CtrlF

Ctrl+F is a keyboard shortcut used in many software environments to invoke the Find command, enabling text search within the active document, web page, or other content. It is most commonly mapped to the Control and F keys on Windows and Linux; on macOS the analogous shortcut is Command+F, though some cross‑platform applications also map Ctrl+F to this action. In some contexts the shortcut is shown as CtrlF.

When triggered, a find interface appears—such as a small in‑page bar, a pop‑up, or a dialog—prompting the user to enter the search string. Depending on the program, results can be highlighted, and navigation controls let the user jump to next or previous matches. Features often include case sensitivity, whole word matching, regular expressions, and incremental search that updates results as characters are typed. Some environments auto‑cycle through matches, while others require explicit confirmation (Enter or F3).

Scope varies: in web browsers it searches the loaded page; in text editors and word processors it searches the current document or open files; in integrated development environments it can search across a project. In Windows File Explorer or Finder, the shortcut often focuses the file search field rather than performing the search itself, depending on the context.

Ctrl+F is a widely adopted usability convention, contributing to consistent navigation and efficiency across applications. Its exact behavior and available options depend on the software and platform.