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German keyboard layout
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The German keyboard layout is the keyboard layout used in Austria and Germany for the German language, and is the most common of QWERTZ keyboard layouts widely used in Central and Southeast Europe. It is based on one defined in a former edition (October 1988) of the German standard DIN 2137–2. The current edition DIN 2137-1:2012-06 standardizes it as the first (basic) one of three layouts, calling it "T1" (Tastaturbelegung 1, "keyboard layout 1").
The German layout differs from the English (US and UK) layouts in four major ways:
- The positions of the "Z" and "Y" keys are switched. In English, the letter "y" is very common and the letter "z" is relatively rare, whereas in German the letter "z" is very common and the letter "y" is very uncommon.[1] The German layout places "z" in a position where it can be struck by the index finger, rather than by the weaker little finger.
- Part of the keyboard is adapted to include umlauted vowels (ä, ö, ü) and the sharp s (ß). (Some newer types of German keyboards offer the fixed assignment Alt+++H → ẞ for its capitalized version.)
- Some of special key inscriptions are changed to a graphical symbol (e.g. ⇪ Caps Lock is an upward arrow, ← Backspace a leftward arrow). Most of the other abbreviations are replaced by German abbreviations (thus e.g. "Ctrl" is translated to its German equivalent "Strg", for Steuerung). "Esc" remains as such. (See § Key labels.)
- Like many other non-American keyboards, German keyboards change the right Alt key into an Alt Gr key to access a third level of key assignments. This is necessary because the umlauts and some other special characters leave no room to have all the special symbols of ASCII, needed by programmers among others, available on the first or second (shifted) levels without unduly increasing the size of the keyboard.
General information
[edit]
Clickable image: Click on any symbol to open the Wikipedia article on that symbol.The characters ², ³, { , [ , ] , } , \ , @, |, µ, ~, and € are accessed by holding the AltGr key and tapping the other key. The Alt key on the left will not access these additional characters. Alternatively Strg+Alt and pressing the respective key also produce the alternative characters in many environments, in order to support keyboards that only have one left Alt key.[2]
The accent keys ^, ´, ` are dead keys: press and release an accent key, then press a letter key to produce accented characters (ô, á, ù, etc.; the current DIN 2137-1:2012-06 extends this for e.g. ń, ś etc.). If the entered combination is not encoded in Unicode by a single code point (precomposed character), most current implementations cause the display of a free-standing (spacing) version of the accent followed by the unaccented base letter. For users with insufficient typing skills this behaviour (which is explicitly not compliant with the current DIN 2137-1:2012-06) leads to mistype a spacing accent instead of an apostrophe (e.g., it´s instead of correctly it's).[3]
Note that the semicolon and colon are accessed by using the ⇧ Shift key.
The "T1" layout lacks some important characters like the German-style quotation marks („“ and ‚‘). As a consequence, these are seldom used in internet communication and usually replaced by " and '.
The "T2" layout newly defined in DIN 2137-1:2012-06 was designed to overcome such restrictions, but firstly to enable typing of other languages written in the Latin script. Therefore, it contains several additional diacritical marks and punctuation characters, including the full set of German, English, and French-style quotation marks in addition to the typographic apostrophe, the prime, the double prime, and the ʻokina.
The image shows characters to be entered using AltGr in the lower left corner of each key depiction (characters not contained in the "T1" layout are marked red). Diacritical marks are marked by a flat rectangle which also indicates the position of the diacritical mark relative to the base letter.
The characters shown at the right border of a keytop are accessed by first pressing a dead key sequence of AltGr plus the × multiplication sign. This X-like symbol may be thought of as an "extra" dead key or "extra" accent type, used to access "miscellaneous" letters that do not have a specific accent type like diaeresis or circumflex. Symbols on the right border shown in green have both upper-case and lower-case forms; the corresponding capital letter is available by pressing the Shift key simultaneously with the symbol key. For instance, to type the lower-case æ ligature, hold the AltGr key and type ×, then release both keys and type the (unshifted) A key. To type the upper-case Æ ligature, hold the AltGr key and type ×, then release both keys, hold Shift and type the (shifted) A key. An active Caps Lock can be used instead of the Shift key to obtain the Æ ligature and similar letters.
In addition, DIN 2137-1:2012-06 defines a layout "T3", which is a superset of "T2" incorporating the whole "secondary group" as defined in ISO/IEC 9995-3:2010. Thus, it enables to write several minority languages (e.g. Sami) and transliterations, but is more difficult to comprehend than the "T2" layout, and therefore not expected to be accepted by a broad audience beyond experts who need this functionality.
Key labels
[edit]Contrary to many other languages, German keyboards are usually not labeled in English (in fact, DIN 2137-1:2012-06 requires either the symbol according to ISO/IEC 9995-7 or the German abbreviation is to be used, with "Esc" and "AltGr" as exceptions). The abbreviations used on German keyboards are:
| German label | English equivalent |
|---|---|
| Steuerung (Strg) | Ctrl (Control) |
| Einfügen (Einfg) | Insert (Ins) |
| Entfernen (Entf) | Delete (Del) |
| Bild auf/Bild nach oben (Bild↑) | Page Up (PgUp) |
| Bild ab/Bild nach unten (Bild↓) | Page Down (PgDn) |
| Position eins (Pos1) | Home ("position one") |
| Ende (Ende) | End (end) |
| Drucken / Systemabfrage (Druck/S-Abf) | Print Screen |
| Rollen | Scroll Lock ("to roll") |
| Pause/Unterbrechen (Pause/Untbr) | Pause/Break |
On some keyboards – including the original IBM PC/AT (and later) German keyboards – the asterisk (*) key on the numeric keypad is instead labeled with the multiplication sign (×), and the divide-key is labeled with the division sign (÷) instead of slash (/). However, those keys still generate the asterisk and slash characters, not the multiplication and division signs.
Caps lock
[edit]The behaviour of ⇪ Caps Lock according to former editions of the DIN 2137 standard is inherited from mechanical typewriters: Pressing it once shifts all keys including numbers and special characters until the ⇪ Caps Lock key is pressed again. Holding ⇧ Shift while ⇪ Caps Lock is active unshifts all keys. The current DIN 2137-1:2012-06 simply requests the presence of a "capitals lock" key (which is the name used in the ISO/IEC 9995 series), without any description of its function.
In IT, an alternative behaviour is often preferred, usually described as "IBM", which is the same as ⇪ Caps Lock on English keyboards – only letters are shifted, and hitting ⇪ Caps Lock again releases it.
Both ⇧ Shift and ⇪ Caps Lock lack any textual labels, despite bearing names that are used in texts like manuals. The ⇪ Caps Lock key is called Feststellttaste (locking key) and simply labeled with a large down-arrow (on newer designs pointing to an uppercase A letter). ⇧ Shift is called Umschalttaste (switching key) and labeled with a large up-arrow.
Linux
[edit]
Most Linux distributions include a keymap for German in Germany that extends the T1 layout with a set of characters and dead keys similar, but not identical to the "Outdated common secondary group" of ISO/IEC 9995-3:2002.
History
[edit]![[icon]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2017) |
_keyboard.jpg)
See also
[edit]Notes and references
[edit]- ^ Y bis y-Achse : Deutsch als Fremdsprache | PONS
- ^ Marc Durdin (June 24, 2008). "Robust key message handling in Windows". Retrieved 2020-05-17.
- ^ Markus Kuhn: Apostrophe and acute accent confusion, 2001.
- ^ "That's the margin release. When you near the margin on the right side of the page, a little bell will ring to let you know that you're about five to seven characters away from the margin stop. If you end up hitting the margin anyway, and you still have a letter or two to type, you can press the key with the four dots to override the hard margin for the current line, and squeeze in those extra letters." "monday search term safari LXXVIII". 2009-12-07. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
- ^ "Online Typewriter Manual 1". Archived from the original on 2013-07-23. Retrieved 2013-05-29.
German keyboard layout
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Overview
Physical Design
The German keyboard layout adheres to the ISO physical standard, commonly featuring 105 keys to accommodate European language requirements, including an extra key for the backslash positioned next to the left Shift key, unlike the 104-key ANSI layout prevalent in the United States. Some extended versions incorporate 106 keys by adding dedicated Windows and menu keys between the control and Alt keys on the bottom row. This design ensures compatibility with standard desktop and laptop hardware while supporting the QWERTZ letter order in the alphanumeric section. The keys are organized into distinct blocks for efficient navigation and input: the central alphanumeric block with approximately 47 keys arranged in four staggered rows for the letters and punctuation; a 17-key numeric keypad on the right side for numerical entry; a top row of 12 function keys (F1 through F12) for software shortcuts; and a navigation cluster in the lower right, comprising four dedicated arrow keys in an inverted-T configuration, along with Insert, Delete, Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down for cursor control. The overall form factor promotes a familiar typing posture, with the alphanumeric block centered and the peripheral blocks offset to reduce reach. Dedicated keys for the umlauted characters Ä, Ö, and Ü are integrated into the alphanumeric block, positioned after P (for Ü), after L (for Ö), and after Ö (for Ä), respectively, while the ß key is placed to the right of the 0 key in the number row. These placements facilitate direct access to German-specific characters without requiring modifier combinations for basic use. German-market keyboards often include the Euro symbol (€) printed on the E key, accessible via AltGr + E, reflecting post-1999 adaptations for the currency.[7] Ergonomically, the layout uses a standard key pitch of 19.05 mm horizontally and 18.05 mm vertically between key centers, allowing for comfortable finger travel and reduced fatigue during extended typing sessions. Keycaps are typically constructed from durable ABS plastic, though higher-end models employ PBT for better wear resistance, with surface printing or laser etching for legends. In the German market, keycaps are usually labeled in monolingual German, though bilingual English-German variants are common on international or business-oriented models to aid multilingual users.QWERTZ Arrangement
The QWERTZ arrangement in the German keyboard layout primarily differs from the standard QWERTY layout used in English-speaking countries by swapping the positions of the Y and Z keys, positioning Z in the top row for greater accessibility since it appears more frequently in German text (approximately 1.21% frequency) compared to Y (0.05%).[8][5] This adjustment aligns the layout with German linguistic patterns, where Z is used in common words and digraphs, while Y is rarer and often borrowed from foreign terms. The overall alphabetic sequence follows the QWERTZ pattern to optimize typing efficiency for German speakers by reducing finger movement for high-frequency characters. The numeric row above provides digits 1 through 0 unshifted, with symbols accessed via Shift. The top row of alphabetic keys, from left to right, consists of Q, W, E, R, T, Z, U, I, O, P, followed by Ü and a plus sign (+).[5] The middle row includes A, S, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, followed by Ö, Ä, and a hash symbol (#). The bottom row features a less-than symbol (<), followed by Y, X, C, V, B, N, M, and then comma (,), period (.), and hyphen (-). This configuration maintains a familiar QWERTY-like structure for most letters while incorporating German-specific placements for umlauts directly in the alphabetic rows.| Letter | QWERTY Position (Row) | QWERTZ Position (Row) |
|---|---|---|
| A | Middle | Middle |
| B | Bottom | Bottom |
| C | Bottom | Bottom |
| D | Middle | Middle |
| E | Top | Top |
| F | Middle | Middle |
| G | Middle | Middle |
| H | Middle | Middle |
| I | Top | Top |
| J | Middle | Middle |
| K | Middle | Middle |
| L | Middle | Middle |
| M | Bottom | Bottom |
| N | Bottom | Bottom |
| O | Top | Top |
| P | Top | Top |
| Q | Top | Top |
| R | Top | Top |
| S | Middle | Middle |
| T | Top | Top |
| U | Top | Top |
| V | Bottom | Bottom |
| W | Top | Top |
| X | Bottom | Bottom |
| Y | Top | Bottom |
| Z | Bottom | Top |
Character Mapping
Basic Letters and Numbers
The German keyboard layout adheres to the QWERTZ arrangement for its basic alphanumeric keys, as standardized in DIN 2137-1:2023-08 for the primary "T1" configuration.[9][5] The unshifted letter keys produce the standard 26 Latin letters in lowercase, arranged across three main rows: the top row begins with Q W E R T Z, the home row with A S D F G H, and the bottom row positions Y X C V B N M, with additional keys for Ü Ö Ä and modifiers integrated into the layout.[5] When the Shift key is pressed, these letter keys output the corresponding uppercase versions, facilitating standard capitalization without altering the positional logic.[5] The top row, dedicated to numbers and basic symbols, features keys labeled 1 through 0, followed by ß and ´. In unshifted mode, these yield the digits 1-0 sequentially, then the sharp S (ß) and an acute accent (´).[5] Activating Shift modifies this row to produce punctuation and symbols essential for German typing: Shift+1 outputs ! (exclamation mark), Shift+2 outputs " (quotation mark), Shift+3 outputs § (section sign, frequently used in legal and reference documents), Shift+4 outputs $ (dollar sign), Shift+5 outputs % (percent sign), Shift+6 outputs & (ampersand), Shift+7 outputs / (slash), Shift+8 outputs ( (opening parenthesis), Shift+9 outputs ) (closing parenthesis), Shift+0 outputs = (equals sign), Shift+ß outputs ? (question mark), and Shift+´ outputs ` (backtick).[5] Additionally, the 2 and 3 keys include superscript variants: unshifted 2 and 3 produce the digits, while AltGr+2 and AltGr+3 yield ² and ³, respectively, for mathematical or ordinal notation.[5] Basic punctuation is positioned on the bottom row for efficient access. The keys produce , (comma) unshifted and ; (semicolon) when shifted; . (period) unshifted and : (colon) when shifted; and - (hyphen or minus) unshifted and _ (underscore) when shifted.[5] These mappings support common sentence structure and decimal notation in German contexts. The numeric keypad, typically located to the right of the main keyboard, follows a universal numeric arrangement compatible with the German layout. When Num Lock is engaged, the keys output digits 0-9 in a standard grid (7 8 9 on top, 4 5 6 in the middle, 1 2 3 below, and 0 spanning the bottom with a decimal point key producing , in German locale). Accompanying operation keys include + (addition), - (subtraction), * (multiplication), / (division), and Enter for confirmation. Disabling Num Lock repurposes these keys for cursor navigation and page control, such as Home, End, and arrow movements.| Key Position (Main Keyboard) | Unshifted Output | Shifted Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | ! |
| 2 | 2 | " |
| 3 | 3 | § |
| 4 | 4 | $ |
| 5 | 5 | % |
| 6 | 6 | & |
| 7 | 7 | / |
| 8 | 8 | ( |
| 9 | 9 | ) |
| 0 | 0 | = |
| ß | ß | ? |
| ´ | ´ | ` |
| , (comma key) | , | ; |
| . (period key) | . | : |
| (minus key) | - | _ |
Umlauts and Special Characters
The German keyboard layout, as standardized by DIN 2137-1, includes dedicated keys for the umlauts ä, ö, ü and the sharp s ß to facilitate efficient typing of German-specific characters.[9] These keys are positioned in the main alphanumeric rows: the ä key is located immediately after the ö key (itself after L), producing lowercase ä unshifted and uppercase Ä when shifted; the ö key produces ö unshifted and Ö shifted; the ü key follows P, yielding ü unshifted and Ü shifted; and the ß key is located to the right of the 0 key in the number row, generating ß unshifted and ẞ (uppercase sharp s) shifted.[10] Direct use of the Shift modifier on these dedicated keys produces the proper uppercase umlauts Ä, Ö, Ü, though some historical software lacking full Unicode support may render or substitute them with digraphs like AE, OE, UE in display or storage.[9] In addition to dedicated keys, the layout employs the AltGr modifier (right Alt key) for accessing a third level of characters, including alternate ways to input umlauts and other locale-specific symbols when needed. For instance, AltGr + Y produces ü (serving as an alternate to the dedicated key), and AltGr + S yields ß if a dedicated key is unavailable or remapped in certain configurations.[10] Other common AltGr combinations include AltGr + Q for @, essential for email addresses and web use in German contexts.[10] The euro symbol €, introduced to support the common currency, is accessed primarily via AltGr + E on standard German keyboards.[11] Post-1999 hardware often incorporates the € glyph directly on the 2 key for visual reference, though its input remains tied to the AltGr + E combination rather than a base or shifted state on that key.[11] Further special characters available through AltGr include superscript 2 (²) via AltGr + 2 for mathematical notation, the micro sign µ with AltGr + M, and the backslash \ using AltGr + < (the key to the left of Z).[10] These mappings ensure compatibility with international standards like ISO/IEC 9995 while prioritizing German orthographic needs.[9]Modifier Keys and Behaviors
Shift and AltGr Functions
The left and right Shift keys on the German keyboard layout operate symmetrically to access the second level of characters, producing uppercase versions of letters and the upper symbols on dual-labeled keys. For example, Shift + z inputs "Z", while Shift + / inputs "?".[5] The AltGr key, located immediately to the right of the spacebar, functions as the level 3 modifier, providing access to a third set of characters per key, primarily for international and special symbols, in line with ISO keyboard standards for multi-level layouts.[5] Common combinations include AltGr + 7 for "{", AltGr + 0 for "}", AltGr + 8 for "[", and AltGr + 9 for "]". This setup supports three-character outputs per key for many positions, enhancing compatibility with global typing needs.[5] Dead key functionality in the German layout allows for composing certain diacritics, such as using the circumflex key (^, positioned above the Tab key) followed by a vowel to produce accented forms like â; however, AltGr combinations with dead keys like ^ are not standard, and overall support for such compositions remains limited compared to layouts designed for languages with extensive diacritics, such as French.[12] Specific umlaut outputs can sometimes be accessed via AltGr in extended mappings, though primary access is through dedicated keys.[5]Caps Lock Operation
The Caps Lock key on the German keyboard layout is positioned in the top-left corner, directly above the left Shift key, and is typically labeled with a large down arrow symbol; most modern hardware includes an LED indicator to show when it is active.[13] This key serves as a toggle for uppercase output, inherited from mechanical typewriter designs, where it functions as a shift lock that affects all keys until deactivated. In traditional German typography and early keyboard implementations, activating Caps Lock on umlaut keys results in ligature substitutions rather than diacritic uppercase forms: for example, pressing the ä key with Caps Lock engaged produces "AE", ö produces "OE", ü produces "UE", and ß produces "SS".[14] Since the adoption of Unicode in the 1990s, modern software applications, particularly word processors and text editors, override this legacy behavior to produce true uppercase umlauts (Ä, Ö, Ü) and the standard capitalization of ß to "SS" when Caps Lock is active, ensuring compliance with contemporary typographic standards.[15] This shift enables direct input of proper uppercase diacritics without ligature fallback, leveraging Unicode code points such as U+00C4 for Ä. Behavior can vary across locales, with inconsistencies noted in Swiss German variants, where Caps Lock may require additional steps like combining the dead key (¨) with Shift for reliable uppercase umlauts, differing from the standard German layout's direct mapping.[16] Users facing persistent legacy quirks or desiring consistent uppercase umlaut output often employ OS-level remapping tools, such as the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator on Windows or XKB configuration files on Linux, to redefine Caps Lock behavior for always generating Ä, Ö, and Ü in uppercase mode.[17]Operating System Implementations
Windows
In Microsoft Windows, the default German keyboard layout is configured as "German (Germany)" through the Settings application under Time & Language > Language, where users can add and set it as the preferred input method; this layout adheres to the DIN 2137-1 T1 standard for alphanumeric data entry.[18][3] The input method in this layout provides dedicated keys for umlauts (ä, ö, ü) and the sharp s (ß), resulting in minimal reliance on dead keys, which are primarily used for additional diacritics like the circumflex; the third-level characters are accessed via the AltGr modifier key, with Ctrl+Alt serving as an alternative combination for compatibility in certain applications.[5][19] Customization of the layout is possible through registry modifications for advanced users or via official tools such as the Microsoft Keyboard Layout Creator (MSKLC), which allows remapping of keys and creation of variants like the Neo 2 ergonomic layout for installation as a new input method.[20][6] For legacy support, Windows 95 and later versions introduced partial Unicode compatibility, enabling direct input and display of umlauts without substitutions, whereas earlier systems like Windows 3.1 relied on code pages such as CP850, often requiring AE, OE, and UE as replacements for ä, ö, and ü in non-localized applications.[21][22] Windows provides native integration for 105-key German keyboards, including the dedicated Windows key, which is mapped to invoke the Start menu and supports enhanced functionality in the operating system's input stack without additional drivers.[18][23]macOS
On macOS, the German keyboard layout is configured by selecting the "German" or "German Standard" input source in System Settings under Keyboard > Input Sources, which implements the standard QWERTZ arrangement adapted for Apple's ecosystem. This setup uses the Option key (equivalent to Alt on Windows) to access third-level characters, replacing the dedicated AltGr key found on physical German keyboards. For instance, pressing Option+E inputs the euro symbol €, while umlauts (ä, ö, ü) are entered directly using their dedicated keys; for additional accented characters, Option+U followed by a vowel can produce umlauts on other letters.[24][25] The Option key's dual role can lead to conflicts, particularly with the right Option key, which some applications interpret as a Meta key for shortcuts—such as in Emacs where it triggers commands instead of special characters—potentially disrupting workflows that rely on third-level access. As a result, many users, especially developers needing frequent special character input alongside English-based coding, prefer switching to the "U.S. International" input source; this layout uses dead keys (e.g., quotation mark followed by a, e, or o for umlauts) for easier accented typing without altering the base QWERTY positions.[26][27] For advanced customization, the open-source tool Karabiner-Elements enables detailed remapping of keys on macOS, including support for variants like the German Pro layout tailored for programmers, which emulates PC-style AltGr behaviors for symbols such as brackets and pipes. This software allows both simple key swaps via its GUI and complex rules through JSON configurations, ensuring compatibility with both internal Apple keyboards and external hardware.[28][29] macOS has provided comprehensive Unicode support since Mac OS X 10.0, handling German characters—including uppercase umlauts Ä, Ö, Ü—natively in UTF-8 encoding without resorting to legacy MacRoman substitutions that decomposed diacritics in pre-OS X systems. This ensures consistent rendering across applications and text processing. The layout is optimized for Apple hardware, such as Magic Keyboards, where the Globe key (or Fn key on compact models) facilitates quick switching between input sources via a long press, displaying available options in a menu near the cursor.[30]Linux
In Linux distributions, the German keyboard layout is configured with significant flexibility, leveraging open-source tools for both console and graphical environments. System-wide settings for the console are managed through the/etc/default/keyboard file, where the XKBLAYOUT="de" parameter selects the standard German QWERTZ variant, and options like XKBVARIANT="" or XKBVARIANT="nodeadkeys" can be specified for dead key behavior.[31] In graphical desktop environments such as GNOME, users access configuration via Settings > Region & Language, adding "German" as an input source and selecting the desired layout variant, which applies immediately and supports layout switching with shortcuts like Super + Space.[32]
The X Keyboard Extension (XKB) governs layout mapping in X11 sessions, defining symbols files in /usr/share/X11/xkb/symbols/de for the "de" layout, which includes umlaut support via dead keys (e.g., pressing ^ followed by u yields ü), or the "de(nodeadkeys)" variant for direct input without intermediate states. Temporary adjustments in X sessions are achieved with the setxkbmap de command, while console mode uses loadkeys de to load the keymap, ensuring consistent behavior across text and graphical interfaces.[31]
Linux supports multiple German keyboard variants compliant with the DIN 2137-1:2023 standard, including T1 (basic layout with standard QWERTZ and umlauts), T2 (enhanced for technical symbols via group shift), and T3 (optimized for programming and mathematics), selectable via XKB options like setxkbmap -variant T1 de. The 2023 edition introduced minor updates to symbol mappings, which have been incorporated into recent distributions (e.g., xkeyboard-config 2.43 in 2024). The Neo layout, an ergonomic alternative developed in 2004 for efficient access to over 600 characters across six layers, is also integrated as the "de(neo)" variant, promoting reduced finger movement for special symbols and international text.[3][33]
By default, the right Alt key serves as the AltGr modifier, allowing third-level access to characters like @ (AltGr + Q) or { (AltGr + 7), aligning with German hardware conventions.[31] For more complex compositions, the Compose key—often mapped to an unused key like the right Super—enables sequences such as Compose + " + a to produce ä, providing a fallback for non-standard characters beyond AltGr capabilities.[34]
Distributions like Ubuntu and Debian utilize the console-setup package to handle console keymaps and fonts, replacing the older console-data for improved configuration of German layouts in text mode.[31] Full Unicode support, including proper rendering of umlauts and extended Latin characters, has been integrated into the Linux console since kernel version 2.6, enabling UTF-8 encoding via settings like CHARMAP="UTF-8" in /etc/default/console-setup.[35]