Ctrl
Technology & Computing abbreviation · Computer
| Stands for | Control key |
|---|---|
| Categories | Technology & Computing |
Ctrl stands for Control key, a computer abbreviation.
Modifier key on PC keyboards that changes what other keys do, as in Ctrl+C to copy, Ctrl+V to paste, Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+S to save. On a Mac most of these shortcuts use the Command key instead.
Example: Press Ctrl+F to search for a word on the page.
Usage notes
The key comes from teletypes, where holding Control produced non-printing control characters; Ctrl+G, for example, rang the bell. Documentation writes it Ctrl, CTRL or as a caret (^C). In a terminal, Ctrl+C interrupts the running program rather than copying, and Ctrl+D signals end of input on Unix-like systems.
Related abbreviations
More computer abbreviations
- cd – Change directory
- CHKDSK – Check Disk
- CJK – Chinese, Japanese and Korean
- CLI – Command-line interface
- Cmd – Command key
- CS – Computer science
- Ctrl+Alt+Del – Control-Alt-Delete
- DC – Domain controller
- Del – Delete key
- DISM – Deployment Image Servicing and Management
- DOS – Disk operating system
- DP – Data processing