The Option key, , is a modifier key present on Apple keyboards. It is located between the Control key and Command key on a typical Mac keyboard. There are two Option keys on modern (as of 2020) Mac desktop and notebook keyboards, one on each side of the space bar. (As of 2005, some laptops had only one to make room for the arrow keys.) Apple commonly uses the symbol to represent the Option key. From 1980 to 1984, on the Apple II series, this key was known as the closed apple key, and had a black line drawing of a filled-in apple on it. Since the 1990s, "alt" has sometimes appeared on the key as well, for use as an Alt key with non-Mac software, such as Unix and Windows programs; as of 2017, the newest Apple keyboards such as the Magic Keyboard no longer include the "alt" label. The Option key in a Mac operating system functions differently from the Alt key under other Unix-like systems or Microsoft Windows. It is not used to access menus or hotkeys but is instead used as a modifier for other command codes, as well as to provide easier access to various accents and symbols. In this regard, it is akin to the AltGr key, found on some IBM-compatible PC keyboards. Use of the Option key Alternative keyboard input The use of the Option key is similar to that of the AltGr key on European keyboards of IBM-compatible PCs, in the sense that it can be used to type additional characters, symbols and diacritical marks. The options available differ depending on the keyboard input locale that the user has selected. For example, in the U.S. English keyboard input, produces the "å" character, and produces the cent sign "¢". The Option key can also provide access to dead key functionality. For example, holding down while pressing will create a highlighted grave accent which will be added to the next letter if possible – so if an is then pressed, the resultant character is è. If an is pressed instead, the two characters are not compatible so the result is `r. The highlighted orange keys show the accents available from the combination of the key and the keyboard characters . The accent then can be applied to associated letters both lower and uppercase. The additional characters a Mac will produce are a combination of