Download the library and place it somewhere in your project. All methods are accessed via the KeyboardJS namespace enless the library is loaded with an AMD module loader.
/
/keyboard.js
/app.js
/index.html
load the script with a script tag.
<doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<title>KeyboardJS Demo</title>
<script src="keyboard.js"></script>
<script src="app.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Markup goes here... -->
</body>
</html>
KeyboardJS will allow you to bind to any key the browser can detect. It allows for setting up complex key combos or even single key binds with ease. It is aware of combo overlap and will not fire simpler combos or single key bindings when they share key with larger combos.
Basically if you want to use the keyboard, this will let you do it without restrictions.
KeyboardJS has full support for AMD module loaders such as RequireJS.
KeyboardJS.bind.key(keyCombo, onDownCallback, onUpCallback);
Binds any key or key combo. See 'keyCombo' definition below for details. The onDownCallback is fired once the key or key combo becomes active. The onUpCallback is fired when the combo no longer active (a single key is released).
Both the onUpCallback and the onDownCallback are passed three arguments. The first is the key event, the second is the keys pressed, and the third is the key combo string.
Returns an object containing the following methods.
- clear - Removes the key or key combo binding.
KeyboardJS.bind.axis(upkeyCombo, downkeyCombo, leftkeyCombo, rightkeyCombo, callback);
Binds four keys or key combos as an up, down, left, right axis. See 'keyCombo' definition above for details. The callback is fired when any of the key combos are active. It is passed an axis object. See 'axis' definition below for more details.
Returns an object containing the following methods.
- clear - Removes the axis binding.
KeyboardJS.activeKeys();
Returns an array of active keys by name.
KeyboardJS.unbind.key(keyCombo);
Removes all bindings with a key or key combo. See 'keyCombo' definition for more details.
Please note that if you are just trying to remove one binding you should use the clear method in the object returned by KeyboardJS.bind.key or KeybaordJS.bind.axis instead of this. This function is for removing all binding that use a certain key.
KeyboardJS.locale.set(localeName);
Changes the locale keyboardJS uses to map key presses. Currently only US is possible unless more locales have been added via KeyboardJS.locale.add
KeyboardJS.locale.add(localeName, keyMap);
Adds support for new locals to KeyboardJS. The name of the local and a keyMap are expected. See 'keyMap' definition for more details.
A comma separated string of keys. Combos can be created using the + sign instead of a comma.
- 'a' - binds to the 'a' key. Pressing 'a' will match this keyCombo.
- 'a, b' - binds to the 'a' and 'b' keys. Pressing ether of these keys will match this keyCombo.
- 'a + b' - binds to the 'a' and 'b' keys. Pressing both of these keys will match this keyCombo.
- 'a + b, c + d' - binds to the 'a', 'b', 'c' and 'd' keys. Pressing ether the 'a' key and the 'b' key, or the 'c' and the 'd' key will match this keyCombo.
An array containing two numbers. The first value represents x and the second represents y. These values are 1, 0, or -1.
[x, y]
An object that maps key names to their key code. Used for mapping keys on different locales.
{
"keyName": keyCode,
...
}
KeyboardJS can support any locale, however out of the box it just comes with the US locale (for now..,). Adding a new locale is easy. Map your keyboard to an object and pass it to KeyboardJS.locale.add('myLocale', {/MAP/}) then call KeyboardJS.locale.set('myLocale').
If you create a new locale please consider sending me a pull request or submit it to the issue tracker so I can add it to the library.
I made this to enable better access to key controls in my appications. I'd like to share it with fellow devs. Feel free to fork this project and make your own changes.
