Which keyboard standard does this match?

It mirrors the Microsoft Arabic (101) layout, the default Arabic keyboard on Windows and the basis of the Arabic layout on macOS. The letter placement is identical across both platforms, so the same physical key produces the same Arabic letter.

Why do some keys show diacritics on the Shift layer?

The Shift layer carries the Arabic vowel marks (tashkeel) like fatha, damma, kasra, sukun, and shadda, plus the hamza-bearing forms (أ إ ؤ ئ آ). These are essential for fully vowelled text such as Qur'anic or pedagogical writing.

Can I really type Arabic without an Arabic keyboard?

Yes. Click each key to copy its glyph and paste it where you need it, or use this map to learn the positions so you can switch your OS to the Arabic input method and touch-type confidently.

Where are the Arabic numerals?

On the number row. With the Arabic layout active, the digit keys produce Eastern-Arabic numerals (٠-٩) by default. The Shift layer on those keys carries the standard punctuation and symbols.

Does this work for Persian or Urdu keyboards?

It shows the Arabic (101) layout specifically. Persian and Urdu keyboards share many keys but add or relocate letters such as پ, چ, ژ, گ, and ٹ, so use a dedicated Persian or Urdu reference for those languages.

Arabic Keyboard Layout Reference

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This interactive reference shows exactly where every Arabic letter sits on a standard QWERTY keyboard, so you can find letters, learn the layout, or copy glyphs one by one without switching your physical keyboard.

How it works

The map reproduces the Microsoft Arabic (101) layout — the default Arabic keyboard on Windows and the same letter placement used by macOS. Each physical key carries two outputs: a base character (typed normally) and a Shift character. For example, pressing the physical H key produces ا (alef), while Shift+H produces أ (alef with hamza above). Toggling the Shift layer swaps every key to its shifted glyph, revealing the tashkeel diacritics and hamza forms used in fully vowelled Arabic.

Tips and notes

The number row produces Eastern-Arabic numerals (٠-٩) when the Arabic input method is active, so a document typed on this layout will show native digits by default. Letters that look similar but are distinct — such as ا (alef), أ/إ (alef with hamza), and آ (alef with madda) — live on different keys or layers, which is why the Shift toggle matters for accurate spelling. Click any key to copy its character; this is the quickest way to insert the occasional Arabic letter from a Latin keyboard without changing system settings.