Web/API/UIEvent/isChar

ObsoleteThis feature is obsolete.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

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
`isChar` Deprecated'Non-standard'	Chrome No support No	Edge No support No	Firefox 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 No	Opera No support No	Safari No support No	WebView Android No support No	Chrome Android No support No	Firefox 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 No	Safari iOS No support No	Samsung 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.