The biggest plus of the virtual keyboard is that it can be changed by adding a new functionality along with the software. This is what Apple did in iOS 11. In the keyboard on iPad added the function "Scrolling through the keys". By and large, this is a new gesture for typing numbers and symbols without having to switch to a special mode.

Scrolling works only on "small" iPads, since 12.9-inch models already have a full-fledged keyboard with a digital number. It is noteworthy that the feature is available even on iPad with iOS 10 and older versions, but in limited mode.

"Scrolling through the keys" in iOS 11.

The appearance of the keyboard has not changed much - these are all the same letters, but now they are painted with symbols and numbers. To type a letter, simply press the desired key to print a character or number to the corresponding letter key and swipe downward.

On the page with symbols, this gesture also works.

For example, a key with a question mark answers both for the question mark, and for the point.

"Scrolling through the keys" on the old iPad.

"Scrolling through the keys" is not exactly a new feature, it existed in the iPad and iPhone long before the advent of iOS 11. On earlier versions of the operating system, there already existed keys with which you could type different characters. For example, if you press a key with a semicolon and hold your finger up (and not down, as in iOS 11), you can put a colon.