 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2020) |
TheMeta key is amodifier key on certainkeyboards. It first appeared on theStanford Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL)'sSAIL keyboard in 1970.
The Meta modifier key first appeared on theStanford Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL) keyboard in 1970[1] and successors such as theKnight keyboard,space-cadet keyboard,[2]MITLisp machine,Symbolics keyboards, and onSun Microsystems keyboards (where it is marked with a black diamond "◆").[3]
The keyboard used with theLINC computer had a meta key in 1962, but it was not a modifier.
Generally, the Meta key worked similar toMacintosh'sCommand key, in that when held down it modified letters and symbols into immediate commands (shortcuts). On these keyboards theControl key was placed closest to thespace bar, then the Meta key outside Control. The space-cadet keyboard added theSuper key outside Meta, and theHyper key outside that. All these keys produced shortcuts (24-1 of them for every letter), but the Control ones were easiest to type and most popular, and the Meta ones second-easiest and thus second most popular. However, on most modern keyboards, the Control key isfarthest from the space bar, reversing the convenience of shortcuts.
On keyboards that lack a physical Meta key, its functionality may be invoked by other keys such as theWindows key or Macintosh'sOption key.[4] However, software often provides another workaround, such as using theAlt key (which does not exist on theKnight keyboard), or using theEsc key as a prefix (e.g., inEmacs). Because of these workarounds, the need for Meta – despite being the most-used additionalmodifier key – was less than for other modifier keys. It is more common today to use the Windows key to emulate theSuper key.
