Spacebar Gone: Solving The Mystery of the Missing Spacebar on the iPad Keyboard

I received this message today, asking for help with the virtual keyboard on the iPad.The solution is in the message. Here’s the message and the mystery. See if you can figure out why the spacebar is missing from Donna’s keyboard before viewing the answer below.

I get the wrong keyboard in safari. It does not have full keyboard (no
space bar etc). When I touch the globe it does not give me complete
keyboard. Can you help?
Donna

You might think it has to to with alternative keyboards or keyboards in other languages. That’s not it.

Donna is correct. Her keyboard doesn’t have a spacebar. Here’s what she is seeing. This may be another clue.

iPad keyboard

Here’s the answer to the missing space bar. You can’t have spaces in URLs (web addresses). So there is no need for the spacebar on the iPad keyboard when typing a web address in Safari. Mystery solved!

About Andy Brovey

Dr. Andy Brovey, The Portable Prof, teaches about digital tools through his work, websites and social media. In 2007, Apple Inc. recognized his work and named him an Apple Distinguished Educator. He started this iPad Academy website shortly after the first iPad went on sale. On his Freelance Teaching site you'll find the resources you need to teach like a smart entrepreneur.