CmdW

CmdW is a keyboard shortcut used on macOS to close the currently active window or document. It is invoked by pressing the Command (⌘) key together with the W key. The precise result depends on the application: typically the active window is closed, but in many web browsers it closes the current tab, and if that is the last tab, the browser window may also close.

In Finder and many macOS applications, Cmd+W closes the frontmost window. In web browsers and other tabbed apps, Cmd+W generally closes the active tab; when only one tab remains, closing it may close the window. Some applications differentiate between closing a window and quitting the application entirely. For quitting, the common shortcut is Cmd+Q, and Cmd+Option+W can close all windows of the active application in many programs.

History and cross-platform context: Cmd+W is part of the macOS convention where the Command key governs standard shortcuts. On Windows and Linux, a similar action is typically mapped to Ctrl+W or Ctrl+F4, depending on the program.

Usage considerations: If there are unsaved changes, most applications prompt the user before closing. Behavior can vary by app, so users should be aware that Cmd+W may close a window, a tab, or a document depending on context. It remains a widely used shortcut in tabbed interfaces and window-based workflows on macOS.