homerow

The homerow, in the context of keyboarding, refers to the row of keys where the typist's fingers rest during touch typing. On most QWERTY keyboards, the left-hand fingers rest on A S D F and the right-hand fingers on J K L ;, with the thumbs positioned over the spacebar. The keys F and J are typically marked with tactile bumps to help orient the hands without looking.

From this baseline, each finger reaches up or across to other keys, returning to the home row after a keystroke. This minimizes finger movement, supports accuracy, and is a foundational element of touch-typing curricula. The home row serves as an anchor point, allowing typists to locate other keys efficiently and maintain steady rhythm.

While QWERTY is the predominant layout in many regions, other keyboard layouts rearrange letters to optimize typing efficiency. In those designs, the home row is often redesigned so frequently used letters lie under the strongest or most agile fingers, reducing movement and increasing speed.

History and pedagogy: The concept originates in mechanical typewriter practice and early typing instruction, where home-row training helped typists transition from hunt-and-peck to touch typing. Modern keyboards retain the concept as a core principle of ergonomics and typing education. In addition to standard keyboards, the home row concept influences ergonomic and split-keyboard designs, where the home row may be aligned with the user’s hands to maximize comfort and reduce strain.