---
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
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
---
# Navigation and selection

id: keyboard--family-navigation
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/keyboard--family-navigation
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/keyboard--family-navigation/

Keys move focus or select an item directly. In NetHack item letters let keyboard commands address particular inventory entries.

## At a glance

![NetHack: letter labels address inventory items](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/systems-nethack-inventory.webp)

[NetHack (menucolors)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png) · 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

1. The letter k addresses the lamp in this inventory

- Keep focus visible and avoid unexpected key reassignment.

- [NetHack Guidebook](https://www.nethack.org/v343/Guidebook.html)

## How it works

The keyboard moves focus, selects targets, and controls interface objects.

## Variants

### Variants and applications

<a id="family-navigation-variants"></a>

- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>
- 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>

## Context and limits

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.

## Connected materials


## Sources and 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.

- [NetHack (menucolors)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nethack-inventory.png) (id: source-9a1664e49d0e8f50)
- [NetHack Guidebook](https://www.nethack.org/v343/Guidebook.html) (id: source-87856bbeffa16f0c)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors