Which is the best JavaScript Keyboard event library. (Hotkeys, Shortcuts )

Question

I want to make a BBS forum that using many Keyboard events, so which is the best Keyboard event library?

Answer 1

Just another to throw in the mix. I recently released one called Mousetrap. You can check out examples at http://craig.is/killing/mice

Answer 2

Try KeyboardJS

its as simple as

KeyboardJS.on('a', function(){ alert('hello!'); });

yet as flexible as

var bindInstance = KeyboardJS.on('ctrl + a, ctrl + b, c', function(event, keysPressedArray, keyComboString){

    //you get the event object
    console.log('event object', event);

    //you get the keys pressed array
    console.log('keys pressed', keysPressedArray);

    //you get the key combo string
    console.log('combo pressed', keyComboString);

    console.log('I will fire when \'ctrl + a\' or \'ctrl +b\' or \'c\' is pressed down');

    //block event bubble
    return false;

}, function(event, keysPressedArray, keyComboString) {

    console.log('I will fire on key up');

    //block event bubble
    return false;

});

you can clear a binding by calling

bindInstance.clear();

you can clear all binds with specific keys with

KeyboardJS.clear('a, b');

Its open source and available on Github. Its comes in ether a global library or an AMD module for RequireJS.

Here's an introduction video.

There, now stop worrying about the keyboard and code your app. ;)

Answer 3

KEYPRESS is focused on game input and supports any key as a modifier, among other features. It's also pre-packaged for Meteor.

Answer 4

From what I have seen Mousetrap is the only library that let's you specify key sequences rather than combinations. This came in very handy for my application.

Answer 5

This one is pretty good for jquery.

https://github.com/jeresig/jquery.hotkeys

Answer 6

Lots of JavaScript libraries come replete with ways of capturing key input and using it to your advantage. It's a good bet that you will be able to find a library to do just that, and nothing else. I don't have a lot of experience there, however.

I've been using Ext for a while now, and their KeyMap class is really easy to work with. Here is a simple example using it.

new Ext.KeyMap(Ext.getDoc(), {
        key: 'abc',
        alt: true,
        handler: function(k, e) {
            var t = Ext.getCmp('tabpanel');
            switch(k) {
                case 65:
                    t.setActiveTab(0);
                    break;
                case 66:
                    t.setActiveTab(1);
                    break;
                case 67:
                    t.setActiveTab(2);
                    break;
            }
        },
        stopEvent: true
    });

This takes class, Ext.TabPanel, and allows the user to push a keyboard key to change tabs, rather than clicking the tabs themselves.

It can, of course, do much more than this. This is a simple example of how it works though.

Answer 7

This one is better if you are starting and if you want to understand how hot-keys work.

https://github.com/UthaiahBollera/HotkeysInJavascriptLibrary

Answer 8

You can try this one...

http://unixpapa.com/js/key.html