Download the module and place it somewhere in your project.
/
/modules/
/modules/keyboard.js
/modules/require.js
/app.js
/index.html
Import the module with an AMD module loader such as RequireJS. If you don't want to use RequireJS try the nonAMD branch.
require(['modules/keyboard'], function(KeyboardJS) {
//logic goes here...
});
<doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<title>KeyboardJS Demo</title>
<script data-main="app.js" src="modules/require.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.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 The onUpCallback is fired when the combo no longer active (a single key is released).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 onUpCallback 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.
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]
KeyboardJS is an amd module for binding to keyboards with the US character set. Adding other character sets is also possible by editing the key code map variable named 'keys' in the module.
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.