Keyboard eventsBaseline · Widely available

The keydown and keyup events fire for each key press (or, with modifier keys, a combination of key presses) on a keyboard.

Supported in all major browsers for at least 30 months — safe to use without fallbacks. Baseline since Jul 29, 2015. Widely available since Jan 29, 2018.

How to use ↓Compare browsers

Browser support

DesktopChrome

1+Supportedsince Dec 11, 2008

Current: 155

Edge

12+Supportedsince Jul 29, 2015

Current: 154

Firefox

1–5Not supported

6+Supportedsince Aug 16, 2011

Current: 157

Safari

1–1.1Not supported

1.2+Supportedsince Feb 2, 2004

Current: 27

MobileChrome Android

18+Supportedsince Jun 27, 2012

Current: 155

Firefox Android

4–5Not supported

6+Supportedsince Aug 16, 2011

Current: 157

Safari iOS

1+Supportedsince Jun 29, 2007

Current: 27

How to use

This feature is Baseline widely available — use it freely, no fallback needed.

Example

Full syntax and examples are on MDN: keydown event.

Feature detection

JS · check before using

if ("KeyboardEvent" in globalThis) {
  // KeyboardEvent is available
} else {
  // load a polyfill or use a fallback
}

Documentation (MDN)

Specification

w3c.github.io#events-keyboardevents ↗

Sub-features

Support for each part of the feature (27). The overall table above shows when the whole feature works.

Sub-feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox Android	Safari iOS
Element.keydown_event	1	12	6	1.2	18	6	1
Element.keyup_event	1	12	6	1.2	18	6	1
KeyboardEvent	1	12	1.5	1.2	18	4	1
KeyboardEvent.KeyboardEvent	26	12	31	7	26	31	7
KeyboardEvent.altKey	1	12	1.5	1.2	18	4	1
KeyboardEvent.code	48	79	38	10.1	✕	✕	10.3
KeyboardEvent.ctrlKey	1	12	1.5	1.2	18	4	1
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState	30	12	15	10.1	30	15	10.3
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_alt	30	12	15	10.1	30	15	10.3
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_altgraph	48	79	15	10.1	48	15	10.3
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_capslock	48	12	15	10.1	48	15	10.3
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_control	30	12	15	10.1	30	15	10.3
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_fn	48	79	15	✕	48	15	✕
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_meta	30	79	15	10.1	30	15	10.3
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_numlock	48	79	15	✕	48	15	✕
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_scrolllock	48	79	15	✕	48	15	✕
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_shift	30	12	15	10.1	30	15	10.3
KeyboardEvent.getModifierState.key_parameter_symbol	48	79	✕	✕	48	✕	✕
KeyboardEvent.isComposing	56	79	31	✕	56	31	✕
KeyboardEvent.key	51	12	23	10.1	51	23	10.3

Show 7 more

Sub-feature	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox Android	Safari iOS
KeyboardEvent.key.dead_key	51	79	37	10.1	51	37	10.3
KeyboardEvent.key.non_printable_keys	51	12	23	10.1	51	23	10.3
KeyboardEvent.key.printable_key	51	12	29	10.1	51	29	10.3
KeyboardEvent.location	30	12	15	8	30	15	8
KeyboardEvent.metaKey	1	12	1.5	1.2	18	4	1
KeyboardEvent.repeat	137	12	28	10.1	137	28	10.3
KeyboardEvent.shiftKey	1	12	1.5	1.2	18	4	1