KeyboardEvent: charCode property
Deprecated: This 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.
Warning: Do not use this property, as it is deprecated. Instead, get the Unicode value of the character using the key property.
Value
A number that represents the Unicode value of the character key that was pressed.
Examples
HTML
<p>Type anything into the input box below to log a <code>charCode</code>.</p>
<input type="text" />
<p id="log"></p>
JavaScript
const input = document.querySelector("input");
const log = document.querySelector("#log");
input.addEventListener("keypress", (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.
- 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
Browser compatibility
|
Desktop |
Mobile |
|
Chrome |
Edge |
Firefox |
Internet Explorer |
Opera |
Safari |
WebView Android |
Chrome Android |
Firefox for Android |
Opera Android |
Safari on IOS |
Samsung Internet |
charCode |
1 |
12 |
1.5 |
9 |
12.1 |
1.2 |
≤37 |
18 |
4 |
12.1 |
1 |
1.0 |