# Working with Pads & Vias  ## About - Author: altium.com - Title: Working with Pads & Vias - Tags: #articles - URL: https://www.altium.com/documentation/altium-designer/pads-vias ## Highlights The key difference between a via and a pad is that as well as being able to span all layers of the board (top to bottom), a via can also span from a surface layer to an internal layer or between two internal layers. --- To change layers during interactive routing: • Press the ***** key on the numeric keypad to step to the next signal layer. • Use the **Ctrl+Shift+WheelRoll** combination to step up or down through the layers. ---