Keyboard shortcuts

Overview

A keyboard shortcut is a key or sequence of keys that perform an action when pressed. Actions are standard application functionality (i.e. pressing the Spacebar to pause a video).
Exposing keyboard shortcuts in the interface whenever possible improves their discoverability. System menus, hover states, and keyboard focus states are obvious candidates for doing this.

Creating shortcuts

Create shortcuts for common and repetitive actions. Avoid creating shortcuts for general-purpose tasks.

Caution

The simpler the better. Don't create shortcuts that will cause unnatural hand positions. Keyboard shortcuts should be as easy to navigate as using a mouse.

Caution

The simpler the better. Try relying on short shortcuts. If possible, keep it to a sequence of 2 keys. → e.g. ⌘C or Ctrl + C

Caution

Avoid making users hold multiple keys at once. This can trigger sticky keys (an accessibility feature).

Caution

Avoid interfering with existing accessibility shortcuts in operating systems.

Don't

Do not repurpose existing common conventions → e.g. ⌘Q or Ctrl + Q for quitting an application.

List of common keyboard shortcut conventions

Copy: Ctrl + C

Cut: Ctrl + X

Paste: Ctrl + V

Quit: Ctrl + Q

Close window: Ctrl + W

Save: Ctrl + S

Select all: Ctrl + A

Undo: Ctrl + Z

Displaying shortcuts

Always describe the shortcut in sentence case and put the shortcut in parenthesis. → e.g. Reload current page (Ctrl + R)

Use proper case (capitalize each word) for key's proper names. → e.g. Tab, Page Up, Shift, Spacebar

Make user of modifier symbols if they exist. → e.g. ⌘ for Command, ↓ for the down arrow key

Combine shortcut keys based on the operating system convention:

For macOS, chain modifiers, keys, and letters → e.g. Close window (⌘W)

For Windows and Linux add a "+" in between modifiers, keys, and letters → e.g. Close window (Ctrl + W)

List of common modifiers

⌘ Command (macOS only)

⌥ Option (macOS only)

⌃ Control

⇧ Shift

↓ down arrow key

Examples

macOS
Windows

Discoverability

We highly encourage including shortcuts on hover and focus states of actions.

Picture-in-Picture is a good feature to illustrate this.

Here are all keyboard shortcuts used in PiP controls as a reference:

Action	macOS	Windows/Linux
Close PiP	⌘W	Ctrl + W
Fast backwards	←	←
Fast forward	→	→
Mute	⌘↓	Ctrl + ↓
Pause	Spacebar	Spacebar
Play	Spacebar	Spacebar
Unmute	⌘↑	Ctrl + ↑