publisher=Tektronix, Inc. |year= |page=2-3 |chapter=Section 2 Familiarization and Checkout |chapter-url=https://w140.com/tekwiki/images/c/c2/070-1225-00.pdf#page=15}}{{Cite_book |title=Lear Siegler ADM-3A Operators Manual |publisher=Lear Siegler |page=3-8 |chapter=3.2.2 Special Function Keys |quote=BREAK. This key activates the standard teletypewriter BREAK function, normally used to interrupt an incoming message. |chapter-url=https://deramp.com/downloads/mfe_archive/030-Terminals/LearSiegler/ADM-3A/Lear%20Siegler%20ADM3A%20operators%20manual.pdf#page=41}} which put transmission line to zero state.{{Cite_book |url=https://vt100.net/docs/vt100-ug/ |title=VT100 User Guide |date=1984 |publisher=Digital Equipment Corporation |edition=3rd |chapter=Chapter 3 Programmer Information |quote=Typing the BREAK key causes the transmission line to be forced to its zero state |chapter-url=https://vt100.net/docs/vt100-ug/chapter3.html}}

With its function of interrupting terminal communication, the {{keypress|Break}} key was adopted by software terminal emulators and in applications which use serial protocols such as RS-232. This concept of interruption also extends to the boot process of computers, network devices and to halting operations in computer applications like command-line interfaces, debuggers and spreadsheets.{{Cite web |title=What Does the Break Key Do in Windows & Virtual Machines? |url=https://www.lenovo.com/hk/en/glossary/break-key/ |accessdate=2025-05-17 |website= |publisher=Lenovo HK}}

On the ZX80 and ZX81 computers, the Break is accessed by pressing {{keypress|Space}}. On the ZX Spectrum it is accessed by {{keypress|Caps Shift|Space}}. The Spectrum+ and later computers have a dedicated {{keypress|Break}} key. It does not trigger an interrupt but will halt any running BASIC program, or terminate the loading or saving of data to cassette tape. An interrupted BASIC program can usually be resumed with the CONTINUE command. The Sinclair QL computer, without a {{keypress|Break}} key, maps the function to {{keypress|Ctrl|Space}}.

On a BBC Micro computer, the {{keypress|Break}} key generates a hardware reset which would normally cause a warm restart of the computer. A cold restart is triggered by pressing {{keypress|Ctrl|Break}}. If a filing system is installed, {{keypress|Shift|Break}} will cause the computer to search for and load or run a file called !Boot on the filing system's default device (e.g. floppy disk 0, network user BOOT). The latter two behaviours were inherited by the successor to Acorn MOS, RISC OS. These behaviours could be changed or exchanged in software, and were often used in rudimentary anti-piracy techniques.

Because of the BBC Micro's near universal usage in British schools, later versions of the machine incorporated a physical lock on the Break key to stop children from intentionally resetting the computer.

On many modern PCs, {{keypress|Pause}} interrupts screen output by BIOS until another key is pressed. This is effective during boot in text mode and in a DOS box in Windows safe mode with 50 lines. On early keyboards without a {{keypress|Pause}} key (before the introduction of 101/102-key keyboards) the Pause function was assigned to {{keypress|Ctrl|NumLock}}, and the Break function to {{keypress|Ctrl|ScrLock}}; these key-combinations still work with most programs, even on modern PCs with modern keyboards. Pressing the dedicated {{keypress|Pause}} key on 101/102-key keyboards sends the same scancodes as pressing {{keypress|Ctrl}}, then {{keypress|NumLock}}, then releasing them in the reverse order would do; additionally, an E1_hex prefix is sent, which enables 101/102-key-aware software to discern the two situations, while older software usually just ignores the prefix. The {{keypress|Pause}} key is different from all other keys in that it sends no scancodes at all on release in PS/2 modes 1 or 2, so it is impossible to determine whether this key is being held down with older devices. Also, it's not "typematic", that is, unlike the other keys, it doesn't send repeat scancodes while being held. In PS/2 mode 3 or USB HID mode, there is a release scancode, so it is possible to determine whether this key is being held down on modern computers.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/ps-2-hardware-interface-technical-reference-ocr/PS2HardwareInterfaceTechnicalReference-OCR/page/n582/ |title=PS/2 Hardware Interface Technical Reference |date=October 1990 |publisher=IBM |page=19 |chapter=Keyboard 101- and 102-Key |quote=Except for the Pause key, all keys are make/break... Also, except for the Pause key, all keys are typematic |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.mcamafia.de/pdf/ibm_hitrc11.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live}}

On modern keyboards, the {{keypress|Break}} key is usually labeled Pause with Break below, sometimes separated by a line: {{keypress|{{Sfrac|Pause|Break}}}}, or Pause on the top of the keycap and Break on the front, or only Pause without Break at all. Keyboards with ISO/IEC 9995-7 markings including Canadian CSA keyboard use ⎊ symbol for Break and ⎉ for Pause. In most Windows environments, the key combination {{keypress|Win|Pause}} brings up the system properties.

Compact and notebook keyboards often do not have a dedicated {{keypress|Pause/Break}} key.

Substitutes for {{keypress|Break}}:

• {{keypress|Ctrl|Fn|F11}} or {{keypress|Fn|B}} or {{keypress|Fn|Ctrl|B}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} Lenovo laptops.{{cite web| url = https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/documents/ht074004| title = Keyboard shortcut for Break, Pause, ScrLK, SysRq function on ThinkPad 6 rows Precision keyboard - ThinkPad - Lenovo Support US}}{{cite web| url = http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=98708| title = Ctrl-Break key - Thinkpads Forum}}{{cite web| url = http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=105807| title = T530 Pause/Break key - Thinkpads Forum}}
• {{keypress|Ctrl|Fn|B}} or {{keypress|Fn|B}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} Dell laptops.{{Cite web|url=http://cdn.cnetcontent.com/0b/87/0b875d86-4bdc-4b39-a6a0-fe922d9b71a1.pdf#page=18 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://cdn.cnetcontent.com/0b/87/0b875d86-4bdc-4b39-a6a0-fe922d9b71a1.pdf#page=18 |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Dell Inspiron 17 specification}}{{Cite web |title=Break/Pause Key No Longer Available on Some Dell XPS, Latitude, and Precision Laptops {{!}} Dell US |url=https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000145271/break-key-no-longer-available-on-dell-xps-e-and-m-series-portables |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.dell.com}}
• {{keypress|Ctrl|Fn|S}} on some other{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} Dell laptops.{{Cite web|title=Dell community|date=7 January 2012 |url=https://www.dell.com/community/Laptops-General-Read-Only/break-key-alternative/m-p/3826478#M636732}}
• {{keypress|Fn|Esc}} on Samsung.{{Clarify|date=August 2023}}
• {{keypress|Ctrl|Fn|Shift}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} HP laptops.
• {{keypress|Fn|R}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} HP laptops.
• {{keypress|Fn|Ctrl|B}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} Logitech (LOGI) keyboards.

Substitutes for {{keypress|Pause}}:

• {{keypress|Fn|P}} or {{keypress|Fn|Ctrl|P}} or {{keypress|Fn|Alt|P}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} Lenovo laptops.
• {{keypress|Fn|B}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} Dell laptops.
• {{keypress|Fn|Shift}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} HP laptops.
• {{keypress|Fn|W}} on certain{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} HP laptops.

For some{{Clarify|date=August 2023}} Dell laptops, without a {{keypress|Break}} key, press the {{keypress|Alt|Space}} and select "Interrupt".{{cite web|last1=DELL|title=Commonly-Used Keystroke Shortcuts|url=http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/sln37045/commonly-used-keystroke-shortcuts-technical-tip-162222?lang=en|website=Dell.com|access-date=18 February 2018}}

While both {{keypress|Ctrl|Break}} and {{keypress|Ctrl|C}} combination are commonly implemented as a way of breaking the execution of a console application, they are also used for similar effect in integrated development environments.{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff540312.aspx |title=CTRL+C (Break) |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |date=2010-03-30 |access-date=2010-10-22}}{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff541727.aspx |title=Debug Break |publisher=Msdn.microsoft.com |date=2010-03-30 |access-date=2010-10-22}} Although these two are often considered interchangeable,{{cite web|url=http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Ctrl-Break |title=Ctrl-Break definition of Ctrl-Break in the Free Online Encyclopedia |publisher=Encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com |access-date=2010-10-22}} compilers and execution environments usually assign different signals to these.{{cite web |url=https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/ntemacs/discuss/subproc-ctrl-c |title=Re: trouble passing ^C through to processes running in a *shell* |website=www.gnu.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022172337/https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/windows/ntemacs/discuss/subproc-ctrl-c |archive-date=October 22, 2012}} Additionally, in some kernels (e.g. miscellaneous DOS variants) {{keypress|Ctrl|C}} is detected only at the time OS tries reading from a keyboard buffer and only if it's the only key sequence in the buffer,{{cite web|url=http://vimdoc.sourceforge.net/htmldoc/os_dos.html#dos-CTRL-Break |title=Vim documentation: vim online |publisher=Vim.org |access-date=2010-10-22}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ousob.com/ng/dos5/ng27979.php |title=ClipX — DOS 5.0 Ref. - int 23h ctrl-c handler |publisher=Ousob.com |access-date=2010-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031501/http://www.ousob.com/ng/dos5/ng27979.php |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} while {{keypress|Ctrl|Break}} is often translated instantly (e.g. by INT 1Bh under DOS). Because of this, {{keypress|Ctrl|Break}} is usually a more effective choice under these operating systems; sensitivity for these two combinations can be enhanced by the BREAK=ON CONFIG.SYS statement.

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Category:Computer keys

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