keyscan

K5E1Y4S1C3A1N1

noun

The process of scanning the state of a keyboard to determine which keys are being pressed.

Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounkeyscan (plural keyscans)

plural keyscans

  1. computingThe process of scanning the state of a keyboard to determine which keys are being pressed.

    There are two indirect RAM jumps encountered during a keyscan: […]

    1986, Commodore 128: Programmer's Reference Guide, page 421
    2 more examples

    So, a keyscan routine that repeated every 100mSec would probably meet the requirement of fast enough.

    1993, Thomas W. Schultz, C and the 8051: Programming for Multitasking, page 182

    The keyboard of the PC generates a keyscan code whenever one of its keys is depressed

    2000, Walter A. Triebel, Avtar Singh, The 8088 and 8086 Microprocessors: Programming, Interfacing, Software, Hardware, and Applications, page 639

Origin

From key + scan.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

keyscan. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keyscan

MLA

“keyscan.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keyscan. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keyscan,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keyscan.

Source: keyscan on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.