AZERTY keyboard layout

Key characteristics

The AZERTY layout differs from QWERTY in a few consistent and visible ways. Important traits include:

• Swapped letters: the positions of Q and A and of W and Z are exchanged compared with QWERTY.
• Moved letters: the letter M is not in the same place as on QWERTY — it is typically located on the right side near the semicolon position.
• Accents and special letters: keys or dead keys provide access to French characters such as é, è, à, ç and other diacritics.
• Numbers and punctuation: many traditional French AZERTY layouts place digits behind the Shift key, so typing numerals may require holding Shift; some national variants place digits without Shift.
• AltGr and dead keys: an additional modifier (often labelled AltGr) and dead keys are used to compose less common symbols and diacritics.

History and development

AZERTY evolved from typewriter conventions and QWERTY heritage, adapting the arrangement to the needs of typists working in French. Over time national variants appeared, and public standards bodies in French-speaking countries have revised layouts to improve access to punctuation, currency symbols and accented letters. These revisions aim to reduce awkward typing sequences and better support digital communication requirements.

Uses, variants and alternatives

AZERTY is the default for many French-language computer systems and physical keyboards sold in France and parts of Belgium. Belgium has its own AZERTY variant with subtle differences in punctuation and number handling. Outside Europe, French speakers may use other options such as localized QWERTY or the ergonomically optimized BÉPO layout. For technical users, programming can be less convenient on some AZERTY variants because commonly used symbols for code are less accessible.

Notable considerations

Debate over AZERTY centers on ergonomics and convenience: supporters argue it fits French spelling conventions, while critics point to awkward access to numerals and computing symbols. For further general information on keyboard layouts see keyboard layout resources and comparison pages such as QWERTY vs. other layouts.