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javascriptdomdom-events

onKeyPress Vs. onKeyUp and onKeyDown

What is the difference between these three events? Upon googling I found that:

  • The onKeyDown event is triggered when the user presses a key.
  • The onKeyUp event is triggered when the user releases a key.
  • The onKeyPress event is triggered when the user presses & releases a key (onKeyDown followed by onKeyUp).

I understand the first two, but isn't onKeyPress the same as onKeyUp? Is it possible to release a key (onKeyUp) without pressing it (onKeyDown)?

This is a bit confusing, can someone clear this up for me?

Solution

  • Check here for the archived link originally used in this answer.

    From that link:

    In theory, the onKeyDown and onKeyUp events represent keys being pressed or released, while the onKeyPress event represents a character being typed. The implementation of the theory is not same in all browsers.