The HP50g has a total of 51 keys, most of which have multiple functions that can be activated with a modifier key (left shift, right shift, or ALPHA). In this document, the following conventions are used when referring to various key press combinations:

• keys are typeset in bold;
• the majority of keys will be referred to by their alphanumeric label (A through Z), unless it makes sense by context to refer to another label on the key (for example, when referring to trigonometric functions, the S, T, and U keys may be referred to by their function names SIN, COS, and TAN, respectively);
• number keys are referred to by their number (0 through 9 and the decimal dot, DOT);
• the basic arithmetic keys are referred to as: DIV = divide (also Z), MUL = multiply, SUB = subtraction, ADD = addition;
• the special keys: AL (ALPHA), ON, SP (SPC), and EN (ENTER);
• the keypad arrow keys are referred to by: LF = left keypad arrow, RT = right keypad arrow, UP = up keypad arrow, DN = down keypad arrow;
• the shifted keys are LS = left shift and RS = right shift;
• the backspace key (also labeled DEL and CLEAR) is BK.

In order to reference a series of keys to be pressed in succession, a dash (-) will separate the keys. Furthermore, since some key combinations require holding a key while pressing another, this action is denoted by a superscript ^hold.

Here are some example key combinations:

LS-N = left shift key followed by the N key, which on the keyboard refers to the PRG menu.

RS^hold-A = while holding right shift key, press the A key.

ON^hold-A^hold-C = press and hold the ON key, then press and hold the A key, and finally press the C key.

Variables, commands, objects or anything that is presented “as shown on the calculator screen”, are highlighted in red, like this: VAR.

Reverse Polish List (RPL) code on the HP50g is understood as such when enclosed using the chevrons « ». Within this document, all such code examples are highlighted. So, for example, a RPL program to multiply the two numbers 24 and 42 would be shown like this:

« 24 42 * »