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On Ubuntu 15.10 I see in Settings / Keyboard / Shortcuts / Typing The "Compose Key" and the "Alternative Characters key". I know what the former is, but not the latter. Does it duplicate the functionality of the compose key (Ubuntu allows to set it to the same keys as the compose key)? Are there any examples of its use?

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    Possible duplicate of What are the meta, super, and hyper keys?
    – muru
    Mar 29, 2016 at 17:31
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    Alternative Characters Key is another name for AltGr. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key, help.ubuntu.com/community/ComposeKey (the article uses AltGr to get a Compose Key)
    – muru
    Mar 29, 2016 at 17:33
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    I see. My confusion arose from seeing that the "Alternative Characters Key" is "Disabled" on the dialog I mentioned above. However, AltGr works perfectly. All third-level modifier symbols appear, when I press AltGr. That led me to think it is something else. By the way, how come it works if it is disabled?
    – ARX
    Mar 29, 2016 at 17:49
  • The option exists to add an AltGr if your layout doesn't have one. Since you know what AltGr is, and you say it works fine, I'm guessing you're on a layout which does have AltGr. I don't, but I could map, say, Right Alt to AltGr. If you have an AltGr, that option is superfluous.
    – muru
    Mar 29, 2016 at 17:51
  • Ohh, that's perfectly clear. Indeed, my keyboard has an AltGr key. So, this is just a way to simulate it. Thank you very much.
    – ARX
    Mar 29, 2016 at 17:53

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muru's comment answers the question:

Alternative Characters Key is another name for AltGr. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AltGr_key, help.ubuntu.com/community/ComposeKey (the article uses AltGr to get a Compose Key) – muru Mar 29 '16 at 17:33

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