klaviatur

Klaviatur is a German term that denotes a keyboard or a set of keys used to operate instruments or devices. In music, it refers to the keyboard of instruments such as the piano, organ, harpsichord, and clavichord. In computing and office technology, Klaviatur describes the input array of keys used to enter characters and commands. The term thus covers both musical keyboards and device keyboards.

Musical keyboards arrange notes on white and black keys and have evolved from early keyboard instruments to modern electronic synthesizers. A standard modern piano keyboard has 88 keys, spanning seven and a quarter octaves; other instruments may use different counts. The Klaviatur is played by pressing keys that trigger pitches via hammers or electronic generation, with touch, velocity, and sometimes aftertouch affecting volume and timbre. In performance and music production, keyboard layouts may include additional controls such as pitch bend and modulation wheels integrated with the instrument or interface.

For input devices, the Klaviatur comprises keys that input letters, numbers, and symbols. The widely used English layout is QWERTY; in German-speaking regions the common layout is QWERTZ, swapping Y and Z. French keyboards use AZERTY; German keyboards also include keys for umlauts (ä, ö, ü) and the ß character. Variants exist, including ergonomic, compact, and mechanical keyboards, as well as virtual keyboards on touchscreens.

Today, Klaviatur also refers to on-screen or software keyboards used by computers and mobile devices. In German technical writing, the term is used alongside Tastatur to describe keyboard interfaces, input methods, and related hardware.