kláves

Kláves is a Czech term referring to a key on a keyboard. In common usage, it denotes either a single physical key on a keyboard instrument such as a piano, or the keys on a keyboard device used for input, such as a computer keyboard. The word is used in both musical and non-musical contexts and is closely related to the term klávesnice, meaning keyboard as a device or interface.

In musical instruments, klávesy form a row of white and black keys that control pitch. When pressed on a piano, a mechanism releases a hammer to strike strings, producing sound. On electronic keyboards and synthesizers, pressing a key triggers an electrical signal or digital sound. A standard acoustic piano has 88 keys, spanning about seven octaves plus a minor range.

In non-musical contexts, klávesy are the keys on typewriters or computer keyboards. Each key acts as a switch that closes a circuit to register a character or command. Computer keyboards use layouts such as QWERTY or language-specific variants, and come in various switch types, including mechanical, optical, and membrane, with different key travel and tactile feedback.

Beyond individual keys, kláves may be described by action (heavy versus light), by features such as backlighting, or by their suitability for musical versus typing tasks. The term emphasizes the interface element that a user presses to interact with a device or instrument.