onkeypress Event

DHTML, HTML, & CSS

 
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onkeypress Event


Fires when the user presses an alphanumeric key.

Syntax

Inline HTML<ELEMENT onkeypress = "handler" ... >All platforms
Event propertyobject.onkeypress = handlerJScript (compatible with ECMA 262 language specification) only
Named script<SCRIPT FOR = object EVENT = onkeypress>Internet Explorer only

Remarks

BubblesYes
CancelsYes
To invoke Press an alphanumeric keyboard key.
Default action Returns a number specifying the Unicode value of the key that was pressed.

Alphanumeric keyboard keys include uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, punctuation characters, and the ESC, SPACE, and ENTER keys.

As of Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0, the onkeypress event fires and can be canceled for the following keys:

  • Letters: a - z
  • Numerals: 0 - 9
  • Symbols: ! @ # $ % ^ & * ( ) _ - + = < > [ ] { } , . / ? \ | ' ` " ~
  • System: ESCAPE, SPACE, SHIFT

Event Object Properties

Although event handlers in the DHTML Object Model do not receive parameters directly, the handler can query the event object for data.

Event Object Properties

altKeyRetrieves the current state of the ALT key.
cancelBubbleSets or retrieves whether the current event should bubble up the hierarchy of event handlers.
clientXRetrieves the x-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the client area of the window, excluding window decorations or scroll bars.
clientYRetrieves the y-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the client area of the window, excluding window decorations or scroll bars.
ctrlKeyRetrieves the state of the CTRL key.
keyCodeSets or retrieves the Unicode key code associated with the key that caused the event.
offsetXRetrieves the horizontal coordinate of the mouse's position relative to the object firing the event.
offsetYRetrieves the vertical coordinate of the mouse's position relative to the object firing the event.
returnValueSets or retrieves the return value from the event.
screenXRetrieves the horizontal position of the mouse, in pixels, relative to the user's screen.
screenYRetrieves the vertical position of the mouse, in pixels, relative to the user's screen.
shiftKeyRetrieves the state of the SHIFT key.
srcElementRetrieves the object that fired the event.
typeRetrieves the event name from the event object.
xRetrieves the x-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the parent element.
yRetrieves the y-coordinate of the mouse cursor relative to the parent element.

Example

This example shows how to retrieve information from the shiftKey property of the event object. When the user simultaneously presses the shift key and types a character in the first text field, the value "true" appears in the second text field.

Sample Code

<HEAD>
<SCRIPT>
function checkKey()
{
if (window.event.shiftKey)  // checks whether the SHIFT key 
                            // is pressed
   {
   txtOutput.value = "true"; // returns TRUE if SHIFT is pressed 
                             // when the event fires
   }
}
</SCRIPT>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<P>Press the SHIFT key while pressing another key.<BR>
    <INPUT TYPE=text NAME=txtEnterValue onkeypress="checkKey()">
<P>Indicates "true" if the shift key is used.<BR>
    <INPUT TYPE=text NAME=txtOutput>
</BODY>

This feature requires Internet Explorer 4.0 or later. Click the icon below to install the latest version. Then reload this page to view the sample.
Microsoft Internet Explorer

Applies To

[ Object Name ]
PlatformVersion
Win16:
Win32:
Mac:
Unix:
WinCE:
Version data is listed when the mouse hovers over a link, or the link has focus.
A, ACRONYM, ADDRESS, APPLET, AREA, B, BDO, BIG, BLOCKQUOTE, BODY, BUTTON, CAPTION, CENTER, CITE, CODE, custom, DD, DEL, DFN, DIR, DIV, document, DT, EM, FIELDSET, FONT, FORM, Hn, HR, I, INPUT type=button, INPUT type=checkbox, INPUT type=file, INPUT type=image, INPUT type=password, INPUT type=radio, INPUT type=reset, INPUT type=submit, INPUT type=text, KBD, LABEL, LEGEND, LI, LISTING, MAP, MARQUEE, MENU, NEXTID, NOBR, OBJECT, OL, P, PLAINTEXT, PRE, Q, RT, RUBY, S, SAMP, SELECT, SMALL, SPAN, STRIKE, STRONG, SUB, SUP, TABLE, TBODY, TD, TEXTAREA, TFOOT, TH, THEAD, TR, TT, U, UL, VAR, XMP

See Also

onchange, onkeydown, onkeyup


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