Found on some keyboards produced by Sun Microsystems and Digital Equipment Corporation. Compose key is a modifier key that allows a user to combine two keys to create another special character not found on the keyboard. The compose key is labeled as “compose key” or “compose key character” on the keyboard.

Examples for the use of the compose keys

  • “~” and “n” = ñ
  • “O” and “R” = ®
  • “O” and “C” = ©
  • “A” and “E” = Æ

Compose, Keyboard terms, Keys

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