Why output contain 'D' in C# program of ReadKey()?

Question

In Output screen, When I press 2, then it prints D2.

Why It prints D before output? I am using Visual studio 2019.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

namespace CSharp5
{
    class Class3
    {
        static void Main()
        {
            ConsoleKeyInfo m = Console.ReadKey();
            Console.WriteLine("\n" + m.Key);
        }
    }
}

That is the value of the Enum: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.windows.forms.keys?view=netframework-4.8 — Jacob Lambert, Jun 15 '19 at 06:40

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 15 '19 at 08:41

Because Key is used to determine which key has pressed.

If you press for example the A key you will get 'A' in output but there are two 2 keys on a standard keyboard. One is on top of keyboard and other one is on number pad.

Key represents Key Enum, by this you are able to determine which 2 key has pressed.

If you press 2 on top of keyboard you will get D2 in output.

If you press 2 on number pad you will get NumPad2 in output.

If you need exact '2' on output use KeyChar instead of key.

static void Main(string[] args)
{

    ConsoleKeyInfo m = Console.ReadKey();
    Console.WriteLine("\r\n Console key is:" + m.Key);
    Console.WriteLine("\r\n Unicode character is:" + m.KeyChar);
    Console.ReadKey();
}

Nice explained by Masoud Keshavarz. Thank you very much ! Also thanks you Jacob Lambert & Andy Lamb for your answer. — Dinesh Kudale, Jun 15 '19 at 14:23

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 15 '19 at 06:42

1

You want the KeyChar property rather than Key. Key is the enum representing the character and enum names (like other names in C#) can't start with a number. KeyChar is the unicode character representing the key pressed.

answered Jun 15 '19 at 06:42

Andy Lamb

2,151
20
22

Why output contain 'D' in C# program of ReadKey()?

Why It prints D before output? I am using Visual studio 2019.

2 Answers2