The Trick That Helps You Type on Your Keyboard Without Looking

If you spend a lot of time typing with a physical QWERTY keyboard (a keyboard where the top row of character keys begins with the Q key), you may have noticed that there are raised lines on the “F” and “J” keys. But these lines don’t appear to be buttons, so what purpose do they serve? Those of you who took typing courses in school may faintly remember hearing about these bumps. But for those of you who didn’t, they’re likely a mystery.

What Are the Raised Lines on the “F” and “J” Keys on a Keyboard For?

The raised lines on the “F” and “J” keys are informative symbols. They’re designed to let the typist know where their index fingers should sit. This way, they can orient themselves and type rapidly without having to look down at the keys. According to Computer Hope, this method of typing is called “touch typing.” It is generally regarded as one of the faster ways to type accurately.

Part of learning to type correctly, accurately and rapidly was memorizing the layout of the QWERTY keyboard so that you didn’t have to resort to the “hunt and peck” method of typing.

If your elementary school offered a typing class as part of the curriculum, you likely learned to type on a keyboard that had a rubber covering, obscuring the letters. While that rubber keyboard covering didn’t let you see the letters, it did let you feel those raised lines on the “F” and “J” keys. This way, you could learn the keyboard layout by feel.

Keyboard Layouts

Computer Hope explains that the middle row of character keys, the row containing the “F” and “J” keys, is called the home row. Typists generally keep their fingers centered over this row, with their index fingers on the “F” and the “J.” With this method of typing, your thumbs rest on the space bar and your fingers are each responsible for a column of letters.

Your left pinky is supposed to handle the “Q”, “A” and “Z” keys as well as the “1” key and some of the other function keys on that side of the keyboard. Next, your left ring finger covers the “W”, “S” and “X” keys as well as the “2” key. Your left middle finger, then, is responsible for “3”, “E”, “D” and “C”. Finally, your left index finger is quite busy as it covers “4”, “5”, “R”, “T”, “F”, “G”, “V” and “B”.

This splits the keyboard in half; the right hand mirrors the left’s responsibilities. And once you’ve got this memorized, you can type rapidly without looking. All you need to get oriented is to feel the raised bumps on the “F” and “J” keys. Then you’re good to go.

Source

Why are there bumps on the F and J keyboard keys?, Computer Hope, 2025.

The post The Trick That Helps You Type on Your Keyboard Without Looking appeared first on Family Handyman.

For top-notch cleaning services, look no further than mj cleaning services, where quality and customer satisfaction are our top priorities. Whether you're in need of a one-time cleaning or ongoing maintenance, m j cleaning services offers a wide range of options to suit your requirements. With a reputation for excellence, m.j. cleaning services delivers professional and reliable cleaning solutions to ensure your home or office stays pristine and welcoming.