Gboard - the Google Keyboard

Gboard is a customizable keyboard application offering multiple text input modes and integrated content search features. It combines traditional touch input with alternative text entry methods to accommodate different user preferences and writing styles.

The core input methods extend beyond conventional key-by-key typing. Glide typing allows users to input text by sliding their finger continuously from letter to letter rather than tapping individual keys. Voice typing provides dictation functionality, converting spoken words into text. Handwriting support lets users write in both cursive and printed letters directly on the keyboard, offering an alternative to the standard grid interface.

Two content search features integrate directly into the keyboard. Emoji search allows users to find emoji by typing keywords instead of browsing through grids or categories. GIF search and sharing allows users to find and insert animated GIFs within the keyboard interface without leaving the current app or conversation.

Multilingual typing support allows users to enable multiple languages simultaneously. The keyboard provides auto-correct and suggestions tailored to the enabled languages, automatically switching between language models as users type. Built-in Google Translate integration allows users to translate text while typing without switching to a separate translation application.

Gboard supports an extensive set of languages spanning multiple regions and language families. Supported languages include Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Assamese, Azerbaijani, Bavarian, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Burmese, Cebuano, Chhattisgarhi, Chinese variants including Mandarin and Cantonese, Chittagonian, Czech, Deccan, Dutch, English, Filipino, French, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hausa, Hindi, Igbo, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Kannada, Khmer, Korean, Kurdish, Magahi, Maithili, Malay, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Northern Sotho, Odia, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Saraiki, Sindhi, Sinhala, Somali, Southern Sotho, Spanish, Sundanese, Swahili, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Tswana, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Xhosa, Yoruba, and Zulu.

Gesture controls provide alternative methods for text manipulation. Users can slide their finger across the space bar to move the text cursor without tapping. Sliding left from the delete key removes text, offering an alternative to repeated key presses.

Customization options in the Settings menu allow users to adapt the keyboard to individual preferences. A persistent number row can be enabled to keep numeric keys visible at the top of the keyboard, avoiding the need to switch views to enter numbers. Symbol hints can be activated to show punctuation and special character access when holding down keys. One-handed mode is available for larger phones, positioning the keyboard to the left or right side of the screen to reduce reaching distance. The theme can be customized to change the keyboard's appearance, with options to display or hide visible key borders.

Wear OS support extends Gboard to smartwatches, where users can access Glide typing, voice typing, and emoji typing. The Wear OS version supports Chinese variants, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

Android Go devices run a lightweight version of the Android operating system designed for phones with limited storage and memory. On these devices, handwriting, emoji search, and GIF features are unavailable, though core typing functionality and most language support remain accessible, ensuring the keyboard functions across devices with varying hardware capabilities.