Guides · 4 min read
Touch typing vs. hunt and peck
Most people learn to type by themselves, looking at the keys and using whichever fingers are nearest. Touch typing is a different method. Here is how they compare.
What is hunt and peck?
Hunt and peck means finding each key by looking for it, then pressing it, often with two to four fingers. Many people become quite quick at it, especially if they type a lot, but their eyes keep moving between the keyboard and the screen.
What is touch typing?
Touch typing means every key has a fixed finger and you press it without looking. Your fingers rest on the home row (A S D F and J K L ;) and reach out to the other keys from there. See the finger placement guide for the full map.
Side by side
| Hunt and peck | Touch typing | |
|---|---|---|
| Eyes | Move between keys and screen | Stay on the screen |
| Fingers | A few, whichever is closest | All ten, each with its own keys |
| Movements | Different each time | The same short reach every time |
| Learning | Nothing to learn at first | A few weeks of short practice |
| Room to improve | Often levels off | Keeps growing with practice |
Why hunt and peck levels off
When you find keys by sight, your speed is limited by how quickly you can look, find and move. Because the finger used for a key changes from moment to moment, the movements never become automatic. Touch typing turns each key into one repeated movement, which is what lets speed keep growing.
Is it worth switching?
If you type every day, for work, study or messages, it usually is. Expect a dip at first: for a week or two you will be slower than your old way. After that, you are typing without looking, with less effort and fewer mistakes.
How to switch
- Learn the home position with the finger placement guide.
- Take the 1-minute typing test once, to record your starting speed.
- Do one or two lessons a day, without looking at your hands, even when it feels slow.
- Use touch typing for real typing too; going back to the old way slows the change.
- Re-take the test weekly and compare. The habits for typing faster help once the basics feel natural.