QWERTY

QWERTY is the most common arrangement of keys on keyboards for languages using the Latin alphabet. The name derives from the five letters in the top row on the left side of the keyboard: Q, W, E, R, T, Y. It is used on computer keyboards, modern phones, and earlier typewriters.

The layout originated from 19th-century American typewriters and is associated with the work of Christopher Latham Sholes and his colleagues. When computers emerged, the earlier layout was retained because people who typed had already learned it.

Origin and reason for the arrangement

On early typewriters, each letter had a metal arm that struck the paper. If two arms close together were struck in quick succession, they could jam. The conventional explanation holds that letters commonly adjacent in English were spaced apart to reduce jamming of the arms. Another explanation points to the influence of telegraph operators and business interests.

Variation across languages

Many countries have adapted QWERTY to their needs. France and Belgium use AZERTY; Germany and Austria use QWERTZ. Turkey has two types: Q klavye (a modified QWERTY) and F klavye, which was specifically designed for Turkish. Other variants accommodate letters with diacritical marks such as ñ, ç, or å.

Alternatives and debate over efficiency

Other layouts such as Dvorak and Colemak claim to reduce finger movement. Controlled studies have not shown significant sustained differences in movement speed between people fully trained on each layout. The main reason QWERTY persists is that training, equipment, and software are all built around it—a textbook example of path dependence in technology economics.

Modern use

Modern phones and tablets use virtual on-screen keyboards, mostly QWERTY-based, even though the screen is small and text is typed with two fingers. Operating systems allow users to change the layout for each language.