HTML Reference Manual

Complete List of HTML Tags

HTML onkeydown Event Attribute

The onkeydown attribute is used to get or set the event handler function for the keydown event of the current element

Online Example

Execute JavaScript when the user presses a key

Example

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Usage of HTML onkeydown Event Attribute (Basic Tutorial Website oldtoolbag.com)</title>
<script>
function demo_onkeydown()
{
　　　　var x;
　　　　if(window.event)　//　IE8　and earlier IE versions
　　　　{
　　　　　　　　x=event.keyCode;
　　　　}
　　　　else if(event.which)　//　IE9/Firefox/Chrome/Opera/Safari
　　　　{
　　　　　　　　x=event.which;
　　　　}
　　　　var keychar=String.fromCharCode(x);
　　　　alert("The key is pressed ")　+　keychar　+　"The key is pressed");
}
</script>
</head>
<body>
<p>When the user presses a key in the input field, the function is triggered. It reminds the pressed key.</p>
<input type="text" onkeydown="demo_onkeydown()">
</body>
</html>

Test See ‹/›

Browser Compatibility

IEFirefoxOperaChromeSafari

All major browsers support the onkeydown event attribute

Definition and Usage

The onkeydown attribute is triggered when the user presses a key (on the keyboard).

Tip: Event trigger sequence related to onkeydown event:

onkeydown
onkeypress
onkeyup

Note: The onkeydown attribute cannot be used with the following elements: <base>, <bdo>, <br>, <head>, <html>, <iframe>, <meta>, <param>, <script>, <style>, or <title>.

HTML 4.01 and HTML5Differences between

No difference.

Syntax

<element onkeydown="script">

Attribute Value

Value	Description
script	Specifies the script to be executed when the onkeydown event is triggered.

HTML Event Attributes

HTML: <template> tag