CtrlPfeil

CtrlPfeil is a term used in German-language computing to describe a family of keyboard shortcuts that use the Control key in combination with the arrow keys to move the caret or the selection within text-oriented interfaces. The term blends "Ctrl" (Control) and "Pfeil" (arrow) and is widely used across editors, word processors, and development environments.

In many Windows and Linux applications, Ctrl+Left Arrow moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous word, while Ctrl+Right Arrow advances to the beginning of the next word. Ctrl+Up Arrow and Ctrl+Down Arrow can move by paragraphs or scroll the view, depending on the program. Holding Shift typically extends the selection rather than a simple move, and Ctrl+Shift combines both actions.

On macOS, the default word-navigation shortcuts are often Command+Left/Right or Option+Left/Right. Some cross-platform editors implement Ctrl+Left/Right as an equivalent to Windows behavior to reduce key-conflict or to preserve habit for programmers. The Up/Down variants similarly vary by application, sometimes scrolling and sometimes moving between blocks.

Usage contexts include text editing, code navigation, and document review. Some editors and IDEs further tailor CtrlPfeil behavior for token boundaries (e.g., moving by identifiers) or for navigating code blocks, functions, or syntax nodes. Because there is no single universal standard, users should consult the specific application's key bindings.