Talk:Meta key

Meta not a compose key

I've removed the following statement from this article:

The Compose key is sometimes known as a "meta key".

(Curiously, I could not find the edit in which it was added, sometime between 18:43, 13 May 2007 (UTC) and 02:05, 27 May 2007 (UTC). I found only two edits (, ) in that timeframe, and their diff doesn't show the addition.)

It's my understanding that Meta is not a compose key; that is, it is not used to compose a character with multiple additional key presses. From my long-forgotten experience with Lisp machines, I seem to recall Meta being used as a modifier or for chording, not character composition. Of course, we really need some reliable sources for everything said in this article. ~ Jeff Q (talk) 16:21, 24 June 2009 (UTC)

Javascript meta key event

Common knowledge regarding meta key does not match with how Firefox understands meta key regarding javascript event. I have done experimenting with Mac (OS X 10.4.11), Linux (Ubuntu 8.04) and Windows (Xp, Vista), and only situation where definition about the meta key equals with javascript event is with Mac, where command-key acts as meta key for javascript. With Ubuntu I was able to produce meta key-event by pressing ctrl+windows-key. With Windows, I haven't been able to trigger it with any combination of shift, ctrl, alt, menu and windows-key.

Just letting people to know that there is rather ugly differences within this subject.

I tested the below in Window/IE11 with the Windows Key. event.metaKey always returns false. On Chrome 55 however, it returns true. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 47.201.178.117 (talk) 23:39, 23 December 2016 (UTC)

You can test it with this piece of code:

<img src="pic.gif" onclick="myfunction(event)" />

function myfunction(event)
{
    if(event.metaKey==1){alert("Meta-key was held down while clicked.");}
}

Knight keyboard

The article states that the Knight keyboard doesn't have an Alt key. That's incorrect. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Larsbrinkhoff (talk • contribs) 11:53, 28 June 2018 (UTC)

Stanford keyboard

The article doesn't mention the Stanford keyboard, which also has a meta key. The Stanford keyboard predates the Knight keboard and was probably an inspiration. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Larsbrinkhoff (talk • contribs) 11:55, 28 June 2018 (UTC)

Thank you, Larsbrinkhoff! I've updated the page and cited the New Hacker Dictionary. ★NealMcB★ (talk) 16:51, 20 May 2019 (UTC)