Web/API/Element/keypress event

DeprecatedThis 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 after focussing the <input> element.

<div>
  <label for="sample">Focus the input and type something:</label>
  <input type="text" name="text" id="sample">
</div>
<p id="log"></p>

const log = document.getElementById('log');
const input = document.querySelector('input');

input.addEventListener('keypress', logKey);

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

onkeypress equivalent

input.onkeypress = logKey;

Specifications

Specification	Status
UI Events	Working Draft

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet
`keypress` event Deprecated'	Chrome Full support Yes Notes' Full support Yes 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 ≤18	Firefox Full support Yes Notes' Full support Yes 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 ?	Opera ?	Safari ?	WebView Android Full support Yes Notes' Full support Yes 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 Yes Notes' Full support Yes 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 Yes Notes' Full support Yes 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 ?	Safari iOS ?	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes Notes' Full support Yes 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
Compatibility unknown: Compatibility unknown
Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.': Deprecated. Not for use in new websites.
See implementation notes.': See implementation notes.