Z may refer to any of the following:

  1. Z is a keyboard key used with the keyboard shortcuts Alt+Z, Command+Z, and Ctrl+Z.

  2. With Microsoft Excel and other spreadsheet programs, “Z” is the twenty-sixth column of a spreadsheet. To reference the first cell in the column, you’d use “Z1.”

  3. Z is the SI-derived symbol of zetta, when using a lowercase z, it’s a zepto.

  4. In the phonetic alphabet, “Z” is often pronounced as “Zulu.”

  5. Z is the twenty-sixth letter and the last letter of the English alphabet. The letter “Z” comes after “Y.” To create a capitalized “Z,” press the Shift and Z at the same time.

With U.S. QWERTY keyboards, the “Z” key is on the bottom row, to the right of the left Shift key and left of the “X” key. See our keyboard page for a visual example of all keyboard keys.

Computer abbreviations, Letter

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

In ASCII, the uppercase “Z” is “090” in decimal (01011010 in binary). The lowercase “z” is “122” in decimal (01111010 in binary).

Doing the Alt code Alt+90 creates a capital “Z” and Alt+122 creates a lowercase “z” character.

The number 9 on a phone keypad is used to create an “Z” on a US phone.

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