zioinput

Action-based input mapping for Zig games. Bind keys to actions, edge detection.

Part of the zio-zig ecosystem.

Quick start

const zinput = @import("zioinput");

// Define action bindings
var input = zinput.InputMap(8).init();  // max 8 actions

const jump = input.registerAction();
const shoot = input.registerAction();
const move_left = input.registerAction();
const move_right = input.registerAction();

input.bind(jump, .space);
input.bind(shoot, .mouse_left);
input.bind(move_left, .a);
input.bind(move_left, .left);   // also arrow key
input.bind(move_right, .d);
input.bind(move_right, .right);

// Each frame: pass currently held keys
const held = [_]zinput.Key{ .a, .space };
input.update(&held);

// Query actions
if (input.justPressed(jump)) { /* first frame jump pressed */ }
if (input.pressed(move_left)) { /* held down */ }
if (input.released(shoot)) { /* just released */ }

// Rebind at runtime
input.unbind(jump, .space);
input.bind(jump, .j);

zig build test          # Run 40 tests
zig build run-example   # Run example

Example output

$ zig build run-example
Frame 1: jump=true, move_left=true, shoot=false
Frame 2: jump justPressed=false
Frame 3: jump released=true
Frame 4: jump (rebound to J)=true

API

Key enum

Keyboard: a-z, zero-nine, f1-f12, space, enter, escape, tab, lshift, rshift, lctrl, rctrl, up, down, left, right

Mouse: mouse_left, mouse_right, mouse_middle

Gamepad: gamepad_a, gamepad_b, gamepad_x, gamepad_y, gamepad_start, gamepad_back, gamepad_lb, gamepad_rb

InputMap(max_actions)

Method	Description
init()	Create input map
registerAction()	Register a new action, returns action index
bind(action, key)	Bind a key to an action
unbind(action, key)	Remove a key binding
update(held_keys)	Update state with currently held keys
pressed(action)	Is the action currently active
justPressed(action)	Became active this frame
released(action)	Became inactive this frame

License

MIT. Copyright (c) 2026 Alessandro De Blasis.