Document: keypress event

Deprecated
This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

The keypress event is fired when a key that produces a character value is pressed down. Examples of keys that produce a character value are alphabetic, numeric, and punctuation keys. Examples of keys that don't produce a character value are modifier keys such as Alt, Shift, Ctrl, or Meta.

Since this event has been deprecated, you should look to use beforeinput or keydown instead.

Interface KeyboardEvent
Bubbles Yes
Cancelable Yes
Default Action Varies: keypress event; launch text composition system; blur and focus events; DOMActivate event; other event

Examples

addEventListener keypress example

This example logs the KeyboardEvent.code value whenever you press a key.

<p>Press inside this IFrame first to focus it, then try pressing keys on the keyboard.</p>
<p id="log"></p>
const log = document.getElementById('log');

document.addEventListener('keypress', logKey);

function logKey(e) {
  log.textContent += ` ${e.code}`;
}

onkeypress equivalent

document.onkeypress = logKey;

Specifications

Specification Status
UI Events Working Draft

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
keypress event
Deprecated
Chrome Full support 1
Notes
Full support 1
Notes
Notes Chrome does not fire the keypress event for known keyboard shortcuts. Which keyboard shortcuts are known depends on the user's system. Use the keydown event to implement keyboard shortcuts.
Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 14
Notes
Full support 14
Notes
Notes As of Firefox 65, the keypress event is no longer fired for non-printable keys, except for the Enter key, and the Shift + Enter and Ctrl + Enter key combinations (these were kept for cross-browser compatibility purposes).
IE Full support 9Opera Full support 11.6Safari Full support 2WebView Android Full support 1
Notes
Full support 1
Notes
Notes Chrome does not fire the keypress event for known keyboard shortcuts. Which keyboard shortcuts are known depends on the user's system. Use the keydown event to implement keyboard shortcuts.
Chrome Android Full support 18
Notes
Full support 18
Notes
Notes Chrome does not fire the keypress event for known keyboard shortcuts. Which keyboard shortcuts are known depends on the user's system. Use the keydown event to implement keyboard shortcuts.
Firefox Android Full support 14
Notes
Full support 14
Notes
Notes As of Firefox 65, the keypress event is no longer fired for non-printable keys, except for the Enter key, and the Shift + Enter and Ctrl + Enter key combinations (these were kept for cross-browser compatibility purposes).
Opera Android Full support 12Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0
Notes
Full support 1.0
Notes
Notes Samsung Internet does not fire the keypress event for known keyboard shortcuts. Which keyboard shortcuts are known depends on the user's system. Use the keydown event to implement keyboard shortcuts.

Legend

Full support
Full support
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also