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[[File:Space-cadet.jpg|thumb|A [[space-cadet keyboard]] has many modifier keys.]]
[[Modifier key]]s are special keys that modify the normal action of another key, when the two are pressed in combination. For example, {{keypress|Alt|F4}} in Microsoft Windows will close the program in an [[active window]]. In contrast, pressing just {{keypress|F4}} will probably do nothing, unless assigned a specific function in a particular program. By themselves, modifier keys usually do nothing.
The most widely used modifier keys include the [[Control key]], [[Shift key]] and the [[Alt key]]. The [[AltGr key]] is used to access additional symbols for keys that have three symbols printed on them. On the Macintosh and Apple keyboards, the modifier keys are the [[Option key]] and [[Command key]], respectively. On [[Sun Microsystems]] and [[Lisp machine]] keyboards, the [[Meta key]] is used as a modifier and for Windows keyboards, there is a [[Windows key]]. Compact keyboard layouts often use a [[Fn key]]. "[[Dead key]]s" allow placement of a [[diacritic]] mark, such as an accent, on the following letter (e.g., the [[Compose key]]).
The enter/return key typically causes a command line, window form or dialog box to operate its default function, which is typically to finish an "entry" and begin the desired process. In word processing applications, pressing the enter key ends a paragraph and starts a new one.
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