- published: 26 Feb 2016
- views: 9747
On computer keyboards, the Esc key is a key labeled Esc or Escape that is used to generate the ASCII Escape character (Control-[, ASCII code 27 in decimal), the character code traditionally used to initiate an escape sequence. It is generally placed in the top left corner of the keyboard, which placement dates at least to the original IBM PC keyboard, though the key itself dates to teletypewriters.
The key is indicated as a circle with an arrow through it (U+238B, ⎋) as defined in ISO 9995.
As most computer users no longer are concerned with the details of controlling their computer's peripherals, the task for which the escape sequences were originally designed, the escape key was appropriated by application programmers, most often to mean Stop. This use continues today in Microsoft Windows's use of escape as a shortcut in dialog boxes for No, Quit, Exit, Cancel, or Abort, as well as a common shortcut key for the Stop button in many web browsers.
On machines running Microsoft Windows, prior to the implementation of the Windows key on keyboards, the typical practice for invoking the "start" button was to hold down the control key and press escape. This key combination still works as of Windows 7.