Where can I find a list of key codes for use with Cocoa's NSEvent class?

user_33686 0
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I'm looking for a comprehensive list of the available key codes that can be used with Cocoa's NSEvent class. The NSEvent class has a keyCode property, which is defined as unsigned short. The following code, when placed in an appropriate UI object, will echo the key codes as they are pressed:

- (void)keyDown:(NSEvent *)theEvent
{
    NSLog(@"%d", [theEvent keyCode]);
}

From this code, I can easily see which codes match certain keys, but I would like to find an official document somewhere that lists all of them. I expected Apple to have a header file somewhere that looked like this:

enum {
    ...
    NSKeyCodeLeftArrow = 123,
    NSKeyCodeRightArrow = 124,
    ...
};

But if there is one, I have yet to find it.

keyboard events cocoa
5 Answers

Here you go. It's a map of all the virtual key-codes on the US extended keyboard layout, from the old Inside Macintosh: Text. Most of the key codes are still currently, although I suspect that the very newest Apple keyboards—those with media keys—may have changed a few of the function keys.

Note: ISO and non-extended keyboards may have different key codes for some keys. If you have such a keyboard, try Peter Maurer's Key Codes application. His site is down, so here's my copy.

user_304610

As far as I know, there is no enum or list of key codes. However, to get similar behavior, you can call interpretKeyEvents: in keyDown: which will call appropriate action methods, all of which are documented in NSResponder (e.g. moveLeft:, insertTab:, etc.)

Admin1

For Swift, import Carbon.HIToolbox.Events and then use the constants directly:

import Carbon.HIToolbox.Events

let keyCode = kVK_ANSI_A

For a list of all codes, go to the definition of Carbon.HIToolbox.Events:

screenshot

user_731950
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