Why is the Alt Key Called the "Option" Key?

[PeteB]

This is quite possibly way too much of a newbish question....

Ok, so this is something that's confused me ever since I got a Mac.

Everyone talks about Option-whatever key stroke and it took me a while (a long while!) to figure out they were referring to the "Alt" key.

So. Why the difference in naming here?

 

[BlueRevolution]

On Macs it's Option, on Windows it's Alt. As modifiers, they do different things. On Windows, is used in combos, but alone it mostly controls menus. On Macs, when not in a combo, it's used for special character input, among others.

˜˙†˙∫…∑µ∆˚≈∆

The difference in names? About 25 years.

 

[d.aneaston666]

On Macs it's Option, on Windows it's Alt.

Nope. On my Apple MacBook Pro it definitely says 'Alt' on the Alt... sorry, Option key.

 

[d.aneaston666]

I also don't get the 'Apple key' thing. PCs definitely have a Windows key - it has a little windows logo on it.

But the Apple key has 'cmd' (command) and a random picture. Nothing about Apples.

 

[Osarkon]

Nope. On my Apple MacBook Pro it definitely says 'Alt' on the Alt... sorry, Option key.

Same goes for me. But I think with the newer keyboards, it's now changed to say Option?

I have the old wired keyboard, and the first gen Macbook.

 

[DeusInvictus7]

On the Unibodies, it has "alt" on the top left of the key in small font, and then "option" across the bottom in bigger font.

 

[BlueRevolution]

I also don't get the 'Apple key' thing. PCs definitely have a Windows key - it has a little windows logo on it.

But the Apple key has 'cmd' (command) and a random picture. Nothing about Apples.

What you need is a bit of history. Meet my iBook G3:

 

[Osarkon]

So even the old mac's have Option on their keyboards? How odd.

I wonder what the difference is. Country perhaps?

 

[BlueRevolution]

The difference is that they're Macs. Macs use option, not alt.

What you should be asking yourself is why a G3 machine would have "alt" on the key. It has never even seen Windows. Well, you've got me there.

 

[d.aneaston666]

What you need is a bit of history. Meet my iBook G3:

I'll get right on to Apple and ask them to make sure they supply an iBook G3 with all new purchases.

 

[andrew upstairs]

I miss the little on the command key. 🙁

 

[Beerfloat]

Because it's an alternative kind of option. 🙄

 

[Beerfloat]

I'll get right on to Apple and ask them to make sure they supply an iBook G3 with all new purchases.

Well played sir 😀

 

[BlueRevolution]

I'll get right on to Apple and ask them to make sure they supply an iBook G3 with all new purchases.

Please do. They're sweet little machines!

I haven't heard anyone refer to it as the Apple key in years. Obvious reasons, perhaps?

 

[SkyBell]

Please do. They're sweet little machines!

I haven't heard anyone refer to it as the Apple key in years. Obvious reasons, perhaps?

I still call it the Apple key, and get a little confused for a moment when people call it the Option key. Of course that's because I'm still stuck in the PPC age. 😛

 

[Tallest Skil]

I haven't heard anyone refer to it as the Apple key in years. Obvious reasons, perhaps?

Pshh... I still call it "Open Apple" and I'm trying to teach myself to call Option "Closed Apple".

I still call it the Apple key, and get a little confused for a moment when people call it the Option key. Of course that's because I'm still stuck in the PPC age. 😛

Hang on, now that's confusing. Command kept its Apple far longer than Option did. 😛

 

[PeteB]

Weirdness... Talk about a lack of consistency..

All I have on my key is "Alt" and a weird little symbol.

I've pretty much got used to the cmd key, so by process of elimination, "Option" must be the only other key that I don't know what the heck is....

 

[BlueRevolution]

Pshh... I still call it "Open Apple" and I'm trying to teach myself to call Option "Closed Apple".

Okay, resetting that counter to 0 days now. 😛

Weirdness... Talk about a lack of consistency..

All I have on my key is "Alt" and a weird little symbol.

I've pretty much got used to the cmd key, so by process of elimination, "Option" must be the only other key that I don't know what the heck is....

Option = alt = ⌥

 

[jmann]

I call it Option but I've never owned a mac with an apple on it's key. 😱

 

[SkyBell]

Hang on, now that's confusing. Command kept its Apple far longer than Option did. 😛

...Well, that was a fail on my part. 😱

 

[Jisuo]

On the Unibodies, it has "alt" on the top left of the key in small font, and then "option" across the bottom in bigger font.

Not mine, it has Alt top left and ⌥ at the bottom.

 

[Bacong]

I miss the little on the command key. 🙁

🙁 me too

My powerbook still has one 😀

 

[SecondDealer]

I miss the apple button as well, my old school computer has one but I never use it anymore. The option key isn't called Alt or hadnt been at least because Apple computers are supposed to be "different"

 

[neonblue2]

That odd symbol on the Alt/Option key is the Option symbol. It's meant to resemble a circuit where there are two "options".

It's a pretty historical symbol. It, and the Clover/Apple/Command key, have been around since the first Mac.

Search around Folklore.org for the exact history.

 

[andrew upstairs]

That odd symbol on the Alt/Option key is the Option symbol. It's meant to resemble a circuit where there are two "options".

What odd symbol on the alt/option key? The only symbol that's ever been on that is the

Are you talking about the command symbol? Then that is the Gorgon loop, the infinity matrix, Saint John's Arms, or Saint Hannes Cross.