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onkeydown Event

❮ DOM Events ❮ KeyboardEvent

Example

Execute a JavaScript when a user is pressing a key:

<input type="text" onkeydown="myFunction()">
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More "Try it Yourself" examples below.

Definition and Usage

The onkeydown event occurs when the user is pressing a key (on the keyboard).

Tip: The order of events related to the onkeydown event:

  1. onkeydown
  2. onkeypress
  3. onkeyup

Browser Support

Event
onkeydown Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Syntax

In HTML:

<element onkeydown="myScript">
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In JavaScript:

object.onkeydown = function(){myScript};
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In JavaScript, using the addEventListener() method:

object.addEventListener("keydown", myScript);
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Note: The addEventListener() method is not supported in Internet Explorer 8 and earlier versions.

Technical Details

Bubbles: Yes
Cancelable: Yes
Event type: KeyboardEvent
Supported HTML tags: All HTML elements, EXCEPT: <base>, <bdo>, <br>, <head>, <html>, <iframe>, <meta>, <param>, <script>, <style>, and <title>
DOM Version: Level 2 Events

More Examples

Example

Using "onkeydown" together with the "onkeyup" event:

<input type="text" onkeydown="keydownFunction()" onkeyup="keyupFunction()">
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❮ DOM Events ❮ KeyboardEvent