Qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm Qwertyuiop Asdfghjkl !!top!! < iPhone >

They look like someone fell asleep on a typewriter. But to typists, programmers, gamers, and anyone who has ever written a last-minute essay at 2 AM, these strings are the alphabet’s greatest hits. Say it out loud: “Kwer-tee-yoo-eye-oh-pee.” It sounds like a failed spell from Harry Potter.

(the top row) and ASDFGHJKL (the home row). qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnm qwertyuiop asdfghjkl

Before autocorrect, before voice dictation, before swipe-to-type, there was the bare metal of the keyboard. And on that keyboard, two rows have achieved legendary status—not for what they spell, but for what they represent. They look like someone fell asleep on a typewriter