IJKL keys

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Many browser-based games use IJKL as control keys. These keys are in a similar layout to the arrow keys and players can easily adapt to their use. The most common reason for using IJKL rather than arrow keys is the fact that many browsers will attempt to scroll the main window when arrow keys are used, which can be disruptive to gameplay. This is a problem specific to DHTML/JavaScript games.

The IJKL key combination is very similar to the HJKL keys that were historically used as navigation keys in early computer programs for computers that either did not contain arrow keys, or had them placed in a difficult configuration.

Some older computer games, especially those on 8-bit platforms, often had the combination IJKM hardwired into the software as the standard control key combination.

Games for the 8-bit Apple II platform often used IJKM instead - more logically arranged, if far less ergonomic than an inverted-T. In addition, special support existed in ROM for Escape mode. At the Applesoft BASIC prompt, using the right and left arrow keys to move the cursor would add/remove characters the cursor passed over to/from the input buffer. Pressing the Escape key entered a mode where pressing the I, J, K or M keys would move the cursor without altering the input buffer. After exiting this mode by pressing Escape again, normal behavior would resume. This made it easy to edit lines of BASIC code by listing them, then re-inputting them with edits interspersed.