# Apple Keyboard

> proprietary keyboard designed and sold by Apple Inc.

**Wikidata**: [Q420761](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q420761)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_keyboards)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/apple-keyboard

## Summary
The Apple Keyboard is a proprietary keyboard designed and sold by Apple Inc., classified as a specific product model and a subclass of the broader computer keyboard category. It functions as a human-interface device that allows users to input text and commands into computers.

## Key Facts
*   **Definition:** Proprietary keyboard designed and sold by Apple Inc.
*   **Classification:** Instance of a "product model" and a subclass of "computer keyboard."
*   **Parent Class:** Computer keyboard (human interface device for text entry).
*   **Aliases:** Known internationally as "clavier Apple" and "キーボード"; associated with the symbols ⌘ and ⌥.
*   **Identifiers:** Freebase ID `/m/07qygb`.
*   **Online Presence:** Official website is `https://www.apple.com/keyboard/`.
*   **Documentation:** Features an ArchWiki article titled "Apple_Keyboard" (English).
*   **Media:** Associated image file `Apple_key.jpg` and Commons category "Apple Inc. keyboards."
*   **Global Reach:** Wikipedia entries exist in 16 languages including Arabic, Danish, English, Spanish, Persian, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Luxembourgish, Dutch, Norwegian, Russian, Swedish, Turkish, and Chinese.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of device is the Apple Keyboard?
A: It is a proprietary keyboard product model designed and sold by Apple Inc., serving as a hardware peripheral for text entry and command input.

### Q: How is the Apple Keyboard related to the general "computer keyboard"?
A: The Apple Keyboard is a specific subclass of the general computer keyboard, which is defined as a human-interface device consisting of an arrangement of buttons or keys used to input text into computers.

### Q: What are the identifiers and symbols associated with the Apple Keyboard?
A: It is identified by the Freebase ID `/m/07qygb` and is associated with the symbols ⌘ and ⌥. It also has a Wikidata entry and a dedicated ArchWiki page.

### Q: What defines the "computer keyboard" class that the Apple Keyboard belongs to?
A: A computer keyboard is a hardware peripheral that presents a matrix of keys; pressing a key completes an electrical circuit to send a scan code to the computer, which translates it into a character or command. It is considered an essential part of a computer's input subsystem.

## Why It Matters
The Apple Keyboard represents a key hardware implementation of the computer keyboard, the most ubiquitous input device in modern computing. While the general computer keyboard underpins virtually every form of digital communication—from writing documents to coding—the Apple Keyboard specifically serves users within the Apple ecosystem, offering a proprietary design tailored to those systems. Its existence highlights the evolution of the keyboard from a standard input tool to a branded, design-centric peripheral, reflecting broader trends in human-computer interaction and industrial design.

## Notable For
*   **Proprietary Design:** Being a specific, branded keyboard product designed and sold exclusively by Apple Inc.
*   **Symbol Usage:** Association with distinct symbols such as ⌘ (Command) and ⌥ (Option) as aliases.
*   **ArchWiki Documentation:** Possessing a dedicated technical article on ArchWiki (ID 5315), indicating specific compatibility considerations within the Linux community.
*   **Global Localization:** Having Wikipedia presence across 16 distinct languages, demonstrating widespread international recognition.

## Body

### Definition and Classification
The **Apple Keyboard** is a proprietary keyboard designed and sold by Apple Inc. Structurally, it is an instance of a "product model" and functions as a subclass of the **computer keyboard**. As a computer keyboard, it is a human-interface device classified under input peripherals, designed to allow users to enter text and commands into a computer.

### Identity and Nomenclature
The entity is multilingual and symbol-heavy in its identification.
*   **Aliases:** "clavier Apple" (French), "キーボード" (Japanese), and the symbols "⌘" and "⌥".
*   **Digital Identifiers:**
    *   **Freebase ID:** `/m/07qygb`
    *   **Wikidata:** Listed with a sitelink count of 16.
    *   **Commons Category:** "Apple Inc. keyboards"
*   **Languages:** The entity has Wikipedia titles in Arabic (ar), Danish (da), German (de - implied by context but not listed, source lists specific ones), English (en), Spanish (es), Persian (fa), French (fr), Italian (it), Japanese (ja), Korean (ko), Luxembourgish (lb), Dutch (nl), Norwegian (no), Russian (ru), Swedish (sv), Turkish (tr), and Chinese (zh).

### Online Presence and Resources
*   **Official Website:** The product is maintained at `https://www.apple.com/keyboard/`.
*   **Technical Documentation:** An ArchWiki article exists under the title "Apple_Keyboard" (English, ID 5315), suggesting community-maintained documentation regarding its use outside standard macOS environments.
*   **Media:** An image file named `Apple_key.jpg` is associated with the entity.

### Technical Context: The Computer Keyboard Class
As the Apple Keyboard is a subclass of the computer keyboard, it inherits the technical characteristics of this parent class.
*   **Function:** A computer keyboard comprises an arrangement of buttons or keys. Pressing a key completes an electrical circuit, sending a scan code to the computer which translates it into a character or command.
*   **Components:** Standard components include individual computer keys and, frequently, a numeric keypad.
*   **Variants:** The parent class includes diverse form factors such as mechanical, membrane, ergonomic, wireless, backlit, projection, chorded, ortholinear, and gaming keyboards.
*   **Unicode Representation:** The general device class is represented by the symbols ⌨ (U+2328) and 🖮 (U+1F5AE).
*   **Design Heritage:** The parent class "computer keyboard" is noted for having designs (specifically work 82176) created by industrial designer **Sam Hecht** included in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) collection.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013