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Num Lock
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<p>Num Lock or Number Lock (⇭) is a key on the <a href="/facts/Numeric_keypad/S92eFIVP">numeric keypad</a> of most <a href="/facts/Computer_keyboard/MczF9LIS">computer keyboards</a>. It is a <a href="/facts/Lock_key/LuxI6FEf">lock key</a>, like <a href="/facts/Caps_Lock/oWHJMrlx">Caps Lock</a> and <a href="/facts/Scroll_Lock/3g3kyD9m">Scroll Lock</a>. Its state affects the function of the numeric keypad commonly located to the right of the main keyboard and is commonly displayed by an <a href="/facts/LED/gE8x4MDb">LED</a> built into the keyboard. </p><p>The Num Lock key exists because earlier 84-key <a href="/facts/IBM_PC_keyboard/CrLJWRIg">IBM PC keyboards</a> did not have cursor control or arrows separate from the numeric keypad. Most earlier computer keyboards had different number keys and cursor control keys; however, to reduce cost, IBM chose to combine the two in their early PC keyboards. Num Lock would be used to select between the two functions. On some <a href="/facts/Laptop_computers/3EFwTAb2">laptop computers</a>, the Num Lock key is used to convert part of the main keyboard to act as a (slightly skewed) numeric keypad rather than letters. On some laptop computers, the Num Lock key is absent and replaced by the use of a <a href="/facts/Key_combination/mjeb82kI">key combination</a>. </p><p>Since <a href="/facts/Apple_keyboards/wfyDI9Ly">Apple keyboards</a> never had a combination of arrow keys and numeric keypad (but some lacked arrow keys, function keys, and a numeric keypad altogether), Apple has keyboards with a separate numeric keypad but no functional Num Lock key. Keyboards manufactured by Apple will instead use a <a href="/facts/Clear_key/wfyDI9Ly"><i>Clear</i> key</a> but not all Apple manufactured keyboards will be provided with it. </p> Keys affected by Num Lock<table><tbody><tr><th>Key on Numeric Keypad</th><th>Num Lock On</th><th>Num Lock Off</th></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>1</td><td><a href="/facts/End_key/4TadlDDJ">End</a></td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>2</td><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">Down Arrow</a></td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>3</td><td><a href="/facts/Page_Down/h45Ly1JI">Page Down</a></td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>4</td><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">Left Arrow</a></td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>5</td><td>does nothing (usually)</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>6</td><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">Right Arrow</a></td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>7</td><td><a href="/facts/Home_key/9DerMuxf">Home</a></td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>8</td><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">Up Arrow</a></td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>9</td><td><a href="/facts/Page_Up/h45Ly1JI">Page Up</a></td></tr><tr><td>0</td><td>0 (zero or comma)</td><td><a href="/facts/Insert_key/ekEayhyG">Insert</a></td></tr><tr><td>.</td><td>. (dot) or , (comma)</td><td><a href="/facts/Delete_key/4UzvEgvN">Delete</a></td></tr></tbody></table> <table><tbody><tr><th scope="col" colspan="25"><a href="/facts/IBM_PC_keyboard/CrLJWRIg">IBM PC keyboard</a> (<a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Windows</a>, <a href="/facts/American_National_Standards_Institute/p3d1TQCb">ANSI</a> US layout)<ul><li>v</li><li>t</li><li>e</li></ul></th></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Esc_key/ojBFIcWE">Esc</a></td><td></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F3</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F4</a></td><td></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F5</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F6</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F7</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F8</a></td><td></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F9</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F10</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F11</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Function_key/30YcfK7U">F12</a></td><td></td><td><a href="/facts/Print_Screen/2NFbD56t">PrtScn</a>/<a href="/facts/System_request/urQQ2Gve">SysRq</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Scroll_Lock/3g3kyD9m">ScrollLock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Break_key/PwqUHSsm">Pause</a>/<a href="/facts/Break_key/PwqUHSsm">Break</a></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td colspan="16"></td><td></td><td colspan="3"></td><td></td><td colspan="4"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="16" rowspan="5"></td><td rowspan="5"></td><td><a href="/facts/Insert_key/ekEayhyG">Insert</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Home_key/9DerMuxf">Home</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Page_Up_and_Page_Down_keys/h45Ly1JI">PgUp</a></td><td rowspan="5"></td><td><a href="/facts/Num_lock/xISJyA7h">NumLock</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Slash_(punctuation)/fuaRyKzc">∕</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Asterisk/qwmtPW5V">∗</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Minus_sign/6RJD4Xt9">−</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Delete_key/4UzvEgvN">Delete</a></td><td><a href="/facts/End_key/4TadlDDJ">End</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Page_Up_and_Page_Down_keys/h45Ly1JI">PgDn</a></td><td><a href="/facts/7/4GV2hz09">7</a></td><td><a href="/facts/8/bH7jHJDg">8</a></td><td><a href="/facts/9/d6SoCnze">9</a></td><td rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Plus_sign/6RJD4Xt9">+</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td><a href="/facts/4/d6SoCnze">4</a></td><td><a href="/facts/5/d6SoCnze">5</a></td><td><a href="/facts/6/d6SoCnze">6</a></td></tr><tr><td></td><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">↑</a></td><td></td><td><a href="/facts/1/d6SoCnze">1</a></td><td><a href="/facts/2/d6SoCnze">2</a></td><td><a href="/facts/3/11oMY3Hn">3</a></td><td rowspan="2"><a href="/facts/Enter_key/bglB8wv0">Enter</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">←</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">↓</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Arrow_keys/N3I7nswn">→</a></td><td colspan="2"> <a href="/facts/0/4NBRtKHc">0</a> <a href="/facts/Insert_key/ekEayhyG">Ins</a></td><td> <a href="/facts/Decimal_separator/t6ocVouk">.</a> <a href="/facts/Delete_key/4UzvEgvN">Del</a></td></tr></tbody></table>