how can you quickly access the desktop when you have many applications open?

You can quickly access the desktop by using Show Desktop instead of closing or minimizing each app.

Fastest methods (Windows)

• Press Windows key + D to instantly toggle between your open windows and the desktop.

• Click the thin “Show desktop” area at the far right end of the taskbar (next to the clock) to hide all windows and show the desktop; click again to bring them back.

• Press Windows key + M to minimize all windows (Windows key + Shift + M restores them).

For the question “how can you quickly access the desktop when you have many applications open?”, the expected answer is: Clicking the Show Desktop icon / button.

TL;DR: Don’t close apps—use Windows+D or the Show Desktop button to jump to the desktop in one step.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.