Java Doc for KeyEvent.java in  » 6.0-JDK-Core » AWT » java » awt » event » Java Source Code / Java DocumentationJava Source Code and Java Documentation

This low-level event is generated by a component object (such as a text field) when a key is pressed, released, or typed. The event is passed to every KeyListener or KeyAdapter object which registered to receive such events using the component's addKeyListener method. (KeyAdapter objects implement the KeyListener interface.) Each such listener object gets this KeyEvent when the event occurs.

"Key typed" events are higher-level and generally do not depend on the platform or keyboard layout. They are generated when a Unicode character is entered, and are the preferred way to find out about character input. In the simplest case, a key typed event is produced by a single key press (e.g., 'a'). Often, however, characters are produced by series of key presses (e.g., 'shift' + 'a'), and the mapping from key pressed events to key typed events may be many-to-one or many-to-many. Key releases are not usually necessary to generate a key typed event, but there are some cases where the key typed event is not generated until a key is released (e.g., entering ASCII sequences via the Alt-Numpad method in Windows). No key typed events are generated for keys that don't generate Unicode characters (e.g., action keys, modifier keys, etc.).

The getKeyChar method always returns a valid Unicode character or CHAR_UNDEFINED. Character input is reported by KEY_TYPED events: KEY_PRESSED and KEY_RELEASED events are not necessarily associated with character input. Therefore, the result of the getKeyChar method is guaranteed to be meaningful only for KEY_TYPED events.

For key pressed and key released events, the getKeyCode method returns the event's keyCode. For key typed events, the getKeyCode method always returns VK_UNDEFINED.

"Key pressed" and "key released" events are lower-level and depend on the platform and keyboard layout. They are generated whenever a key is pressed or released, and are the only way to find out about keys that don't generate character input (e.g., action keys, modifier keys, etc.). The key being pressed or released is indicated by the getKeyCode method, which returns a virtual key code.

Virtual key codes are used to report which keyboard key has been pressed, rather than a character generated by the combination of one or more keystrokes (such as "A", which comes from shift and "a").

For example, pressing the Shift key will cause a KEY_PRESSED event with a VK_SHIFT keyCode, while pressing the 'a' key will result in a VK_A keyCode. After the 'a' key is released, a KEY_RELEASED event will be fired with VK_A. Separately, a KEY_TYPED event with a keyChar value of 'A' is generated.

Pressing and releasing a key on the keyboard results in the generating the following key events (in order):

  KEY_PRESSED   KEY_TYPED   (is only generated if a valid Unicode character could be generated.)
  KEY_RELEASED  

Notes:

• Key combinations which do not result in Unicode characters, such as action keys like F1 and the HELP key, do not generate KEY_TYPED events.
• Not all keyboards or systems are capable of generating all virtual key codes. No attempt is made in Java to generate these keys artificially.
• Virtual key codes do not identify a physical key: they depend on the platform and keyboard layout. For example, the key that generates VK_Q when using a U.S. keyboard layout will generate VK_A when using a French keyboard layout.
• Not all characters have a keycode associated with them. For example, there is no keycode for the question mark because there is no keyboard for which it appears on the primary layer.
• In order to support the platform-independent handling of action keys, the Java platform uses a few additional virtual key constants for functions that would otherwise have to be recognized by interpreting virtual key codes and modifiers. For example, for Japanese Windows keyboards, VK_ALL_CANDIDATES is returned instead of VK_CONVERT with the ALT modifier.
• As specified in Focus Specification key events are dispatched to the focus owner by default.

WARNING: Aside from those keys that are defined by the Java language (VK_ENTER, VK_BACK_SPACE, and VK_TAB), do not rely on the values of the VK_ constants. Sun reserves the right to change these values as needed to accomodate a wider range of keyboards in the future.
author:
   Carl Quinn
author:
   Amy Fowler
author:
   Norbert Lindenberg
version:
   1.88 05/05/07
See Also:   KeyAdapter
See Also:   KeyListener
See Also:    Tutorial: Writing a Key Listener
since:
   1.1

Note that passing in an invalid id results in unspecified behavior.

Note that passing in an invalid id results in unspecified behavior.

KEY_PRESSED and KEY_RELEASED events are not intended for reporting of character input.

Note that passing in an invalid id results in unspecified behavior. This method throws an IllegalArgumentException if source is null.
Parameters:
  source - the Component that originated the event
Parameters:
  id - an integer identifying the type of event
Parameters:
  when - a long integer that specifies the time the eventoccurred
Parameters:
  modifiers - the modifier keys down during event (shift, ctrl,alt, meta)Either extended _DOWN_MASK or old _MASK modifiersshould be used, but both models should not be mixedin one event. Use of the extended modifiers ispreferred.
Parameters:
  keyCode - the integer code for an actual key, or VK_UNDEFINED(for a key-typed event)
Parameters:
  keyChar - the Unicode character generated by this event, orCHAR_UNDEFINED (for key-pressed and key-releasedevents which do not map to a valid Unicode character)
Parameters:
  keyLocation - identifies the key location. The only legalvalues are KEY_LOCATION_UNKNOWN, KEY_LOCATION_STANDARD, KEY_LOCATION_LEFT, KEY_LOCATION_RIGHT, and KEY_LOCATION_NUMPAD.
throws:
  IllegalArgumentException - if id is KEY_TYPED and keyChar is CHAR_UNDEFINED; or if id is KEY_TYPED and keyCode is not VK_UNDEFINED; or if id is KEY_TYPED andkeyLocation is not KEY_LOCATION_UNKNOWN;or if keyLocation is not one of the legal values enumerated above.
throws:
  IllegalArgumentException - if source is null
since:
   1.4

Note that passing in an invalid id results in unspecified behavior. This method throws an IllegalArgumentException if source is null.
Parameters:
  source - the Component that originated the event
Parameters:
  id - an integer identifying the type of event
Parameters:
  when - a long integer that specifies the time the eventoccurred
Parameters:
  modifiers - the modifier keys down during event (shift, ctrl,alt, meta)Either extended _DOWN_MASK or old _MASK modifiersshould be used, but both models should not be mixedin one event. Use of the extended modifiers ispreferred.
Parameters:
  keyCode - the integer code for an actual key, or VK_UNDEFINED (for a key-typed event)
Parameters:
  keyChar - the Unicode character generated by this event, or CHAR_UNDEFINED (for key-pressed and key-releasedevents which do not map to a valid Unicode character)
throws:
  IllegalArgumentException - if id isKEY_TYPED and keyChar isCHAR_UNDEFINED; or if id isKEY_TYPED and keyCode is notVK_UNDEFINED
throws:
  IllegalArgumentException - if source is null

KEY_PRESSED and KEY_RELEASED events are not intended for reporting of character input. Therefore, the values returned by this method are guaranteed to be meaningful only for KEY_TYPED events. the Unicode character defined for this key event.If no valid Unicode character exists for this key event, CHAR_UNDEFINED is returned.

Note that InputEvent.ALT_MASK and InputEvent.BUTTON2_MASK have the same value, so the string "Alt" is returned for both modifiers. Likewise, InputEvent.META_MASK and InputEvent.BUTTON3_MASK have the same value, so the string "Meta" is returned for both modifiers. string a text description of the combination of modifierkeys that were held down during the event
See Also:   InputEvent.getModifiersExText(int)

NOTE: use of this method is not recommended, because many AWT implementations do not recognize modifier changes. This is especially true for KEY_TYPED events where the shift modifier is changed.
Parameters:
  modifiers - an integer combination of the modifier constants.
See Also:   InputEvent