UIEvent.isChar

Obsolete
This feature is obsolete. Although it may still work in some browsers, its use is discouraged since it could be removed at any time. Try to avoid using it.

The UIEvent.isChar read-only property returns a Boolean indicating whether the event produced a key character or not.

Syntax

var isChar = UIEvent.isChar;

Value

A Boolean which is true if the event produces a character; otherwise false. Some keystroke combinations may raise events but not produce any character (example: ctrl-alt-?). When this is the case, isChar returns false. It is used when event handlers need to do something like echo the input on the screen.

Example

In this snippet, which is part of an event handler, the event is checked to see if it generates a character; if it does, the value of UIEvent.which is appended to a string which buffers the typed characters.

if (event.isChar) {
  characterBuffer += e.which;
}

Specification

This property is not part of any specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
isChar
DeprecatedNon-standard
Chrome No support NoEdge No support NoFirefox No support ? — 55
Notes
No support ? — 55
Notes
Notes The isChar property has never been supported by any browser but Firefox, and even on Firefox it's never worked except on Mac OSX. For that reason, it's been removed in Firefox 55 to align with other browsers.
IE No support NoOpera No support NoSafari No support NoWebView Android No support NoChrome Android No support NoFirefox Android No support ? — 55
Notes
No support ? — 55
Notes
Notes The isChar property has never been supported by any browser but Firefox, and even on Firefox it's never worked except on Mac OSX. For that reason, it's been removed in Firefox 55 to align with other browsers.
Opera Android No support NoSafari iOS No support NoSamsung Internet Android No support No

Legend

No support
No support
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Non-standard. Expect poor cross-browser support.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.
See implementation notes.

See also