Q may refer to any of the following:

  1. Q is an abbreviation sometimes used for “question” and “quality.” For example, QA (quality assurance) and Q&A (questions and answers).

  2. Q is a keyboard key used with the keyboard shortcuts Alt+Q, Command+Q, and Ctrl+Q.

  3. Q is the SI-derived symbol of quetta- prefix, when using a lowercase q, it’s a quecto- prefix.

  4. In command line commands such as debug, “q” is used to quit the program.

  5. With Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs, “Q” is the seventeenth column of a spreadsheet. To reference the first cell in the column, you’d use “Q1.”

  6. In the phonetic alphabet, “Q” is often pronounced as “Quebec.”

  7. Q is the seventeenth letter of the English alphabet. The letter “Q” comes after “P” and is followed by the letter “R.” To create a capitalized “Q,” press Shift and Q at the same time.

With U.S. QWERTY keyboards, the “Q” key is on the top row, right of the Tab key, and left of the “W” key. See our keyboard page for a visual example of all keyboard keys.

Computer abbreviations, Letter

If the “Q” key is not working on the keyboard, see: Some keys on my computer keyboard aren’t working.

In ASCII, the uppercase “Q” is “081” in decimal (01010001 in binary). The lowercase “q” is “113” in decimal (01110001 in binary).

Doing the Alt code Alt+81 creates a capital “Q” and Alt+113 creates a lowercase “q” character.

The number 7 on a phone keypad is used to create an “Q” on a US phone.

  • See our Q terms for a full listing of computer terms starting with “Q.”
  • Computer people and pioneers with “Q” first names.