JavaScript Keycode Finder

JavaScript Keyboard Events Guide

JavaScript provides three keyboard events: keydown, keyup, and the deprecated keypress. Each fires with a KeyboardEvent object containing information about the pressed key.

event.key vs event.code vs event.keyCode

Modern Best Practices

• Use event.key for character input (text fields, search)
• Use event.code for keyboard shortcuts and games (layout-independent)
• Avoid event.keyCode and event.which in new code
• Always use keydown for shortcuts, not keypress
• Call event.preventDefault() to stop default browser behavior

Keyboard Shortcut Pattern

document.addEventListener('keydown', (e) => {
  // Ctrl+S to save
  if (e.ctrlKey && e.key === 's') {
    e.preventDefault();
    save();
  }
  // Escape to close
  if (e.key === 'Escape') {
    closeModal();
  }
});

Location Values

• 0 — General (most keys)
• 1 — Left (left Shift, left Ctrl, left Alt)
• 2 — Right (right Shift, right Ctrl, right Alt)
• 3 — Numpad