Away From Keyboard (AFK) status indicator for chat and online gaming, indicating when a user has stepped away or is not actively using their keyboard.
Away From Keyboard (AFK) is a status indicator used in online chat applications and multiplayer video games to show when someone has stepped away from their computer or is not actively using their keyboard to type messages or control their character.
It allows other users to see that someone is physically not present at their computer even though they are still connected to the chat or game. This prevents people from thinking someone is ignoring their messages when they are actually temporarily unavailable.
The AFK status is automatically set after someone has not interacted with their keyboard/mouse or sent any chat messages for a period of time, usually a few minutes. It will display an AFK indicator icon or message on the user's avatar. When they return and start using keyboard/mouse again, the AFK status is automatically removed.
Having an Away From Keyboard status indicator enables better communication in online environments by setting proper expectations that someone may not reply immediately if they are shown as AFK. It's considered a courtesy to explain why you are AFK when manually setting the status if you need to step away for an extended time.
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