W

Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope

W may refer to any of the following:

1. The Linux w command is used to view a list of users currently logged in to the system. See the w command page for a full explanation, syntax, and examples.

2. W is an abbreviation used for width. For example, a mouse pad size could be "200 mm W x 240mm H" (200 millimeters wide by 240 millimeters high).

3. In gaming, when using the WASD keys to control a character or another object, the "W" is the same as the up arrow key.

4. W is a keyboard key used with the keyboard shortcuts Alt+W, Command+W, and Ctrl+W.

5. A "w" followed by a forward slash is shorthand for "with." For example, "burger w/ fries" is the same as "burger with fries."

6. With a regular expression, \w matches any one word character ([a-zA-Z_0-9]). When capitalized, \W matches any one non-word character.

7. With Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs, "W" is the twenty-third column of a spreadsheet. To reference the first cell in the column, you'd use "W1."

8. In Adobe Photoshop, W is a shortcut to select the Object Selection tool. Pressing Shift+W cycles through related tools, including the Quick Selection tool and Magic Wand tool.

9. In chat and gaming, "W" is short for "win" (pronounced as dub). The opposite would be "L" for a "loss."

10. With a measurement, W is the symbol for Watt.

11. In the phonetic alphabet, "W" is often pronounced as "whiskey."

12. With days of the week, W is an abbreviation for Wednesday.

13. W is the twenty-third letter of the English alphabet. The letter "W" comes after "V" and is followed by the letter "X." To create a capitalized "W," press Shift and W at the same time.

With U.S. QWERTY keyboards, the "W" key is on the top row, to the right of "Q" and left of the "E" key. See our keyboard page for a visual example of all keyboard keys.

Note

If the "W" key is not working on the keyboard, see: Some keys on my computer keyboard aren't working.

Tip

In ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), the uppercase "W" is "087" in decimal (01010111 in binary). The lowercase "w" is "119" in decimal (01110111 in binary).

Tip

Doing the Alt code Alt+87 creates a capital "W," and Alt+119 creates a lowercase "w" character.

Tip

The number 9 on a phone keypad creates a "W" on a US phone.

Chat terms, Computer abbreviations, Letter