alttab

Alttab, typically written Alt-Tab, refers to the keyboard shortcut and accompanying user interface used to switch between open windows or applications on a graphical user interface. Activating it usually involves holding the Alt key and pressing Tab to cycle through a list or grid of open windows, with the current selection highlighted. Releasing the keys activates the selected window. Some environments support reverse cycling (Alt+Shift+Tab) and holding Alt can allow continuous cycling as you press Tab.

Platform implementations vary: on Windows, the switcher shows thumbnails of windows; on macOS, the equivalent is Command-Tab with app icons and optional previews; on Linux and other Unix-like desktops, various window managers implement Alt-Tab with different visuals and ordering, including window previews, application grouping, or most-recently-used ordering. Some environments offer a search field to filter windows as you type.

Customization options include the order of the switcher (most recently used vs. alphabetical), whether minimized windows appear, and keyboard shortcuts to trigger or navigate the list. Accessibility considerations emphasize keyboard-only operation and compatibility with screen readers and high-contrast themes.

The Alt-Tab mechanism is a long-standing standard feature of graphical operating systems, serving as a quick way to switch tasks without navigating through menus. Related concepts include window managers, task switchers, focus management, and other shortcut-based navigation techniques.