When given a printable ASCII character as an argument, the functions Keyboard.write()
, Keyboard.press()
and Keyboard.release()
simulate actuations on the corresponding keys. These functions can also handle ASCII characters that require pressing a key in combination with Shift or, on international keyboards, AltGr. For example:
Keyboard.write('a'); // press and release the 'A' key
Keyboard.write('A'); // press Shift and 'A', then release both
A typical keyboard, however, has many keys that do not match a printable ASCII character. In order to simulate those keys, the library provides a set of macros that can be passed as arguments to Keyboard.write()
, Keyboard.press()
and Keyboard.release()
. For example, the key combination Shift+F2 can be generated by:
Keyboard.press(KEY_LEFT_SHIFT); // press and hold Shift
Keyboard.press(KEY_F2); // press and hold F2
Keyboard.releaseAll(); // release both
Note that, in order to press multiple keys simultaneously, one has to use Keyboard.press()
rather than Keyboard.write()
, as the latter just “hits” the keys (it presses and immediately releases them).
The available macros are listed below:
Keyboard modifiers
These keys are meant to modify the normal action of another key when the two are pressed in combination.
KEY | HEXADECIMAL VALUE | DECIMAL VALUE | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
KEY_LEFT_CTRL |
0x80 |
128 |
|
KEY_LEFT_SHIFT |
0x81 |
129 |
|
KEY_LEFT_ALT |
0x82 |
130 |
Option (⌥) on Mac |
KEY_LEFT_GUI |
0x83 |
131 |
OS logo, Command (⌘) on Mac |
KEY_RIGHT_CTRL |
0x84 |
132 |
|
KEY_RIGHT_SHIFT |
0x85 |
133 |
|
KEY_RIGHT_ALT |
0x86 |
134 |
also AltGr, Option (⌥) on Mac |
KEY_RIGHT_GUI |
0x87 |
135 |
OS logo, Command (⌘) on Mac |
Special keys
These are all the keys that do not match a printable ASCII character and are not modifiers.
Within the alphanumeric cluster
KEY | HEXADECIMAL VALUE | DECIMAL VALUE |
---|---|---|
KEY_TAB |
0xB3 |
179 |
KEY_CAPS_LOCK |
0xC1 |
193 |
KEY_BACKSPACE |
0xB2 |
178 |
KEY_RETURN |
0xB0 |
176 |
KEY_MENU |
0xED |
237 |
Navigation cluster
KEY | HEXADECIMAL VALUE | DECIMAL VALUE |
---|---|---|
KEY_INSERT |
0xD1 |
209 |
KEY_DELETE |
0xD4 |
212 |
KEY_HOME |
0xD2 |
210 |
KEY_END |
0xD5 |
213 |
KEY_PAGE_UP |
0xD3 |
211 |
KEY_PAGE_DOWN |
0xD6 |
214 |
KEY_UP_ARROW |
0xDA |
218 |
KEY_DOWN_ARROW |
0xD9 |
217 |
KEY_LEFT_ARROW |
0xD8 |
216 |
KEY_RIGHT_ARROW |
0xD7 |
215 |
Numeric keypad
KEY | HEXADECIMAL VALUE | DECIMAL VALUE |
---|---|---|
KEY_NUM_LOCK |
0xDB |
219 |
KEY_KP_SLASH |
0xDC |
220 |
KEY_KP_ASTERISK |
0xDD |
221 |
KEY_KP_MINUS |
0xDE |
222 |
KEY_KP_PLUS |
0xDF |
223 |
KEY_KP_ENTER |
0xE0 |
224 |
KEY_KP_1 |
0xE1 |
225 |
KEY_KP_2 |
0xE2 |
226 |
KEY_KP_3 |
0xE3 |
227 |
KEY_KP_4 |
0xE4 |
228 |
KEY_KP_5 |
0xE5 |
229 |
KEY_KP_6 |
0xE6 |
230 |
KEY_KP_7 |
0xE7 |
231 |
KEY_KP_8 |
0xE8 |
232 |
KEY_KP_9 |
0xE9 |
233 |
KEY_KP_0 |
0xEA |
234 |
KEY_KP_DOT |
0xEB |
235 |
Escape and function keys
The library can simulate function keys up to F24.
KEY | HEXADECIMAL VALUE | DECIMAL VALUE |
---|---|---|
KEY_ESC |
0xB1 |
177 |
KEY_F1 |
0xC2 |
194 |
KEY_F2 |
0xC3 |
195 |
KEY_F3 |
0xC4 |
196 |
KEY_F4 |
0xC5 |
197 |
KEY_F5 |
0xC6 |
198 |
KEY_F6 |
0xC7 |
199 |
KEY_F7 |
0xC8 |
200 |
KEY_F8 |
0xC9 |
201 |
KEY_F9 |
0xCA |
202 |
KEY_F10 |
0xCB |
203 |
KEY_F11 |
0xCC |
204 |
KEY_F12 |
0xCD |
205 |
KEY_F13 |
0xF0 |
240 |
KEY_F14 |
0xF1 |
241 |
KEY_F15 |
0xF2 |
242 |
KEY_F16 |
0xF3 |
243 |
KEY_F17 |
0xF4 |
244 |
KEY_F18 |
0xF5 |
245 |
KEY_F19 |
0xF6 |
246 |
KEY_F20 |
0xF7 |
247 |
KEY_F21 |
0xF8 |
248 |
KEY_F22 |
0xF9 |
249 |
KEY_F23 |
0xFA |
250 |
KEY_F24 |
0xFB |
251 |
Function control keys
These are three keys that sit above the navigation cluster.
KEY | HEXADECIMAL VALUE | DECIMAL VALUE | NOTES |
---|---|---|---|
KEY_PRINT_SCREEN |
0xCE |
206 |
Print Screen or PrtSc / SysRq |
KEY_SCROLL_LOCK |
0xCF |
207 |
|
KEY_PAUSE |
0xD0 |
208 |
Pause / Break |
International keyboard layouts
Some national layouts define extra keys. For example, the Swedish and Danish layouts define KEY_A_RING
as 0xB7
, which is the key to the right of “P”, labeled “Å” on those layouts and “{”/“[” on the US layout. In order to use those definitions, one has to include the proper Keyboard_*.h file. For example:
#include <Keyboard.h>
#include <Keyboard_sv_SE.h> // extra key definitions from Swedish layout
void setup() {
Keyboard.begin(KeyboardLayout_sv_SE); // use the Swedish layout
Keyboard.write(KEY_A_RING);
}
void loop() {} // do-nothing loop
For the list of layout-specific key definitions, see the respective Keyboard_*.h file within the library sources.