Key repetition

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With key repeat or Typematic automatic input repeat is prolonged pressing a button keyboard or other input devices called.

Even electric typewriters usually had an additional function for certain types , such as hyphen, underscore or the X, which repeated the input when pressed deeper, thus simplifying underlining or separating between chapters, but could also lead to unwanted results for inexperienced users.

In most cases, the behavior is determined by a response delay or typematic delay and a fixed repetition rate or typematic rate . But there are also behaviors in which the repetition rate is not fixed, but increases over time, i.e. is accelerated.

In addition to repeating type entries, the principle is mainly used in embedded systems in order to be able to make settings in a reasonable time with only a few available keys. Examples are clock and alarm time settings or target temperatures for heating or air conditioning.