The Option key, , is a modifier key present on Apple keyboards. It is located between the Control key and the Command key on a typical Mac keyboard. There are two Option keys on modern (as of 2020) Mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. (As of 2005, some laptops had only one to make room for the arrow keys.)
Apple commonly uses the symbol to represent the Option key. From 1980 to 1984, on the Apple II series, this key was known as the closed apple key, and had a black line drawing of a filled-in apple on it.
Since the 1990s, "alt" has sometimes appeared on the key as well, for use as an Alt key with non-Mac software, such as Unix and Windows programs; as of 2017, the newest Apple keyboards such as the Magic Keyboard no longer include the "alt" label. The Option key in a Mac operating system functions differently from the Alt key under other Unix-like systems or Microsoft Windows. It is not used to access menus or hotkeys but is instead used as a modifier for other command codes, as well as to provide easier access to various accents and symbols. In this regard, it is akin to the AltGr key, found on some IBM-compatible PC keyboards.
Use of the Option key
Alternative keyboard input
The use of the Option key is similar to that of the AltGr key on European keyboards of IBM-compatible PCs, in the sense that it can be used to type additional characters, symbols and diacritical marks. The options available differ depending on the keyboard input locale that the user has selected. For example, in the U.S. English keyboard input, produces the "å" character, and produces the cent sign "¢".
The Option key can also provide access to dead key functionality. For example, holding down while pressing will create a highlighted grave accent which will be added to the next letter if possible – so if an is then pressed, the resultant character is è. If an is pressed instead, the two characters are not compatible so the result is `r.
The highlighted orange keys show the accents available from the combination of the key and the keyboard characters . The accent then can be applied to associated letters both lower and uppercase. The additional characters a Mac will produce are a combination of both the key and the key pressed down together. With this combination pressed the keyboard will now produce a different set or an uppercase version of the previous set in some cases.
Notice that holding the shift key as well as the option key while pressing a letter key may create "capital" versions of what results when the same letter key is pressed while the option key but not the shift key is held. For example: results in å. results in Å. results in ç. results in Ç. results in ø. results in Ø. results in æ. results in Æ.
The Option key is often used in conjunction with special keys like , , and to provide alternate functions. For example, typically produces a line break that is not interpreted as a paragraph break.
Alternative buttons and menu items
The key is also used to provide for alternative menu items and buttons when pressed down. Examples: Safari, Finder – the Option key causes the "Close Window" menu item to switch to "Close All Windows" when pressed down. Consequently, clicking a window's close box with the option key depressed invokes "close all" as well. This functionality is a de facto Macintosh standard and available in numerous other programs. Dock – the Option key causes the "Hide" and "Quit" menu items in the context menu of a Dock icon to switch to "Hide Others" and "Force Quit". iTunes – the Create Playlist button switches to a Create Smart Playlist button. Holding Option and clicking the green Window Zoom (+) button at the top-left forces the iTunes window into fullscreen view, rather than switching between the user-set window size and the iTunes Mini Player. iPhoto – the rotate image button toggles between a "rotate right" and a "rotate left". Menu bar items – the Sound icon will show Audio Device input / output settings instead of the volume control slider, the battery item will show the condition of the battery, the MobileMe sync item will show the last sync date/time of individual synced items and will offer additional menu items such as Sync Diagnostics, and the Wireless icon will show extended wireless network information and, in Mac OS X Lion, offer an item for launching a Wi-Fi diagnostic application (when AirPort is connected).