execute javascript function onkeydown

Question

I am looking for a way to execute a javascript function when a specific key is pressed, for example pressing the down key will result in function down() and the left key will execute function left(). Is this possible preferably with javascript? I could use jquery, but I prefer javascript. Thanks!

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 02 '14 at 14:42

2

Sure it's possible:

document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e){
    if(e.keyCode === 40) {
        down();
    } else if(e.keyCode === 38) {
        up();
    }
},false);

edited Apr 02 '14 at 14:42

Community

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answered Feb 15 '13 at 01:39

bfavaretto

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so is `down()` another function? – Thomas Lai Feb 15 '13 at 01:44
Yes, I was assuming you already had it. But it doesn't have to be, you can do whatever you want to do right inside the conditionals, instead of calling `up()` or `down()`. – bfavaretto Feb 15 '13 at 01:46
ok, thanks, sorry but I'm a beginner at javascript – Thomas Lai Feb 15 '13 at 01:48

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 15 '13 at 02:04

bfavaretto's answer is good, but it won't support all the browsers. Try this:

document.addEventListener('keydown', function(event){
    event = event || window.event;
    var keycode = event.charCode || event.keyCode;
    if(keycode == 37) 
        left();
    if(keycode == 39) 
        right();
    if(keycode == 38) 
        up();
    if(keycode == 40) 
        down();
});

execute javascript function onkeydown

2 Answers2