What does Ctrl + C do?(What is, Concept and Definition)

Alternatively known as Control C and Cc , Ctrl + C is a shortcut key that is most often used to copy text highlight or other object on the clipboard while in a graphical user environment.

Note

With the "C" and "V" keys side by side on an English keyboard, you can mistakenly press Ctrl + V (paste) instead of Ctrl + C.If you do this, anything in the Clipboard is pasted over the highlighted text.To undo this error, press Ctrl + Z (undo).

How to use Ctrl + C

To use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C, press and hold the Ctrl key on the keyboard, and while continuing to hold, press the "c" key with either hand.

With this keyboard shortcut, if there is no text, files, or other objects highlighted and you perform the Ctrl + C shortcut, nothing is copied.If there is still something on the clipboard from a previous copy that is pasted when performs the paste function.

Note

On Apple computer keyboards, the Ctrl key is labeled "control".

Ctrl + C in an Internet browser

All major internet browsers (eg Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera) pressing Ctrl + C copies any selected text.

Ctrl + C in Excel and other spreadsheet programs

In Microsoft Excel and all other spreadsheet programs, pressing Ctrl + C when one or more cells are highlighted copies the contents of the cell to the clipboard.

Ctrl + C in Microsoft PowerPoint

Pressing Ctrl + C in Microsoft PowerPoint copies the highlighted text, image, or other object to the clipboard.

Ctrl + C in Word and other word processors

In Microsoft Word and other word processing programs, highlighting the text and pressing Ctrl + C copies the highlighted text to the clipboard.This shortcut can also be used to copy images, tables, and other objects to the clipboard.

Ctrl + C in a command line environment

While on a command line like MS-DOS, Linux, and Unix, Ctrl + C is used to send a SIGINT signal, which cancels or ends the program that is currently running, for example, if a script or program is frozen or stuck in an infinite loop, pressing Ctrl + C cancels that command and returns it to the command line.

Ctrl + C in the pico command

In the pico command, Ctrl + C displays the current cursor position.For example, this command could be used to display the current line number.

Below are links to related keyboard keys and keyboard shortcut pages.