Essential Keyboard Shortcuts in Mac OS X

If you're used to quickly navigating Windows and Microsoft Office using keyboard shortcuts such as CTRL-S to save and CTRL-C to copy, you might be a little shocked if you've decided to make the switch to Mac OS X. That's because those familiar shortcuts will no longer work as expected. Instead, Macs boast the same functionality but use the Command key rather than the Control key.

In addition to the standard key combinations that most PC users are aware of -- those for save, copy and paste, for instance -- Macs feature a number of shortcuts that are unique to Apple's OS. Here is a list of handy shortcuts that every budding Mac user should know:

Command-Q: Quit the open application.

Command-Option-Esc: Force quit.

Command-Option-M: Minimize all windows of application to the Dock.

Command-Option-W: Close all windows in the application without quitting.

Command-Tab: Cycle forward through open applications.

Command-Shift-Tab: Cycle backward through open applications.

Command-Shift-F: Search all files.

Command-Shift-A: Search all applications.

Command-Space bar: Open or close Spotlight search field.

Control-A: Move to beginning of line or paragraph.

Control-E: Move to end of line or paragraph.

Command-Option-D: Show or hide the Dock.