event.keyName

Type String
Event key
Revision Release 2024.3703
Keywords key, keyName

Overview

The unique string name of the key. Used to identify which key was pressed down or released.

Gotchas

Example

-- Called when a key event has been received
local function onKeyEvent( event )

    -- Print which key was pressed down/up
    local message = "Key '" .. event.keyName .. "' was pressed " .. event.phase
    print( message )

    -- If the "back" key was pressed on Android, prevent it from backing out of the app
    if ( event.keyName == "back" ) then
        if ( system.getInfo("platform") == "android" ) then
            return true
        end
    end

    -- IMPORTANT! Return false to indicate that this app is NOT overriding the received key
    -- This lets the operating system execute its default handling of the key
    return false
end

-- Add the key event listener
Runtime:addEventListener( "key", onKeyEvent )

Key Names

Letter Keys

keyName Description
"a" The "A" key.
"b" The "B" key.
"c" The "C" key.
"d" The "D" key.
"e" The "E" key.
"f" The "F" key.
"g" The "G" key.
"h" The "H" key.
"i" The "I" key.
"j" The "J" key.
"k" The "K" key.
"l" The "L" key.
"m" The "M" key.
"n" The "N" key.
"o" The "O" key.
"p" The "P" key.
"q" The "Q" key.
"r" The "R" key.
"s" The "S" key.
"t" The "T" key.
"u" The "U" key.
"v" The "V" key.
"w" The "W" key.
"x" The "X" key.
"y" The "Y" key.
"z" The "Z" key.

Number Keys

keyName Description
"0" The "0" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"1" The "1" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"2" The "2" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"3" The "3" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"4" The "4" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"5" The "5" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"6" The "6" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"7" The "7" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"8" The "8" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.
"9" The "9" key belonging to the keyboard's top row of number keys.

Number Pad Keys

keyName Description
"numPad0" The number pad's "0" key.
"numPad1" The number pad's "1" key.
"numPad2" The number pad's "2" key.
"numPad3" The number pad's "3" key.
"numPad4" The number pad's "4" key.
"numPad5" The number pad's "5" key.
"numPad6" The number pad's "6" key.
"numPad7" The number pad's "7" key.
"numPad8" The number pad's "8" key.
"numPad9" The number pad's "9" key.
"numPad+" The number pad's plus key.
"numPad-" The number pad's minus key.
"numPad*" The number pad's multiplication key.
"numPad/" The number pad's division key.
"numPad=" The number pad's equals key.
"numPadEnter" The number pad's enter or return key.
"numPad." The number pad's decimal separator key.
"numPad," The number pad's thousands separator key.
"numPad(" The number pad's left parentheses key.
"numPad)" The number pad's right parentheses key.
"numLock" The number pad's "Num Lock" key.

Arrow Keys

keyName Description
"up" The up arrow key on the keyboard or D-pad.
"down" The down arrow key on the keyboard or D-pad.
"left" The left arrow key on the keyboard or D-pad.
"right" The right arrow key on the keyboard or D-pad.

Modifier Keys

keyName Description
"leftAlt" The left "Alt" modifier key.
"rightAlt" The right "Alt" modifier key.
"leftCtrl" The left "Control" modifier key.
"rightCtrl" The right "Control" modifier key.
"leftShift" The left "Shift" modifier key.
"rightShift" The right "Shift" modifier key.
"leftCommand" The left "Command" or "Windows" key.
"rightCommand" The right "Command" or "Windows" key.

Function Keys

keyName Description
"function" The "function" or "fn" modifier key (not supported on Windows).
"f1" The "F1" function key.
"f2" The "F2" function key.
"f3" The "F3" function key.
"f4" The "F4" function key.
"f5" The "F5" function key.
"f6" The "F6" function key.
"f7" The "F7" function key.
"f8" The "F8" function key.
"f9" The "F9" function key.
"f10" The "F10" function key.
"f11" The "F11" function key.
"f12" The "F12" function key.
"f13" The "F13" function key.
"f14" The "F14" function key.
"f15" The "F15" function key.
"f16" The "F16" function key.
"f17" The "F17" function key.
"f18" The "F18" function key.
"f19" The "F19" function key.
"f20" The "F20" function key.
"f21" The "F21" function key.
"f22" The "F22" function key.
"f23" The "F23" function key.
"f24" The "F24" function key.

Media Keys

keyName Description
"mediaPlay" The button used to play media such as music or video.
"mediaPlayPause" The button used to play/pause media such as music or video.
"mediaPause" The button used to pause media such as music or video.
"mediaStop" The button used to stop media such as music or video.
"mediaNext" The button used to select the next music track or chapter in a video.
"mediaPrevious" The button used to select the previous music track or chapter in a video.
"mediaFastForward" The button used to fast forward music or video.
"mediaRewind" The button used to go backwards in a song or video.
"mediaRecord" The button used to start audio or video recording.
"mediaEject" The button used to eject a CD or DVD.
"mediaClose" The button used to close the CD or DVD tray on a PC.

Volume Keys

keyName Description
"volumeUp" The volume up button.
"volumeDown" The volume down button.
"volumeMute" The button used to mute and unmute audio playback.
"microphoneMute" The button used to mute and unmute the microphone.

Gamepad/Joystick Buttons

keyName Description
"button1" Button "1" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button2" Button "2" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button3" Button "3" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button4" Button "4" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button5" Button "5" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button6" Button "6" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button7" Button "7" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button8" Button "8" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button9" Button "9" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button10" Button "10" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button11" Button "11" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button12" Button "12" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button13" Button "13" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button14" Button "14" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button15" Button "15" on a gamepad or joystick.
"button16" Button "16" on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonA" Button "A" on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonB" Button "B" on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonC" Button "C" on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonX" Button "X" on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonY" Button "Y" on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonZ" Button "Z" on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonSelect" The "select" button on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonStart" The "start" button on a gamepad or joystick.
"buttonMode" The "mode" button on a gamepad or joystick.
"leftShoulderButton1" The first left shoulder button (aka "L1") on a gamepad.
"leftShoulderButton2" The second left shoulder button (aka "L2") on a gamepad.
"rightShoulderButton1" The first right shoulder button (aka "R1") on a gamepad.
"rightShoulderButton2" The second right shoulder button (aka "R2") on a gamepad.
"leftJoystickButton" The "left thumbstick" button on a gamepad (typically occurs when depressing the left thumbstick).
"rightJoystickButton" The "right thumbstick" button on a gamepad (typically occurs when depressing the right thumbstick).

Remote Control Buttons

keyName Description
"3D" The "3D" button on a remote control.
"blue" The "blue" button on a remote control.
"green" The "green" button on a remote control.
"red" The "red" button on a remote control.
"yellow" The "yellow" button on a remote control.
"captions" The "captions" button on a remote control.
"channelUp" The "channel up" button on a remote control.
"channelDown" The "channel down" button on a remote control.
"dvr" The "DVR" button on a remote control.
"guide" The "guide" button on a remote control.
"info" The "info" button on a remote control.
"tv" The "TV" button on a remote control.

Application Keys

keyName Description
"bookmark" The web page bookmark key.
"calculator" The key used to display the Calculator application.
"calendar" The key used to display the Calendar application.
"call" The key used to make a phone call.
"camera" The key used to display the Camera application.
"contacts" The key used to display the Contacts (Address Book) application.
"endCall" The key used to end a phone call on a mobile phone.
"explorer" The key used to display the "Windows Explorer" or file "Finder" application.
"focusCamera" The button used to focus the camera.
"mail" The key used to display the e-mail application.
"menu" The button used to display an application's menu (common on older Android devices).
"music" The key used to display the music application.
"notification" The key used to display Android's notifications in the status bar.
"search" The "search" button on an Android device.

Other Keys

keyName Description
"`" The back tick key.
"'" The apostrophe and double quote key.
"@" The "at" key on an Android keyboard.
"\" The backslash "\" and "|" key.
"/" The forward slash "/" and "?" key.
"[" The left bracket "[" and "{" key on the keyboard.
"]" The right bracket "]" and "}" key on the keyboard.
"+" The plus key.
"-" The minus key.
"*" The asterisk key on an Android keyboard.
"." The "." and ">" key on the keyboard.
"=" The "=" and "+" key on the keyboard.
"#" The "#" key on an Android keyboard.
";" The ";" and ":" key on the keyboard.
"," The "," and "<" key on the keyboard.
"break" The "break" key.
"capsLock" The "Caps Lock" key.
"clear" The number pad's "Clear" key.
"deleteBack" The "Backspace" key on a Windows keyboard or "Delete" key on an Apple keyboard.
"deleteForward" The "Delete" key on a Windows keyboard or "Delete Forward" key on an Apple keyboard.
"end" The "end" key on a keyboard.
"enter" The "Enter" or "Return" key on a keyboard.
"escape" The "escape" or "esc" key.
"headsetHook" The button on a headset earpiece (typically used to mute/unmute).
"insert" The "insert" key.
"home" The "home" key on a keyboard (this is not the "Home" button on an Android device).
"pageUp" The "page up" key.
"pageDown" The "page down" key.
"printScreen" The "Print Screen" key.
"scrollLock" The "Scroll Lock" key.
"space" The space bar.
"tab" The "tab" key.
"zoomIn" The "zoom-in" key.
"zoomOut" The "zoom-out" key.

Unknown Keys

keyName Description
"unknown" The key name used if Corona is unable to recognize the received key code. In this case, you can only identify the key by its event.nativeKeyCode value.