Definition: space bar

The keyboard key that inserts a blank space into a document. Every space occupies one byte in a file, and contiguous blank spaces are the easiest characters to compress. The blank space is a decimal 32 or hex 20 in the ASCII digital code (see ASCII chart and hex chart).

The space bar is also used by many media players to start and stop playing music or a video. Depending on the software, the start/stop function may be disabled.

Small But All That's Necessary

Designed for portability, the PLANCK EZ keyboard has a very small space bar, which at first glance seems impractical. However, touch typists hit the space bar dead center, and the little bar is big enough. See mechanical keyboard. (Image courtesy of ZSA Technology Labs, Inc.)