JS Key Event Codes

JavaScript assigns numeric codes to every key on a keyboard. Press any key to see its properties:

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Key

Code

Which/KeyCode (deprecated)

Key Name

KeyCode Reference Table

KeyCode Number with key name
Code	Key	Code	Key
8	Backspace	85	Letter U
9	Tab	86	Letter V
13	Enter	87	Letter W
16	Shift	88	Letter X
17	Ctrl	89	Letter Y
18	Alt	90	Letter Z
19	Break	91	Left command key
20	Caps lock	92	Right command key
27	Escape	93	Select key
32	Space	96	Numpad 0
33	Page up	97	Numpad 1
34	Page down	98	Numpad 2
35	End	99	Numpad 3
36	Home	100	Numpad 4
37	Left arrow	101	Numpad 5
38	Up arrow	102	Numpad 6
39	Right arrow	103	Numpad 7
40	Down arrow	104	Numpad 8
45	Insert	105	Numpad 9
46	Delete	106	Multiply *
48	Number 0	107	Add +
49	Number 1	109	Subtract -
50	Number 2	110	Decimal point .
51	Number 3	111	Divide /
52	Number 4	112	F1
53	Number 5	113	F2
54	Number 6	114	F3
55	Number 7	115	F4
56	Number 8	116	F5
57	Number 9	117	F6
65	Letter A	118	F7
66	Letter B	119	F8
67	Letter C	120	F9
68	Letter D	121	F10
69	Letter E	122	F11
70	Letter F	123	F12
71	Letter G	144	Num lock
72	Letter H	145	Scroll lock
73	Letter I	186	Semicolon
74	Letter J	187	Equal sign
75	Letter K	188	Comma
76	Letter L	189	Dash
77	Letter M	190	Period
78	Letter N	191	Forward slash
79	Letter O	192	Grave accent
80	Letter P	219	Open bracket
81	Letter Q	220	Back slash
82	Letter R	221	Close bracket
83	Letter S	222	Single quote
84	Letter T

JavaScript Key Event Codes

Note: The keyCode and which properties are deprecated. Use event.key and event.code instead for modern applications.

Modern API (Recommended)

event.key: Returns the value of the key pressed (e.g., "a", "Enter", "ArrowUp")
event.code: Returns the physical key code (e.g., "KeyA", "Enter", "ArrowUp")

Legacy API (Deprecated)

event.keyCode or event.which: Returns numeric code (0-255) for the key pressed

Example Code

Modern approach (recommended)

document.addEventListener("keydown", (event) => {
  console.log("Key:", event.key);
  console.log("Code:", event.code);

  if (event.key === "Enter") {
    // Handle Enter key
  }
});

Legacy approach (deprecated)

document.addEventListener("keydown", (event) => {
  console.log("KeyCode:", event.keyCode);
  console.log("Which:", event.which);

  if (event.keyCode === 13) {
    // Handle Enter key
  }
});

Related Utilities

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