control key

First use appears c. 1978 in the publication Practical Computing.

From left to right: A keyboard's control key, Windows key, alt key.

control key (plural control keys)

1. (computing, computer hardware) A key on a personal computer or terminal keyboard used in combination to modify the function of other keys; normally labelled "Ctrl".

• alt key
• enter key
• function key
• return key
• shift key