{"schemaVersion":1,"record":{"key":"mechanic/keyboard--family-navigation","type":"mechanic","id":"keyboard--family-navigation","lang":"en","title":"Navigation and selection","summary":"Keys move focus or select an item directly. In NetHack item letters let keyboard commands address particular inventory entries.","updatedAt":"2026-10-22","status":"active","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/keyboard--family-navigation/","jsonUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/keyboard--family-navigation.json","markdownUrl":"https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/keyboard--family-navigation.md","aliases":[],"tags":["Physical keyboard interactions","Interface"],"sourceIds":["source-9a1664e49d0e8f50","source-87856bbeffa16f0c"],"sources":[{"id":"source-9a1664e49d0e8f50","title":"NetHack (menucolors)","url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png","verifiedAt":null},{"id":"source-87856bbeffa16f0c","title":"NetHack Guidebook","url":"https://www.nethack.org/v343/Guidebook.html","verifiedAt":null}],"sections":[{"id":"principle","title":"How it works","body":"The keyboard moves focus, selects targets, and controls interface objects."},{"id":"variants","title":"Variants","body":"### Variants and applications\n\n<a id=\"family-navigation-variants\"></a>\n\n- Sequential bypass. Action: Move to the next or previous available element. Application: Forms, dialogs, inventory, step-by-step inspection of objects. Conditions: Tab and Shift+Tab are expected in normal interfaces; maintain visible focus. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k081\"></a>\n- Spatial navigation. Action: Arrows move the selection to an adjacent element. Application: Item grids, trees, maps, field menus. Conditions: Directions must correspond to the visual structure. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k082\"></a>\n- Move to borders and pages. Action: Move directly to the beginning, end, or next screen of a list. Application: Large catalogs, magazines, maps and text documents. Conditions: Home, End, Page Up and Page Down may not be available as separate keys. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k083\"></a>\n- Direct selection by key. Action: The element is assigned a short index, letter or number. Application: Dialogue cues, quick slots, calling a group, selecting a tool. Conditions: The index must be visible next to the target. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k084\"></a>\n- Search by dial. Action: Entering letters moves the selection to a matching item or filters the list. Application: Long inventory, list of names, library navigation. Conditions: Consider input language and search prefix reset time. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k085\"></a>\n- Multiple choice. Action: Modifiers and navigation expand the range or change individual elements. Application: Controlling a squad, selecting files, editing a set of cells. Conditions: Separate moving focus from the selected state. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k086\"></a>\n- Object manipulation. Action: The key starts capturing, directions move or change the object, confirmation completes. Application: Available dragging, building, rearranging inventory, resizing. Conditions: Need clear confirmation, cancel and current mode. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k087\"></a>\n- Confirmation and cancellation. Action: Individual actions accept a selection, go back a step, or exit a mode. Applications: Menus, editors, command chains, ability targeting. Conditions: The expected roles of Enter, Space, and Escape depend on the component and platform. Equipment: Regular keyboard. <a id=\"variant-k088\"></a>"},{"id":"context","title":"Context and limits","body":"Author's working classification for designing games and interactions. Options can overlap and combine; the list is not a generally accepted standard or proven exhaustive list. Application examples are conditional unless a specific verifiable observation is indicated nearby. Sources support individual techniques and technical limitations."}],"relations":[],"placements":[{"catalogId":"keyboard","id":"family-navigation","title":"Physical keyboard interactions","url":"https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/keyboard/#family-navigation","categoryIds":["section-7"]}],"supersededBy":[],"attributes":{"preview":{"updatedAt":"2026-10-22","title":"Navigation and selection","description":"Keys move focus or select an item directly. In NetHack item letters let keyboard commands address particular inventory entries.","image":{"src":"images/mechanics/systems-nethack-inventory.webp","width":644,"height":461,"game":"NetHack (menucolors)","sourceUrl":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png","originalUrl":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Nethack-inventory.png","credit":"NetHack developers; screenshot by Shen, 2006, with the menucolors patch","rights":"NetHack General Public License. Converted to WebP on 2026-10-22. License: https://www.nethack.org/common/license.html; bundled copy: images/mechanics/nethack-license.txt. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png","caption":"NetHack: letter labels address inventory items","alt":"NetHack: letter labels address inventory items","markers":[{"x":31,"y":82,"label":"The letter k addresses the lamp in this inventory"}]},"tips":["Keep focus visible and avoid unexpected key reassignment."],"examples":[{"title":"NetHack Guidebook","url":"https://www.nethack.org/v343/Guidebook.html"}]}},"endsAt":null,"provenance":"Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review.","license":"CC-BY-4.0","codeLicense":"MIT","attribution":"gamemechanics.pro contributors","catalogKey":"catalog/keyboard"}}