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These archived docs are for Phaser 2.4.1 Phaser 3 docs can be found on newdocs.phaser.io.
Phaser CE docs can be found on the Phaser CE Documentation site.

Constructor

Phaser. Keyboard

new Keyboard(game)

The Keyboard class monitors keyboard input and dispatches keyboard events.

Be aware that many keyboards are unable to process certain combinations of keys due to hardware limitations known as ghosting. Full details here: http://www.html5gamedevs.com/topic/4876-impossible-to-use-more-than-2-keyboard-input-buttons-at-the-same-time/

Parameters
Name Type Description
game Phaser.Game

A reference to the currently running game.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 17)

Public Properties

callbackContext : Object

The context under which the callbacks are run.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 44)

enabled : boolean

Keyboard input will only be processed if enabled.

Default Value
  • true
Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 29)

event : Object

The most recent DOM event from keydown or keyup. This is updated every time a new key is pressed or released.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 34)

game : Phaser.Game

Local reference to game.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 22)

[readonly] lastChar : string

Returns the string value of the most recently pressed key.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 539)

[readonly] lastKey : Phaser.Key

Returns the most recently pressed Key. This is a Phaser.Key object and it changes every time a key is pressed.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 562)

onDownCallback : Function

This callback is invoked every time a key is pressed down, including key repeats when a key is held down.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 49)

onPressCallback : Function

This callback is invoked every time a DOM onkeypress event is raised, which is only for printable keys.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 54)

onUpCallback : Function

This callback is invoked every time a key is released.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 59)

pressEvent : Object

The most recent DOM event from keypress.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 39)

Public Methods

addCallbacks(context, onDown, onUp, onPress)

Add callbacks to the Keyboard handler so that each time a key is pressed down or released the callbacks are activated.

Parameters
Name Type Argument Default Description
context object

The context under which the callbacks are run.

onDown function <optional>
null

This callback is invoked every time a key is pressed down.

onUp function <optional>
null

This callback is invoked every time a key is released.

onPress function <optional>
null

This callback is invoked every time the onkeypress event is raised.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 110)

addKey(keycode) → {Phaser.Key}

If you need more fine-grained control over a Key you can create a new Phaser.Key object via this method. The Key object can then be polled, have events attached to it, etc.

Parameters
Name Type Description
keycode number

The keycode of the key, i.e. Phaser.Keyboard.UP or Phaser.Keyboard.SPACEBAR

Returns

The Key object which you can store locally and reference directly.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 140)

addKeyCapture(keycode)

By default when a key is pressed Phaser will not stop the event from propagating up to the browser. There are some keys this can be annoying for, like the arrow keys or space bar, which make the browser window scroll. You can use addKeyCapture to consume the keyboard event for specific keys so it doesn't bubble up to the the browser. Pass in either a single keycode or an array/hash of keycodes.

Parameters
Name Type Description
keycode number | array | object

Either a single numeric keycode or an array/hash of keycodes: [65, 67, 68].

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 287)

addKeys(keys) → {object}

A practical way to create an object containing user selected hotkeys.

For example: addKeys( { 'up': Phaser.Keyboard.W, 'down': Phaser.Keyboard.S, 'left': Phaser.Keyboard.A, 'right': Phaser.Keyboard.D } );

Would return an object containing the properties up, down, left and right that you could poll just like a Phaser.Key object.

Parameters
Name Type Description
keys object

A key mapping object, i.e. { 'up': Phaser.Keyboard.W, 'down': Phaser.Keyboard.S } or { 'up': 52, 'down': 53 }.

Returns
object -

An object containing user selected properties

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 161)

clearCaptures()

Clear all set key captures.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 323)

createCursorKeys() → {object}

Creates and returns an object containing 4 hotkeys for Up, Down, Left and Right.

Returns
object -

An object containing properties: up, down, left and right. Which can be polled like any other Phaser.Key object.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 202)

destroy()

Stops the Keyboard event listeners from running (keydown and keyup). They are removed from the window. Also clears all key captures and currently created Key objects.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 270)

downDuration(keycode, duration) → {boolean}

Returns true if the Key was pressed down within the duration value given, or false if it either isn't down, or was pressed down longer ago than then given duration.

Parameters
Name Type Argument Default Description
keycode number

The keycode of the key to check, i.e. Phaser.Keyboard.UP or Phaser.Keyboard.SPACEBAR

duration number <optional>
50

The duration within which the key is considered as being just pressed. Given in ms.

Returns
boolean -

True if the key was pressed down within the given duration, false if not or null if the Key wasn't found.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 473)

isDown(keycode) → {boolean}

Returns true of the key is currently pressed down. Note that it can only detect key presses on the web browser.

Parameters
Name Type Description
keycode number

The keycode of the key to check, i.e. Phaser.Keyboard.UP or Phaser.Keyboard.SPACEBAR

Returns
boolean -

True if the key is currently down, false if not or null if the Key wasn't found.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 517)

<internal> processKeyDown(event)

Process the keydown event.

Parameters
Name Type Description
event KeyboardEvent
Internal:
  • This member is internal (protected) and may be modified or removed in the future.
Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 353)

<internal> processKeyPress(event)

Process the keypress event.

Parameters
Name Type Description
event KeyboardEvent
Internal:
  • This member is internal (protected) and may be modified or removed in the future.
Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 391)

<internal> processKeyUp(event)

Process the keyup event.

Parameters
Name Type Description
event KeyboardEvent
Internal:
  • This member is internal (protected) and may be modified or removed in the future.
Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 414)

removeKey(keycode)

Removes a Key object from the Keyboard manager.

Parameters
Name Type Description
keycode number

The keycode of the key to remove, i.e. Phaser.Keyboard.UP or Phaser.Keyboard.SPACEBAR

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 185)

removeKeyCapture(keycode)

Removes an existing key capture.

Parameters
Name Type Description
keycode number
Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 311)

reset(hard)

Resets all Keys.

Parameters
Name Type Argument Default Description
hard boolean <optional>
true

A soft reset won't reset any events or callbacks that are bound to the Keys. A hard reset will.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 449)

start()

Starts the Keyboard event listeners running (keydown and keyup). They are attached to the window. This is called automatically by Phaser.Input and should not normally be invoked directly.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 214)

stop()

Stops the Keyboard event listeners from running (keydown, keyup and keypress). They are removed from the window.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 253)

update()

Updates all currently defined keys.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 334)

upDuration(keycode, duration) → {boolean}

Returns true if the Key was pressed down within the duration value given, or false if it either isn't down, or was pressed down longer ago than then given duration.

Parameters
Name Type Argument Default Description
keycode number

The keycode of the key to check, i.e. Phaser.Keyboard.UP or Phaser.Keyboard.SPACEBAR

duration number <optional>
50

The duration within which the key is considered as being just released. Given in ms.

Returns
boolean -

True if the key was released within the given duration, false if not or null if the Key wasn't found.

Source code: input/Keyboard.js (Line 495)