Definition

any key

Part of the Computing fundamentals glossary:

The phrase "any key," which frequently appears in the direction to computer users to "Press any key," is reportedly a source of confusion to many. At least one help desk person reports that users sometimes examine that direction more carefully than intended and call to find out whether "any key" includes such keys as the tilde, the Break key, and the key on many keyboards that shows the Microsoft Windows logo.

Next Steps

Difference between a primary key and a surrogate key
What is the difference between a primary key an...
(SearchOracle.com)
The length of public and private keys
(SearchSecurity.com)

"Any key" does indeed include those keys.

This was last updated in September 2005

Contributor(s): Tom Canaday

Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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Dig Deeper

Difference between a primary key and a surrogate key

What is the difference between a primary key and a surrogate key? (SearchOracle.com)
The length of public and private keys

(SearchSecurity.com)
Difference between candidate key and composite key

What is the difference between candidate key and composite key? (SearchOracle.com)

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