# Learning common keyboard shortcuts for screen readers

DevFeed: [Learning common keyboard shortcuts for screen readers](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/learning-common-keyboard-shortcuts-for-screen-readers-9399.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://a11yproject.com/posts/learning-common-keyboard-shortcuts-for-screen-readers/>)

Author: Andrew Nevins

Published: 2020-07-24T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [The A11Y Project](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/the-a11y-project.md>)

Topics: [iOS](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ios.md>), [Software](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/software.md>)

Tags: [apple](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/apple.md>), [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>), [ios](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ios.md>), [learn](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learn.md>), [learning](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learning.md>), [youtube](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/youtube.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains ways to learn common keyboard shortcuts and gestures in popular screen readers. It recommends organizing commands with a mind map, grouping shortcuts by screen reader, and reinforcing learning by watching demonstrations and practicing. Examples include landmark-navigation commands for JAWS, NVDA, Narrator, VoiceOver iOS, and TalkBack, plus several gestures for opening the VoiceOver rotor menu.

## Source excerpt

Keyboard shortcuts are often presented to us in a list or a table. Lists and tables are great for some people, while others may be overwhelmed from the sheer number of commands to learn. Sometimes a more visual approach could help some people learn these commands. Learning with a mind map Creating a mind map of keyboard shortcuts can help people to learn those shortcuts easier than in lists and tables. A mind map is a diagram that visually organizes information into groups. Shortcuts that belong to one screen reader for example would be visually branched off into a smaller group. Learning groups of shortcuts can be easier than learning individual shortcuts. Here's a mind map of the common keyboard shortcuts in popular screen readers: Mindmap of common screenreader commands. Larger version. The mind map is not an exhaustive listing of screen reader functionality, but shows many of the common commands to help you get a handle on starting out. For example, to learn more about how to 'list all landmarks', you can follow the mapping of branches to the different screen reader software, where the commands will be listed: List all landmarks -> JAWS -> R or ; List all landmarks -> NVDA -> D List all landmarks -> Narrator -> D List all landmarks -> VoiceOver iOS -> Two finger twist (the rotor menu) List all landmarks -> TalkBack -> Swipe up then right (the local context menu) The shortcuts are taken from Deque on shortcuts and gestures. Watching other people Looking up videos on how to do those shortcuts can reinforce that learning and trying them out yourself is even better. An example of using the 'rotor' menu with VoiceOver on iOS is illustrated the following YouTube video: VoiceOver Rotor Gestures - Ballyland Rotor app The presenter demonstrates the common hand movements to bring up the rotor menu, as well as other interesting ways. Apple recommends placing two fingers on your device and then rotating them to show the rotor menu, but by watching the video we learn that yo