How to detect Control (Ctrl)
document.addEventListener('keydown', (event) => {
if (event.key === 'Control') {
// Control (Ctrl) was pressed
}
});Use event.key to react to what the key means (it follows the keyboard layout) and event.code for its physical position, for example WASD in games. keyCode and which are deprecated: they still work, but their values differ between browsers and layouts.
How browsers treat Control (Ctrl)
Check event.ctrlKey for shortcuts. On a Mac, users expect Cmd instead — test event.metaKey there, or accept either.
In React
<input onKeyDown={(e) => { if (e.key === 'Control') { /* … */ } }} />JavaScript Keycode FinderPress any key and instantly see every property of the keyboard event, with a copy-ready keydown snippet for shortcuts.
Open the tool Frequently asked questions
What is the keyCode for Control (Ctrl)?
17. It’s deprecated, though: use event.key (“Control”) or event.code (ControlLeft) in new code.
What is the difference between event.key and event.code?
event.key is the character or action the key produces with the current layout; event.code is the physical key position, the same on every layout.
Should I use keydown or keypress?
keydown. The keypress event is deprecated and doesn’t fire for keys that don’t produce characters, such as Escape or the arrow keys.