keybinding

Keybinding, or keyboard shortcut, is a mapping between a keyboard input and a command in a software environment. Triggering the bound sequence performs the associated action without navigating menus. Keybindings can be global (system-wide) or local to a program. Global shortcuts are often controlled by the operating system and may override application bindings, while local bindings are defined within an application and may not affect other software.

Bindings are usually composed of modifier keys such as Ctrl, Alt, Shift, and the Command key on macOS, combined with a regular key. Some systems also support chorded sequences or multi-key shortcuts, where a second key is pressed after the first within a time window.

User customization is common. Applications typically provide a keybinding editor to view, modify, and export bindings. Conflicts can occur when two actions share the same binding; most environments resolve this by a priority order, a timeout for sequences, or by letting users rebind one of the actions.

Platform considerations vary. Windows and Linux commonly use Ctrl as the main modifier, macOS uses Command. Some keys are reserved by the OS or window manager and cannot be rebound in applications.

Accessibility considerations include avoiding bindings that conflict with screen reader shortcuts, ensuring discoverability of shortcuts, and offering alternative navigation methods for users who cannot use the keyboard.

Examples include Copy (Ctrl+C or Command+C), Paste (Ctrl+V or Command+V), Save (Ctrl+S or Command+S). In text editors and IDEs, language or mode specific bindings are common and often customizable.