What does keystroke mean?
A keystroke is one press of a key on a keyboard, treated as a discrete input by a computer or by someone observing how someone types. It can refer to the physical action itself, to the electronic event generated by that action, or to a record of that event. The word is especially common in computing and digital-security contexts: software may log keystrokes, while typing studies measure keystroke dynamics, such as the intervals between successive presses. In everyday writing, “keypress” is often used instead. The distinction is occasionally important in interface and input-system documentation, where a single key action may involve both a press and a release. More generally, a keystroke is a small but measurable unit of interaction with a computer, turning physical movement into text, commands, or other digital actions.
nounA keystroke is the act of pressing a key on a keyboard, or the single input event produced by doing so. The term is also used for recorded or logged key activity.
- A single press of a key on a keyboard, considered as an input event.
- Recorded keyboard activity, especially when monitored by software for security or analysis.
"The security software records every keystroke without storing the password itself."
"Each keystroke on the numeric keypad was recorded by the device."
"The program analyzed the time between keystrokes to identify automated typing."
The plural is used when referring to multiple individual key actions or recorded input events.
"The program stores the timestamps of the user's keystrokes."
A single word can be a lifetime of keystrokes: an average typist makes thousands of them every hour.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does keystroke come from?
“Keystroke” is a compound formed from “key” and “stroke,” both of which have Germanic origins. “Key” developed from an Old English word for a fastening device or instrument used to open a lock, while “stroke” comes from an Old English word referring to a movement or act of striking. The compound was established in the context of typewriting and later adapted to computer keyboards, where each typed character is associated with a key action.
Related word forms
How keystroke is actually used
The term is standard in computing, typing, and security contexts. It is more technical than the everyday expression “pressing a key,” though it is also used in ordinary descriptions of typing and keyboard activity.
Easily confused with keystroke
A keypress generally refers to the event of pressing a key, while a keystroke is the resulting input or recorded action and may distinguish the press from the release.