Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values

The following tables list all the keys on a standard keyboard and the corresponding key code values and ASCII key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

You can use key constants to intercept the built-in behavior of keypresses.

For more information on the on() handler, see on handler in the ActionScript 2.0 Language Reference. To capture key code values and ASCII key code values using a SWF file and key presses, draw a text field on the Stage. Select Input Text from the Text Type drop-down menu in the Properties panel, and click the Show border around text option. Then paste the following ActionScript code into the actions panel for the current Frame on the Timeline:

var keyListener:Object = new Object();

keyListener.onKeyDown = function() {
    trace("DOWN -> Code: " + Key.getCode() + "\tACSII: " + Key.getAscii() + "\tKey: " + chr(Key.getAscii()));
};
Key.addListener(keyListener);

For more information on the Key class, see Key in ActionScript 2.0 Language Reference. To trap keys when you test a SWF file in the authoring environment (Control > Test Movie), make sure that you select Control > Disable Keyboard Shortcuts.

Letters A to Z and standard numbers 0 to 9

The following table lists the keys on a standard keyboard for the letters A to Z and the numbers 0 to 9, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

Letter or number key	Key code	ASCII key code
A	65	65
B	66	66
C	67	67
D	68	68
E	69	69
F	70	70
G	71	71
H	72	72
I	73	73
J	74	74
K	75	75
L	76	76
M	77	77
N	78	78
O	79	79
P	80	80
Q	81	81
R	82	82
S	83	83
T	84	84
U	85	85
V	86	86
W	87	87
X	88	88
Y	89	89
Z	90	90
0	48	48
1	49	49
2	50	50
3	51	51
4	52	52
5	53	53
6	54	54
7	55	55
8	56	56
9	57	57
a	65	97
b	66	98
c	67	99
d	68	100
e	69	101
f	70	102
g	71	103
h	72	104
i	73	105
j	74	106
k	75	107
l	76	108
m	77	109
n	78	110
o	79	111
p	80	112
q	81	113
r	82	114
s	83	115
t	84	116
u	85	117
v	86	118
w	87	119
x	88	120
y	89	121
z	90	122

Keys on the numeric keypad

The following table lists the keys on a numeric keypad, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

Numeric keypad key	Key code	ASCII key code
Numpad 0	96	48
Numpad 1	97	49
Numpad 2	98	50
Numpad 3	99	51
Numpad 4	100	52
Numpad 5	101	53
Numpad 6	102	54
Numpad 7	103	55
Numpad 8	104	56
Numpad 9	105	57
Multiply	106	42
Add	107	43
Enter	13	13
Subtract	109	45
Decimal	110	46
Divide	111	47

Function keys

The following table lists the function keys on a standard keyboard, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

Function key	Key code	ASCII key code
F1	112	0
F2	113	0
F3	114	0
F4	115	0
F5	116	0
F6	117	0
F7	118	0
F8	119	0
F9	120	0
F10	This key is reserved by the system and cannot be used in ActionScript.	This key is reserved by the system and cannot be used in ActionScript.
F11	122	0
F12	123	0
F13	124	0
F14	125	0
F15	126	0

Other keys

The following table lists keys on a standard keyboard other than letters, numbers, numeric keypad keys, or function keys, with the corresponding key code values that are used to identify the keys in ActionScript:

Key	Key code	ASCII key code
Backspace	8	8
Tab	9	9
Enter	13	13
Shift	16	0
Control	17	0
Caps Lock	20	0
Esc	27	27
Spacebar	32	32
Page Up	33	0
Page Down	34	0
End	35	0
Home	36	0
Left Arrow	37	0
Up Arrow	38	0
Right Arrow	39	0
Down Arrow	40	0
Insert	45	0
Delete	46	127
Num Lock	144	0
ScrLk	145	0
Pause/Break	19	0
; :	186	59
= +	187	61
- _	189	45
/ ?	191	47
` ~	192	96
[ {	219	91
\ \|	220	92
] }	221	93
" '	222	39
,	188	44
.	190	46
/	191	47

For additional key code and ASCII values, use the ActionScript at the beginning of this appendix and press the desired key to trace its key code.

Letter or number key	Key code	ASCII key code
A	65	65
B	66	66
C	67	67
D	68	68
E	69	69
F	70	70
G	71	71
H	72	72
I	73	73
J	74	74
K	75	75
L	76	76
M	77	77
N	78	78
O	79	79
P	80	80
Q	81	81
R	82	82
S	83	83
T	84	84
U	85	85
V	86	86
W	87	87
X	88	88
Y	89	89
Z	90	90
0	48	48
1	49	49
2	50	50
3	51	51
4	52	52
5	53	53
6	54	54
7	55	55
8	56	56
9	57	57
a	65	97
b	66	98
c	67	99
d	68	100
e	69	101
f	70	102
g	71	103
h	72	104
i	73	105
j	74	106
k	75	107
l	76	108
m	77	109
n	78	110
o	79	111
p	80	112
q	81	113
r	82	114
s	83	115
t	84	116
u	85	117
v	86	118
w	87	119
x	88	120
y	89	121
z	90	122

Letter or number key	Key code	ASCII key code
A	65	65
B	66	66
C	67	67
D	68	68
E	69	69
F	70	70
G	71	71
H	72	72
I	73	73
J	74	74
K	75	75
L	76	76
M	77	77
N	78	78
O	79	79
P	80	80
Q	81	81
R	82	82
S	83	83
T	84	84
U	85	85
V	86	86
W	87	87
X	88	88
Y	89	89
Z	90	90
0	48	48
1	49	49
2	50	50
3	51	51
4	52	52
5	53	53
6	54	54
7	55	55
8	56	56
9	57	57
a	65	97
b	66	98
c	67	99
d	68	100
e	69	101
f	70	102
g	71	103
h	72	104
i	73	105
j	74	106
k	75	107
l	76	108
m	77	109
n	78	110
o	79	111
p	80	112
q	81	113
r	82	114
s	83	115
t	84	116
u	85	117
v	86	118
w	87	119
x	88	120
y	89	121
z	90	122

Flash CS4 Professional ActionScript 2.0

Keyboard Keys and Key Code Values

Letters A to Z and standard numbers 0 to 9

Keys on the numeric keypad

Function keys

Other keys

Letter or number key	Key code	ASCII key code
A	65	65
B	66	66
C	67	67
D	68	68
E	69	69
F	70	70
G	71	71
H	72	72
I	73	73
J	74	74
K	75	75
L	76	76
M	77	77
N	78	78
O	79	79
P	80	80
Q	81	81
R	82	82
S	83	83
T	84	84
U	85	85
V	86	86
W	87	87
X	88	88
Y	89	89
Z	90	90
0	48	48
1	49	49
2	50	50
3	51	51
4	52	52
5	53	53
6	54	54
7	55	55
8	56	56
9	57	57
a	65	97
b	66	98
c	67	99
d	68	100
e	69	101
f	70	102
g	71	103
h	72	104
i	73	105
j	74	106
k	75	107
l	76	108
m	77	109
n	78	110
o	79	111
p	80	112
q	81	113
r	82	114
s	83	115
t	84	116
u	85	117
v	86	118
w	87	119
x	88	120
y	89	121
z	90	122