There is an Alt key on a Mac! However, it is not labeled as such on the keyboard. On North American Mac keyboards, the key that serves as the Alt key on Windows keyboards is labeled as both Alt and Option. It is located on the bottom row of the keyboard, just to the left of the spacebar.
I remember when I first switched from using a Windows computer to a Mac, I was a bit confused about the different keyboard layout. I was used to using the Alt key for various shortcuts and wondered if there was an equivalent key on the Mac. After some research, I discovered that the Option key on the Mac serves the same purpose as the Alt key on Windows.
The Option key on a Mac can be used in combination with other keys to perform various functions. For example, pressing Option+Command+Esc brings up the Force Quit Applications window, allowing you to quickly quit unresponsive or frozen apps. Another useful shortcut is Option+Shift+Volume Up/Down, which adjusts the volume in smaller increments than the regular volume keys.
One thing to note is that some keyboard shortcuts that involve the Alt key in Windows may use the Command key on a Mac instead. For example, in Windows, Alt+F4 is commonly used to close a window, while on a Mac, the equivalent shortcut is Command+W. It’s important to keep this in mind when transitioning between operating systems.
While the Alt key is not explicitly labeled on a Mac keyboard, the Option key serves the same purpose and can be used for various shortcuts and functions. It’s a small adjustment to make when switching from a Windows computer to a Mac, but once you get used to it, it becomes second nature.