Return and Enter Are Two Different Keys

guest · Jul 22, 2020

Return and Enter Are Two Different Keys
July 20, 2020
https://daringfireball.net/2020/07/return_and_enter

A New York Times mini crossword clue over the weekend was based on the notion that “Enter” is just a synonym for the Return key. It’s not. They’re two different keys that usually perform the same action, but not always.

All keyboards have a dedicated Return key — it’s the big key you’re thinking of above the right Shift key. On a Mac, the key code when you press Return is 36, and the glyph for the key is ↵.
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A dedicated Enter key is generally only present on extended keyboards with a numeric keypad — it’s the key in the lower-right corner and is generally the only oversized key on the keyboard that is larger vertically, not horizontally. Its Mac key code is 76 and its glyph is ⌅. Just look at such a keyboard: the Return key says “Return”, and the Enter key says “Enter”.
If your keyboard doesn’t have a dedicated Enter key, you can type the Enter key by pressing Fn-Return. That’s why some Return keys have “Enter” printed in small type above the word “Return”.

Return and Enter do usually perform the same action, but not always: [...]
As a general rule, when they differ, Return is simply the key for typing a newline character (which, on classic Mac OS, was literally a return character, but let’s not get into that here), whereas Enter enters what you’ve already typed without adding a new line.2
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bellgamin · Jul 22, 2020

Verrrry interesting!

I didn't know that.

Rasheed187 · Jul 25, 2020

I'm not sure if I understood correctly, but I do know that with the web-based Facebook Messenger it's a mess. Normally speaking I use the Enter key to go to the next line when typing, but with FB Messenger it actually sends the message, so annoying.

honey46222 · Jul 25, 2020

Rasheed187 said: ↑

-
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I'm assuming you know this, but just in case. Use Cont-Enter to go to the next line when using Facebook Messenger.

Rasheed187 · Jul 27, 2020

honey46222 said: ↑

I'm assuming you know this, but just in case. Use Cont-Enter to go to the next line when using Facebook Messenger.
Click to expand...

Actually, I didn't so thanks for the tip!

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