numeric keypad

{{Short description|Section of computer keyboard}}

{{about|the numeric keypad on computer keyboards|other number keypads|keypad}}

{{refimprove|date=January 2008}}

File:Numpad.svg

File:Numpad.JPG

File:Keypad-bluetooth hg.jpg numeric keypad, working also as calculator]]

A numeric keypad, number pad, numpad, or ten key,

{{cite web

| url = http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-ten-key.htm

| title = What Is a Ten Key? (with pictures)

| work = WiseGeek

| access-date = 8 January 2014

}}

{{cite book

| last1 = Pasewark

| first1 = William Robert

| last2 = Knowlton

| first2 = Todd

| title = Ten-Key Skill Builder for Computers

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=eLzucpC8ZhMC

| date = 1995-01-01

| publisher = South-Western Educational Pub.

| isbn = 9780538629195

}}

{{cite book

| last1 = Stroman

| first1 = James

| last2 = Wilson

| first2 = Kevin

| last3 = Wauson

| first3 = Jennifer

| title = Administrative Assistant's and Secretary's Handbook

| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=licD-9tqwX0C&pg=PA224

| date = 2011-09-01

| publisher = AMACOM Div American Mgmt Assn

| isbn = 9780814417607

| page = 224

}}

is the palm-sized, usually-17-key section of a standard computer keyboard, usually on the far right. It provides calculator-style efficiency for entering numbers.

The numpad's keys are digits {{key press|0}} to {{key press|9}}, {{key press|+}} (addition), {{key press|-}} (subtraction), {{key press|*}} (multiplication), and {{key press|/}} (division) symbols, {{key press|.}} (decimal point), {{key press|Num Lock}}, and {{key press|Enter}} keys.[http://foldoc.org/Numeric+keypad numeric keypad] at FOLDOC As smaller keyboards such as those found on laptops often lack a number pad, many companies sell separate numpads that can be connected to a device by means such as USB; some of these may include keys not found on a standard numpad, such as a spacebar or a {{key press|00}} (or {{key press|000}}) key.

Sometimes it is necessary to distinguish between a key on the numpad and an equivalent key elsewhere on the keyboard. For example, depending on the software in use,{{efn|E.g. Blender makes specific use of numpad keys for several keyboard shortcuts.}} pressing the numpad's {{key press|0}} key may produce different results than pressing the alphanumeric {{key press|0}} key.{{efn|I.e. the {{key press|0}} key above the letter keys and to the right of the {{key press|9}} key on a typical QWERTY keyboard.}} In such cases, the numpad-specific key may be indicated as e.g. {{key press|Numpad 0}}, {{key press|NumPad0}},{{efn|E.g. as defined in C#'s System.ConsoleKey enumeration:

{{cite web |title=mscorlib/system/consolekey.cs |url=https://github.com/microsoft/referencesource/blob/e0bf122d0e52a42688b92bb4be2cfd66ca3c2f07/mscorlib/system/consolekey.cs#L106-L121 |website=Microsoft/ReferenceSource repository |at=At line 106 |publisher=GitHub |author=Microsoft |author-link=Microsoft |access-date=24 June 2019 |date=23 May 2019 |orig-year=2014}}

NumPad0 = 0x60,

NumPad1 = 0x61,

NumPad2 = 0x62,

NumPad3 = 0x63,

...

}} {{key press|Num 0}}, or likewise to remove ambiguity.

Numeric keypads usually operate in two modes. When {{key press|Num Lock}} is off, keys {{key press|8}}, {{key press|6}}, {{key press|2}}, and {{key press|4}} act like arrow/navigation keys up, right, down, and left; and {{key press|7}}, {{key press|9}}, {{key press|3}}, and {{key press|1}} act like {{key press|Home}}, {{key press|PgUp}}, {{key press|PgDn}}, and {{key press|End}}, respectively. With {{key press|Num Lock}} on, digit keys produce the corresponding digit. On Apple Macintosh computers, which lack a {{key press|Num Lock}} key, the numeric keypad always produces only numbers; the {{key press|Num Lock}} key is replaced by the {{key press|Clear}} key.

The arrangement of digits on numeric keypads with the {{key press|7}}-{{key press|8}}-{{key press|9}} keys two rows above the {{key press|1}}-{{key press|2}}-{{key press|3}} keys is derived from calculators and cash registers. It is notably different from the layout of telephone Touch-Tone keypads which have the {{key press|1}}-{{key press|2}}-{{key press|3}} keys on top and {{key press|7}}-{{key press|8}}-{{key press|9}} keys on the third row.

Numeric keypads are useful for entering long sequences of numbers quickly, such as in spreadsheets, financial/accounting programs, and calculators. Input in this style is similar to a calculator or adding machine.

A numeric keypad is also useful on Windows PCs for typing alt codes for special symbols; for example, the degree symbol, °, can be typed on these computers with the sequence {{key press|chain=+|Alt|0|1|7|6}}.{{Cite web |title=Degree Symbol |url=https://www.degreesymbol.net/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=www.degreesymbol.net |language=en}}

To maintain their compact size, most laptops do not include a numeric keypad on their keyboard (though they can sometimes be found on larger models); even some desktop keyboards designed for compactness omit a numpad. To compensate, most such keyboards include {{Key press|Num Lock}} integrated into a function key (typically {{Key press|F6}} or {{Key press|F8}}) and then press keys like {{Key press|7}} to produce their numpad counterpart.