What is the key "Scroll Lock" for?

Question

I've been using computers for the past +10 years and this is the biggest secret I could never crack. What is that key for?

Answer 1

There's an entry at Wikipedia about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scroll_lock

Here's a quote:
"The Scroll Lock key is a remnant from the original IBM PC keyboard. In the original design, Scroll Lock was intended to modify the behavior of the arrow keys. When the scroll lock mode was on, the arrow keys would scroll the contents of a text window instead of moving the cursor. In this usage, Scroll Lock is a modifier key like Alt and Shift (which modify the function of other keys) and, more specifically, a toggling lock key like Num Lock or Caps Lock, which have a state that persists after the key is released. Today, this particular use of Scroll Lock is rare. "

Great question. I didn't know either until you had me look it up. Thanks!