The Print Screen function is a fundamental keyboard command used to capture an image of your computer display.
As highlighted in the reference, the **Print Screen (PrtScn)** command is a keyboard function specifically designed to "**capture an image of their entire computer screen, a screenshot**".
## What Happens When You Use Print Screen?
When you press the `PrtScn` key on your keyboard:
* An exact image of everything currently visible on your monitor is captured.
* This captured image, or *screenshot*, is typically copied to your computer's temporary memory, known as the clipboard.
Unlike hitting "Print" on a document which sends content to a printer, the "Print Screen" key saves the visual content of your screen digitally to be used elsewhere.
## Utilizing Your Screenshot
Once the screenshot is on the clipboard, you need to paste it into another application to view, edit, or save it. Common places to paste a screenshot include:
* Image editors (like Paint, Photoshop, GIMP)
* Document editors (like Word, Google Docs)
* Email or messaging applications
## Practical Applications
Using Print Screen is a quick way to save or share exactly what you see on your screen at a given moment. As the reference suggests, it's particularly useful when you want to:
* Share an image you find online quickly.
* Capture a specific view of a webpage.
* Document an error message or software issue.
* Save part of a presentation or document as an image.
In essence, the function serves as a digital camera for your computer screen, instantly creating a snapshot of its current state.
