Find and insert symbols for special keys
OS X uses certain special characters to describe the modifier keys required for keyboard shortcuts. When you write about such shortcuts, you may want to include these characters in your text, so you can write ⇧⌘S instead of shift-command-S.
But how do you find these characters?
To find these characters, type part of their Unicode names in PopChar's search field. For example, type "inter" to find the command key symbol. If you need these characters frequently, add them to PopChar's Favorites section, so you can immediately access them with a single click.
Note that these special characters are not available in every font. You can find them in Lucida Grande, in the Unicode blocks "Arrows" and "Miscellaneous Technical".
To find all keyboard symbols in PopChar, copy the following line into PopChar’s “Find Characters” field.
⇧⌃⌘⌥⌧⌫↩⇥←↑→↓⎋⏏⇪⌅↖↘⇞⇟⌦
Here are a few typical keyboard symbols with their Unicode names:
| shift: | ⇧ | UPWARDS WHITE ARROW |
|---|---|---|
| command: | ⌘ | PLACE OF INTEREST SIGN |
| option / alt: | ⌥ | OPTION KEY |
| ctrl: | ⌃ | UP ARROWHEAD |
| caps lock: | ⇪ | UPWARDS WHITE ARROW FROM BAR |
| clear (keypad): | ⌧ | X IN A RECTANGLE BOX |
| backspace: | ⌫ | ERASE TO THE LEFT |
| delete right: | ⌦ | ERASE TO THE RIGHT |
| tab: | ⇥ | RIGHTWARDS ARROW TO BAR |
| return: | ↩ | LEFTWARDS ARROW WITH HOOK |
| enter: | ⌅ | PROJECTIVE |
| cursor left: | ← | LEFTWARDS ARROW |
| cursor right: | → | RIGHTWARDS ARROW |
| cursor up: | ↑ | UPWARDS ARROW |
| cursor down: | ↓ | DOWNWARDS ARROW |
| page up: | ⇞ | UPWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE STROKE |
| page down: | ⇟ | DOWNWARDS ARROW WITH DOUBLE STROKE |
| home: | ↖ | NORTH WEST ARROW |
| end: | ↘ | SOUTH EAST ARROW |
| esc: | ⎋ | BROKEN CIRCLE WITH NORTHWEST ARROW |
| eject: | ⏏ | EJECT SYMBOL |