# Sticky keys

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> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sticky_keys.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky_keys
> Source revision: 1354190338
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Short description|Accessibility feature}}
thumb|Sticky keys on a Windows laptop
'''Sticky keys''' is an accessibility feature of some graphical user interfaces which assists users who have [physical disabilities](/source/disability) or helps users reduce [repetitive strain injury](/source/repetitive_strain_injury). It serializes keystrokes; instead of being required to press multiple keys at a time, the user can press and release a [modifier key](/source/modifier_key), such as {{Key press|[Shift](/source/Shift_key)}}, {{Key press|[Ctrl](/source/Ctrl_key)}}, {{Key press|[Alt](/source/Alt_key)}}, or the {{Key press|[Windows key](/source/Windows_key)}}, and have it remain active until any other key is pressed.

Sticky keys functionality is available on/in [Microsoft Windows](/source/Microsoft_Windows), [macOS](/source/macOS), [chromeOS](/source/chromeOS) and [KDE Plasma](/source/KDE_Plasma) as '''Sticky Keys''' (previously stylized '''StickyKeys''' on Windows),<ref>{{cite web|title=Make the keyboard easier to use in Windows 7 – Windows Help|publisher=[Microsoft](/source/Microsoft)|date=August 31, 2016|access-date=April 29, 2018|url=https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/14202/windows-7-make-keyboard-easier-to-use}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=macOS Sierra: Use accessibility features|work=Apple Support|publisher=[Apple Inc.](/source/Apple_Inc.)|date=September 23, 2015|access-date=December 28, 2015|url=https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25717}}</ref> and on [Unix](/source/Unix-like)/[X11](/source/X_Window_System) systems as part of the ''AccessX'' utility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://x.org/pub/X11R7.0/doc/PDF/XKBproto.pdf |title=The X Keyboard Extension: Protocol Specification |access-date=2009-11-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite FTP |title=SGI AccessX|first=R. C.|last=Underwood|date=September 10, 1999|server=FTP server|url-status=dead|url=ftp://ftp.sgi.com/sgi/desktop/accessx/SGIaccessx.html}}</ref>

== History ==
Sticky Keys was first{{when|date=May 2023}} introduced to [System 6](/source/System_6) as part of the ''Easy Access'' [extension](/source/Extension_(Mac_OS)), which also included [mouse keys](/source/mouse_keys) functionality.<ref>{{cite book|title=Using Your Classic|publisher=Apple Inc.|page=146|url=http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Manuals/desktops/UsingYourMacClassic.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021212072000/http://manuals.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Manuals/desktops/UsingYourMacClassic.PDF|archive-date=December 12, 2002}}</ref>

In 1994, [Solaris](/source/Solaris_(operating_system)) 2.4 shipped with the ''AccessX'' utility, which also provided sticky keys and mouse keys functionality.<ref>{{cite web|title=About AccessX|work=Sun Microsystems Accessibility Program|publisher=[Sun Microsystems](/source/Sun_Microsystems)|date=April 24, 2005|url=http://www.sun.com/access/general/accessx.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817130315/http://www.sun.com/access/general/accessx.html|archive-date=August 17, 2007}}</ref>

==See also==
* [FilterKeys](/source/FilterKeys)
* [Mouse keys](/source/Mouse_keys)
* [Slow keys](/source/Slow_keys)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Computer accessibility
Category:User interface techniques
Category:Ergonomics

{{Windows-stub}}
{{Compu-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sticky keys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky_keys) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticky_keys?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.