Key

The word key has several uses:

• A key (lock) is a physical object used in a lock.
• A key (music) forms a property of a piece of music: see also key signature.
• A key (cryptography) is a piece of information, usually kept secret, used to customise ciphers.
• A key (instrument) comprises a moving part of a musical instrument.
• Key (company) is a Japanese ren'ai video game maker.
• A key (RDBMS) is an attribute, or collection of attributes, that has a unique value for each record in a given relation and therefore logically identifies the record.
• A telegraph key is used to send Morse code.
• Typewriter and computer keyboards contain keys.
• A key (map) consists of the section of a map or other document that explains the symbols used elsewhere on the document.
• A key (art) features in painting and photography.
• A key frame constitutes a frame or cell in animation which is used as a guide for the other frames, or inbetweens. Usually the key framer is a more prominent artist than inbetweeners.
• An identification key can help to identify species.
• A key or cay may mean an island, especially in the Caribbean Sea.
• A skate key functions as a tool in the adjusting of roller skates.
• Keying is an operation in video editing.
• Keying (car) involves using something metallic, such as a latch-key, in order to scratch something often of value, such as a car.
• The Florida Keys lie off the coast of Florida.
• The word quay shares the pronunciation of the word "key".