What is the Menu key?

The Menu key, also known as the Application key, is a key found on some Windows-oriented keyboards. This key is usually on the bottom-right of the keyboard, next to the Ctrl key, but it can be placed in a different location by keyboard manufacturers. It is usually depicted as a cursor hovering above a menu: .

The primary function of this key is to launch a context menu with the keyboard rather than by clicking the right mouse button: this is useful if mouse or a similar device is not available, or when the right mouse button is not present.

The Menu key is sometimes omitted in the interest of space, particularly on portable and laptop keyboards. In this case, some keyboards include a Menu function key that can be activated in combination with the Function (Fn) key.

The context menu is a menu that pops up when you right-click. The menu that you see, if any, is dependent on the context and function of the area that you right-clicked. When you use the Menu key, the context menu is shown for the area of the screen that your cursor is over at the point when the key is pressed.