Web/API/KeyboardEvent/charCode

Non-standard This feature is non-standard and is not on a standards track. Do not use it on production sites facing the Web: it will not work for every user. There may also be large incompatibilities between implementations and the behavior may change in the future.

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

Do not use this property, as it is deprecated. Instead, get the Unicode value of the character using the key property.

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

Specification	Status	Comment
Document Object Model (DOM) Level 3 Events SpecificationThe definition of 'KeyboardEvent.charCode' in that specification.	Obsolete	Initial definition; specified as deprecated

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
`charCode` Deprecated'Non-standard'	Chrome Full support 26	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 3	IE Full support 9	Opera Full support 12.1	Safari Full support 5.1	WebView Android Full support Yes	Chrome Android Full support Yes	Firefox Android Full support Yes	Opera Android Full support Yes	Safari iOS Full support 5.1	Samsung Internet Android Full support Yes

Legend

Full support: Full 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.

KeyboardEvent.charCode by Mozilla Contributors is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.5.