Work with Multiple Applications at Once
In Mac OS X, you can keep lots of applications and windows open at once. You can always just single-click an application icon in the Dock to switch to it, but there are a couple of great shortcuts to switch between multiple applications quickly and easily.
Switch between all applications
No matter which application you are currently using, you can bring up a floating palette like the one shown below, then select the application you want to switch towithout ever having to reach for the mouse.To get a lovely palette that displays icons for all the open applications, press Command Tab and hold down the Command key.

To cycle through the icons from left to right, tap the Tab key (keep the Command key down).To cycle through the icons in the other direction, right to left, keep the Command key down, but also hold down the Shift key while you tap the Tab key.Or press Command Tab to display the palette, then use the mouse to select an icon (you don't have to actually click on the iconjust hover over it to highlight it).
However you choose to do it, when the application icon you want is highlighted in the palette, let go of the keys and that application will come forward as the active application.Remember, if there is no window open in that particular application, it might look like nothing happenedalways check the application menu to see which one is currently active! You might need to hit Command N to open a window in that application once it's active.
Switch back and forth between two applications
Most of us probably spend the greater part of our time between our two favorite applications. There's a shortcut that will switch you back and forth between just those two, instead of having to bring up the palette.While in one of your favorite applications, switch to the other one using the method on the previous page, or just click on its icon in the Dock. Now you can press Command Tab to switch between those two applications. I know it sounds too similar to the shortcut for switching between all applications, but the trick is to hold down the Command key, hit the Tab key just once, then let go of both keys right away.
Quit or hide applications
Don't forget that Command H will hide all of the windows of the active application, and Command Q will quit the active application. Use these shortcuts in combination with the switching shortcuts to quit or hide selected applications.