CtrlShift

CtrlShift refers to the keyboard shortcut formed by pressing the Control (Ctrl) and Shift modifier keys together. It is not a standalone program or protocol, but a common pattern used by many applications to extend or modify the behavior of other keys. On Windows and Linux systems, Ctrl and Shift are used as separate modifiers and are often combined with letters, numbers, or function keys; on macOS, analogous actions are typically mapped to the Command (Cmd) key in combination with Shift, rather than Ctrl, and the term CtrlShift is less common in its documentation.

Common examples across software include these patterns: in web browsers, Ctrl+Shift+N opens a new incognito/private window; Ctrl+Shift+T reopens a recently closed tab; Ctrl+Shift+I opens developer tools in many browsers. In Windows File Explorer, Ctrl+Shift+N creates a new folder. In many integrated development environments and editors, Ctrl+Shift+P opens the command palette, and Ctrl+Shift+F initiates a project-wide search. The exact actions assigned to Ctrl+Shift vary by application and platform, reflecting the lack of a universal standard for two-key modifier shortcuts.

Overall, CtrlShift serves as a graphic shorthand for a class of high-priority or advanced shortcuts that require multiple modifiers, distinguishing them from single-key or single-modifier commands and enabling more complex interactions across software environments.