Editing Shift key

{{stub}}
{{infobox dkeyboardkey
| name = Shift
| symbol = ⇧
| x11 = "shift" group, Shift_L, Shift_R
| usb = Keyboard LeftShift, Keyboard RightShift
}}
A '''Shift key''' on a regular modern keyboard is a [[modifier key]] used for typing in uppercase and other alternate "upper" characters.

In many countries, Shift will access the symbols above the numbers on the number row, but in layouts such as French, the shift key must be pressed in order to type numbers.

==Common sizes==
The size of the left Shift key differs between [[ANSI vs ISO|ANSI and ISO]] keyboards, which means that modifier kits such as the [[RGB modifiers|RGB modifier kit]] must be tailored to suit either ISO or ANSI keyboards.

===Left===
{| class="wikitable"
|2.25
|ANSI, JIS
|-
|1.25
|ISO, [[Kinesis Advantage]]
|}

===Right===
{| class="wikitable"
|2.75
|Most ANSI, ISO keyboards
|-
|2
|[[Cherry G80-11800]] and [[Cherry G80-11900]].
|-
|1.75
|JIS, [[Happy Hacking Keyboard]], [[Cherry G80-1800]]
|-
|1.25
|[[Kinesis Advantage]]
|}

==Non-typical shift keys==
In an alternate meaning, ''any'' key that is a modifier key that changes symbolic [[layer]] is a shift key.

Some very compact keyboards, such as [[40%]] form-factor and some vintage typewriters have digits and symbols on letter keys with separate shift keys for e.g. '''Capitals''' and '''Figures'''.

In the TRON layout, the left and right Shift keys are different, printed in the colours red and blue. Either Shift key could be used to make letters capitals, but with other keys each Shift key is used for symbols that are printed on the keys in red or blue, respectively.

On the very first [[QWERTY]] typewriter with a "Shift" key (the ''Remington Type-Writer No. 2''), there is a case-changing lever (like a [[Shift lock]] key) but two different Shift keys. The '''Upper Case''' key in the lower left corner acts like a modern Shift key, shifting into upper case when the lever is set in Lower Case mode. On the other hand, the '''Lower Case''' key in the upper right corner of the keyboard shifts into lower case when the lever is set in Upper Case mode.

==See also==
* [[Shift lock]]

[[Category:Modifier keys]]