Updated April 5, 2023
Definition of GNOME Keyboard Shortcuts
Gnome keyboard shortcuts are defined as pre-defined settings that involve one or more keys and a particular combination of the set of keys invokes a previously programmed action by invoking whether the software program or performing editing or capturing images that are visible on the screen. The concept of keyboard shortcuts can be a characteristic of the operating system or even the applications. Sometimes these previous settings can be written by a user in any scripting language which gets interpreted at the runtime rather than being compiled specifically suited for a use case. The keyboard shortcuts are built keeping in mind the user’s comfort in the interaction which will go a long way in expediting common operations, most of which we would learn in this article.
GNOME Keyboard Shortcuts
While the user provides keyboard shortcuts in Gnome, the keyboard inputs are rather pressed and hold off several keys simultaneously or even a particular sequence of keys which are provided one after the other. Some of the shortcuts even use modifier keys or Super keys, along with regular keys to perform the required task. Modifier keys are the keys in the system which by themselves won’t perform a task, but the combination of super keys and regular keys do the job required. Super key is the key present on the left-hand side of the left Alt key. This key has a windows logo on it and is referred to as the Windows key or the system key. In case, one is using an Apple keyboard, the Super key is referred to as the Command key with ⌘ written on top of the key and if one is using chrome book, there is a magnifying glass logo on top of the key. In the introduction, we have mentioned various sets of keyboard shortcuts that are possible for Gnome majorly coming from previously defined operating systems or applications. But the operating system and the application also provide the flexibility to the users to define custom ones that might be very specific to the use case the user is trying to solve.
Without much more discussion let us get started with the shortcuts. The shortcuts are grouped into 3 categories depending on the use case the shortcut is used in and they are:
1. General Keyboard shortcuts for Gnome
a. Alt + F1: This shortcut allows the user to switch between desktop and the application overview. In the application overview, the user can search for applications, documents, contacts, or any other file that is loaded in the system.
b. Alt + F2: This shortcut allows users to use the command window instantly by popping it up for usage. Post the command window is open, the user can use arrows to navigate through any previous command which they have run previously for quick access.
c. Super Key + Tab: This shortcut allows users to switch and toggle between different application windows that are opened up. With the usage of Shift with the combination, one can reverse the direction of the toggle.
d. Super Key + `: This shortcut allows users to switch between windows within the same application. Like toggling different tabs in a web browser.
e. Alt + Esc: This shortcut allows the user to toggle between windows in a current workspace.
f. Super Key + Page Up: This shortcut allows users to switch between different workspaces.
g. Ctrl + Alt + Tab: This shortcut allows the user to focus the keyboard on the top bar. Post which the using the arrow keys to navigate.
h. Super Key + A: This shortcut allows the user to display the list of all the applications.
i. Shift + Super Key + Page Up: This shortcut allows the user the movement of the current window to a different workspace.
j. Shift + Super Key + ←: This shortcut allows the user to move the window to the monitor that is connected on the left-hand side, in case the user is using multiple monitors.
k. Shift + Super Key + →: This shortcut allows the user to move the window to the monitor that is connected on the right-hand side, in case the user is using multiple monitors.
l. Ctrl + Alt + Delete: This shortcut allows the user to pop up the dialogue box that shows the options for Power-Off.
m. Super Key + L: This shortcut allows the user to Lock the screen which will later require the user to enter the password again to access the content of the desktop again.
n. Super Key + V: This shortcut allows users to pop up the notification list. One can press the same combination again or the Esc key to close it.
2. Editing keyboard shortcuts in Gnome:
a. Ctrl + A: This shortcut allows user to select all the text in an application.
b. Ctrl + C: This shortcut allows user to copy the contents of selected text in an application.
c. Ctrl + X: This shortcut allows user to cut the contents of the selected text in an application.
d. Ctrl + V: This shortcut allows user to paste the contents of the selected text in an application
e. Ctrl + Z: This shortcut allows user to undo any previously performed action.
3. Screen capture shortcuts in Gnome:
a. PrtSc/Prnt Scrn: This shortcut allows user to capture the content or take screenshots of whatever is displayed on the screen.
b. Alt + PrtSc/Prnt Scrn: This shortcut allows user to take a screenshot of the current window.
c. Shift + PrtSc/Prnt Scrn: This shortcut allows user to take a screenshot of a specified area of the screen.
d. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R: This shortcut allows user to either start or stops the screencast recording (record whatever is happening on the screen).
Conclusion
In this article, we tried to understand the various keyboard shortcuts, but just a disclaimer that there might be more shortcuts than the ones listed here as we have discussed the major ones here keeping in mind the length of the article!
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