National Caps Lock Day 🔠

Overview

National Caps Lock Day, observed annually on October 22nd, is an unofficial, humorous holiday dedicated to the "Caps Lock" key on computer keyboards. It encourages people to type in all capital letters for a day, often playfully mimicking the online etiquette of "shouting" or expressing strong emotions. While it's largely a lighthearted jest, it serves as a quirky reminder of a keyboard function that is sometimes overused or accidentally engaged.

Origin and story

The holiday was reportedly created in 2000 by a programmer named Derek Arnold, who found humor in the key's perceived misuse.

The Caps Lock key originated from the 'Shift Lock' key on typewriters, designed to type entire sections in uppercase without continuously holding down the Shift key.

Quick facts

• DateOctober 22
• TypeGeek / Tech
• Great forTech teams, STEM clubs, Developers

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Ways to celebrate

Caps Lock exists because a frustrated secretary kept accidentally typing symbols instead of numbers with Shift Lock engaged — the fix, a key that only affected letters, has outlived the typewriter mechanism it was designed to replace.

Notice the key you never think about

Celebrate by:

• WRITING SOMETHING IN ALL CAPS TODAY, purely for the novelty of it.
• Looking up how to remap or disable Caps Lock on your own keyboard, since plenty of people never use it.

See where the key actually came from

Helpful resources:

• The History of Caps Lock: Why Does the Caps Lock Key Exist? (How-To Geek)

Did you know?

Caps Lock's modern form traces to a 1968 Bell Labs patent by engineer Douglas Kerr, whose boss's secretary was frustrated that the old typewriter-style Shift Lock changed numbers into symbols too — Kerr's fix only locked letters, leaving everything else alone.

Fun facts

• The holiday was reportedly created in 2000 by a programmer named Derek Arnold, who found humor in the key's perceived misuse.
• The Caps Lock key originated from the 'Shift Lock' key on typewriters, designed to type entire sections in uppercase without continuously holding down the Shift key.
• There is a second, unofficial National Caps Lock Day observed on June 28th, often associated with the birthday of infomercial pitchman Billy Mays, known for his enthusiastic, loud delivery.

Sources and attribution

The History of Caps Lock: Why Does the Caps Lock Key Exist? (How-To Geek)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

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FAQ

When is National Caps Lock Day?

It is observed on October 22 each year.

What is National Caps Lock Day?

National Caps Lock Day, observed annually on October 22nd, is an unofficial, humorous holiday dedicated to the "Caps Lock" key on computer keyboards. It encourages people to type in all capital letters for a day, often playfully mimicking the online etiquette of "shouting" or expressing strong emotions. While it's largely a lighthearted jest, it serves as a quirky reminder of a keyboard function that is sometimes overused or accidentally engaged.

How do people celebrate National Caps Lock Day?

Notice how often you actually use Caps Lock, and look up its 1968 Bell Labs origin story.

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