How to detect Space
document.addEventListener('keydown', (event) => {
if (event.key === " ") {
// Space 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 Space
The key value is a single space character, not “Space”. Space activates buttons and checkboxes and scrolls the page when nothing else handles it; call preventDefault() if your custom control uses it, or the page will jump.
In React
<input onKeyDown={(e) => { if (e.key === " ") { /* … */ } }} />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 Space?
32. It’s deprecated, though: use event.key (“ (a space)”) or event.code (Space) 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.