KeyboardEvent.charCode

The charCode read-only property of the KeyboardEvent interface returns the Unicode value of a character key pressed during a keypress event.

Syntax

var code = event.charCode;

Return value

A number that represents the Unicode value of the character key that was pressed.

Example

HTML

<p>Type anything into the input box below to log a <code>charCode</code>.</p>
<input type="text" />
<p id="log"></p>

JavaScript

let input = document.querySelector('input');
let log = document.querySelector('#log');

input.addEventListener('keypress', function(e) {
  log.innerText = `Key pressed: ${String.fromCharCode(e.charCode)}\ncharCode: ${e.charCode}`;
});

Result

Notes

• In a keypress event, the Unicode value of the key pressed is stored in either the keyCode or charCode property, but never both. If the key pressed generates a character (e.g., 'a'), charCode is set to the code of that character; charCode respects the letter case (in other words, charCode takes into account whether the shift key is held down). Otherwise, the code of the pressed key is stored in keyCode.
• When one or more modifier keys are pressed, there are some complex rules for charCode. See Gecko Keypress Event for details.
• charCode is never set in the keydown and keyup events. In these cases, keyCode is set instead.
• To get the code of the key regardless of whether it was stored in keyCode or charCode, query the which property.
• Characters entered through an IME do not register through keyCode or charCode. Actually with the Chinese IME I'm using, entering the IME results in a keypress event with keyCode = 229 and no other key events fire until the IME exits (which may happen after multiple characters are inputted). I'm not sure if other IME's work this way.
• For a list of the charCode values associated with particular keys, run Example 7: Displaying Event Object Properties and view the resulting HTML table.

Specifications

Browser compatibility