Because of the limited screen size available on the iPad, the virtual keyboard behaves differently than a physical keyboard. A physical keyboard displays every key, including letter and number keys in addition to cursor movement keys and function keys. Although this makes all the keys available, it also tends to clutter the keyboard with groups of keys you might rarely use, such as the function keys or the numeric keys.
The iPad’s virtual keyboard works differently by displaying only the groups of keys you’re most likely to use. The three main types of virtual keyboards display letters, numbers, and symbols.
To see what these three virtual keyboards look like, follow these steps:
From the Home screen, tap Notes. The Notes screen appears.
Tap anywhere on the right side of the screen that looks like a yellow notepad. The virtual keyboard displaying letters appears, as shown in Figure 5-1.
Tap either of the .?123 keys. The virtual keyboard changes to display numbers and additional symbols, as shown in Figure 5-2.
Tap either of the #+= keys. The virtual keyboard changes to display symbols, as shown in Figure 5-3.
Tap either of the 123 keys. The numeric virtual keyboard reappears (shown earlier in Figure 5-2).
Tap either of the ABC keys. The main virtual keyboard with letters reappears (shown earlier in Figure 5-1).
Tap the Hide Keyboard key in the bottom-right corner of the screen. The virtual keyboard disappears completely.
Tap anywhere on the right side of the screen on the yellow notepad image. The virtual keyboard appears.
