The keyboard nobody binds

284 key values · 19 bound

Every key value the platform defines, against the keys the Authoring Practices actually bind.

The finding. The platform names 284 keys. The ARIA Authoring Practices bind nineteen of them, plus four printable characters. Twelve of the eighteen families are bound by nothing at all — every one of the 72 media-controller keys, all 30 TV keys, all 30 IME and composition keys, the whole of audio, speech, browser and mobile-phone. What is bound is navigation, whitespace and modifiers: the keyboard of 1984, completely covered, with everything standardised since left silent.

Eighteen families, and what any pattern binds

Each bar is one section of the specification, drawn to the number of key values it defines. The filled part is what the Authoring Practices bind. 12 of 18 are empty.

Special Keys 0/1
Modifier Keys 3/14
Whitespace Keys 2/2
Navigation Keys 8/8
Editing Keys 2/12
UI Keys 1/15
Device Keys 0/10
IME and Composition Keys 0/30
General-Purpose Function Keys 3/16
Multimedia Keys 0/21
Multimedia Numpad Keys 0/2
Audio Keys 0/17
Speech Keys 0/2
Application Keys 0/13
Browser Keys 0/7
Mobile Phone Keys 0/12
TV Keys 0/30
Media Controller Keys 0/72

The nineteen

Every named key value bound by any of the thirty patterns, with how many patterns bind it. Four more — Space, A, U and * — are printable characters and have no named key value at all.

Enter 13 Accordion Pattern (Sections With Show/Hide Functionality) · Button · Combobox · Disclosure (Show/Hide) …
ArrowDown 13 Combobox · Grid (Interactive Tabular Data and Layout Containers) · Listbox · Menu Button …
ArrowUp 13 Combobox · Grid (Interactive Tabular Data and Layout Containers) · Listbox · Menu Button …
Shift 12 Accordion Pattern (Sections With Show/Hide Functionality) · Carousel (Slide Show or Image Rotator) · Dialog (Modal) · Grid (Interactive Tabular Data and Layout Containers) …
Tab 11 Accordion Pattern (Sections With Show/Hide Functionality) · Carousel (Slide Show or Image Rotator) · Combobox · Dialog (Modal) …
ArrowLeft 11 Combobox · Grid (Interactive Tabular Data and Layout Containers) · Listbox · Menu and Menubar …
ArrowRight 11 Combobox · Grid (Interactive Tabular Data and Layout Containers) · Listbox · Menu and Menubar …
End 11 Combobox · Feed · Listbox · Menu and Menubar …
Home 11 Combobox · Feed · Listbox · Menu and Menubar …
Control 5 Combobox · Feed · Listbox · Tree View …
PageDown 5 Combobox · Feed · Slider · Spinbutton …
PageUp 5 Combobox · Feed · Slider · Spinbutton …
Escape 5 Combobox · Dialog (Modal) · Grid (Interactive Tabular Data and Layout Containers) · Menu and Menubar …
Alt 4 Button · Combobox · Feed · Menu and Menubar
F10 3 Link · Menu and Menubar · Tabs
Delete 2 Combobox · Tabs
Backspace 1 Combobox
F2 1 Grid (Interactive Tabular Data and Layout Containers)
F6 1 Window Splitter

Filter by key, family or usage

Bound

Conformance

Key value	Family	Req.	Code	Bound by
`Unidentified`	Special Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Alt`	Modifier Keys	yes	—	4 patterns
`AltGraph`	Modifier Keys	yes	—	nothing
`CapsLock`	Modifier Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Control`	Modifier Keys	yes	—	5 patterns
`Fn`	Modifier Keys	—	same name	nothing
`FnLock`	Modifier Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Meta`	Modifier Keys	yes	—	nothing
`NumLock`	Modifier Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`ScrollLock`	Modifier Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Shift`	Modifier Keys	yes	—	12 patterns
`Symbol`	Modifier Keys	—	—	nothing
`SymbolLock`	Modifier Keys	—	—	nothing
`Hyper`	Modifier Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Super`	Modifier Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Enter`	Whitespace Keys	yes	same name	13 patterns
`Tab`	Whitespace Keys	yes	same name	11 patterns
`ArrowDown`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	13 patterns
`ArrowLeft`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	11 patterns
`ArrowRight`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	11 patterns
`ArrowUp`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	13 patterns
`End`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	11 patterns
`Home`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	11 patterns
`PageDown`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	5 patterns
`PageUp`	Navigation Keys	yes	same name	5 patterns
`Backspace`	Editing Keys	yes	same name	1 pattern
`Clear`	Editing Keys	—	—	nothing
`Copy`	Editing Keys	—	same name	nothing
`CrSel`	Editing Keys	—	—	nothing
`Cut`	Editing Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Delete`	Editing Keys	yes	same name	2 patterns
`EraseEof`	Editing Keys	—	—	nothing
`ExSel`	Editing Keys	—	—	nothing
`Insert`	Editing Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Paste`	Editing Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Redo`	Editing Keys	—	—	nothing
`Undo`	Editing Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Accept`	UI Keys	—	—	nothing
`Again`	UI Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Attn`	UI Keys	—	—	nothing
`Cancel`	UI Keys	—	—	nothing
`ContextMenu`	UI Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Escape`	UI Keys	yes	same name	5 patterns
`Execute`	UI Keys	—	—	nothing
`Find`	UI Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Help`	UI Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Pause`	UI Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Play`	UI Keys	—	—	nothing
`Props`	UI Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Select`	UI Keys	—	same name	nothing
`ZoomIn`	UI Keys	—	—	nothing
`ZoomOut`	UI Keys	—	—	nothing
`BrightnessDown`	Device Keys	—	—	nothing
`BrightnessUp`	Device Keys	—	—	nothing
`Eject`	Device Keys	—	same name	nothing
`LogOff`	Device Keys	—	—	nothing
`Power`	Device Keys	—	same name	nothing
`PowerOff`	Device Keys	—	—	nothing
`PrintScreen`	Device Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Hibernate`	Device Keys	—	—	nothing
`Standby`	Device Keys	—	—	nothing
`WakeUp`	Device Keys	—	same name	nothing
`AllCandidates`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Alphanumeric`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`CodeInput`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Compose`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Convert`	IME and Composition Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Dead`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`FinalMode`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`GroupFirst`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`GroupLast`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`GroupNext`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`GroupPrevious`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`ModeChange`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`NextCandidate`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`NonConvert`	IME and Composition Keys	—	same name	nothing
`PreviousCandidate`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Process`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`SingleCandidate`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`HangulMode`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`HanjaMode`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`JunjaMode`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Eisu`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Hankaku`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Hiragana`	IME and Composition Keys	—	same name	nothing
`HiraganaKatakana`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`KanaMode`	IME and Composition Keys	—	same name	nothing
`KanjiMode`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Katakana`	IME and Composition Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Romaji`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`Zenkaku`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`ZenkakuHankaku`	IME and Composition Keys	—	—	nothing
`F1`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F2`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	1 pattern
`F3`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F4`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F5`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F6`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	1 pattern
`F7`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F8`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F9`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F10`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	3 patterns
`F11`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`F12`	General-Purpose Function Keys	yes	same name	nothing
`Soft1`	General-Purpose Function Keys	—	—	nothing
`Soft2`	General-Purpose Function Keys	—	—	nothing
`Soft3`	General-Purpose Function Keys	—	—	nothing
`Soft4`	General-Purpose Function Keys	—	—	nothing
`ChannelDown`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`ChannelUp`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`Close`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MailForward`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MailReply`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MailSend`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaClose`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaFastForward`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaPause`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaPlay`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaPlayPause`	Multimedia Keys	—	same name	nothing
`MediaRecord`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaRewind`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaStop`	Multimedia Keys	—	same name	nothing
`MediaTrackNext`	Multimedia Keys	—	same name	nothing
`MediaTrackPrevious`	Multimedia Keys	—	same name	nothing
`New`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`Open`	Multimedia Keys	—	same name	nothing
`Print`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`Save`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`SpellCheck`	Multimedia Keys	—	—	nothing
`Key11`	Multimedia Numpad Keys	—	—	nothing
`Key12`	Multimedia Numpad Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioBalanceLeft`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioBalanceRight`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioBassBoostDown`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioBassBoostToggle`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioBassBoostUp`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioFaderFront`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioFaderRear`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioSurroundModeNext`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioTrebleDown`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioTrebleUp`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`AudioVolumeDown`	Audio Keys	—	same name	nothing
`AudioVolumeUp`	Audio Keys	—	same name	nothing
`AudioVolumeMute`	Audio Keys	—	same name	nothing
`MicrophoneToggle`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`MicrophoneVolumeDown`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`MicrophoneVolumeUp`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`MicrophoneVolumeMute`	Audio Keys	—	—	nothing
`SpeechCorrectionList`	Speech Keys	—	—	nothing
`SpeechInputToggle`	Speech Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchApplication1`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchApplication2`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchCalendar`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchContacts`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchMail`	Application Keys	—	same name	nothing
`LaunchMediaPlayer`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchMusicPlayer`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchPhone`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchScreenSaver`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchSpreadsheet`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchWebBrowser`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchWebCam`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`LaunchWordProcessor`	Application Keys	—	—	nothing
`BrowserBack`	Browser Keys	—	same name	nothing
`BrowserFavorites`	Browser Keys	—	same name	nothing
`BrowserForward`	Browser Keys	—	same name	nothing
`BrowserHome`	Browser Keys	—	same name	nothing
`BrowserRefresh`	Browser Keys	—	same name	nothing
`BrowserSearch`	Browser Keys	—	same name	nothing
`BrowserStop`	Browser Keys	—	same name	nothing
`AppSwitch`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`Call`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`Camera`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`CameraFocus`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`EndCall`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`GoBack`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`GoHome`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`HeadsetHook`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`LastNumberRedial`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`Notification`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`MannerMode`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`VoiceDial`	Mobile Phone Keys	—	—	nothing
`TV`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TV3DMode`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVAntennaCable`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVAudioDescription`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVAudioDescriptionMixDown`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVAudioDescriptionMixUp`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVContentsMenu`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVDataService`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInput`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputComponent1`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputComponent2`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputComposite1`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputComposite2`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputHDMI1`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputHDMI2`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputHDMI3`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputHDMI4`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVInputVGA1`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVMediaContext`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVNetwork`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVNumberEntry`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVPower`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVRadioService`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVSatellite`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVSatelliteBS`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVSatelliteCS`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVSatelliteToggle`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVTerrestrialAnalog`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVTerrestrialDigital`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`TVTimer`	TV Keys	—	—	nothing
`AVRInput`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`AVRPower`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ColorF0Red`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ColorF1Green`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ColorF2Yellow`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ColorF3Blue`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ColorF4Grey`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ColorF5Brown`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ClosedCaptionToggle`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Dimmer`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`DisplaySwap`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`DVR`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Exit`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteClear0`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteClear1`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteClear2`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteClear3`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteRecall0`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteRecall1`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteRecall2`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteRecall3`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteStore0`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteStore1`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteStore2`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`FavoriteStore3`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Guide`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`GuideNextDay`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`GuidePreviousDay`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Info`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`InstantReplay`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Link`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ListProgram`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`LiveContent`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Lock`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaApps`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaAudioTrack`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaLast`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaSkipBackward`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaSkipForward`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaStepBackward`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaStepForward`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`MediaTopMenu`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`NavigateIn`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`NavigateNext`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`NavigateOut`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`NavigatePrevious`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`NextFavoriteChannel`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`NextUserProfile`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`OnDemand`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Pairing`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`PinPDown`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`PinPMove`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`PinPToggle`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`PinPUp`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`PlaySpeedDown`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`PlaySpeedReset`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`PlaySpeedUp`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`RandomToggle`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`RcLowBattery`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`RecordSpeedNext`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`RfBypass`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ScanChannelsToggle`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ScreenModeNext`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Settings`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`SplitScreenToggle`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`STBInput`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`STBPower`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Subtitle`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Teletext`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`VideoModeNext`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`Wink`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing
`ZoomToggle`	Media Controller Keys	—	—	nothing

“Required” is a conformance column, not a usage one — only 39 of 284 key values must be produced by a conforming implementation, and it should not be read as “common”. Printable characters are generated by the Unicode Values algorithm rather than listed, so 4 of the keys the Authoring Practices bind (Space, A, *, U) have no named key value and are counted separately. The key-to-pattern join uses an explicit spelling map, because the Authoring Practices name the same key more than one way.

What this cannot tell you.

This counts what is bound in published patterns, not what any interface does. An application may bind anything; the Authoring Practices are guidance for thirty named patterns, and nothing more is claimed.
Required is a conformance column, not a usage one. Thirty-nine of the 284 must be produced by a conforming implementation. It does not mean common, and this collection never reads it as such.
Printable characters — letters, digits, punctuation — are generated by the Unicode Values algorithm rather than listed, so the 284 is the named keyboard. Four of the keys the Authoring Practices bind (Space, A, U, *) have no named key value and are counted separately.
The Authoring Practices name the same key more than one way — Arrow Left and Left arrow, Control and control. The spelling map that reconciles them is this site’s own and is listed in the prep script so it can be argued with.
A key value and a code value are different things — one is what the character means, the other which physical switch was pressed. Only 70 of the 284 key values share a name with a code value, and no row here claims the two specifications state a correspondence: they do not.
Silence is not disapproval. A family with no bindings may simply have no pattern that needs it — but a standardised, transmittable key that no published pattern uses is still a fact worth counting.

Source. UI Events key values × ARIA Authoring Practices · W3C Software and Document Licence · retrieved 2026-08-14. This collection is derived · two sources joined.

The documents. UI Events key values · UI Events code values · ARIA Authoring Practices Guide

5 Whole systems open

3 Patterns open

1 Primitives open

G Collections open

S The Stairwell open

B The Basement open

The rest of the building

The desk

The keyboard nobody binds

Eighteen families, and what any pattern binds

The nineteen