XUL Programmer's Reference Manual

<key>

key is an attribute required to specify the primary key of the binding for an event handler. 

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" />

Example

<keyset>
   <key id="newKey" key="n" onkeydown="New()" />
   <key id="openKey" key="o" onkeydown="Open()" />
   <key id="saveKey" key="s" onkeydown="Save()" />
</keyset>

The value of key is case-insensitive, so "S" means the same thing as "s". When there is no modifier specified, the primary key works by itself to prompt the event handler. When a modifier and a key are specified, then both need to be pressed to prompt the event hander.

keybode is an optional attribute for specifying keyboard command keys to prompt event handlers.

<key id="string" keycode="keyboard character" />

<key id="saveKey" key="s" keycode="VK_HOME" onkeydown="HomePage()" />

Common keycodes appear in the following table:
 

keycode	keyboard display
VK_HOME	Home
VK_END	End
VK_LEFT	Left Arrow
VK_RIGHT	Right Arrow
VK_PAGE_UP	Page Up key
VK_PAGE_DOWN	Page Down key
VK_DELETE	Delete key
VK_INSERT	Insert key
VK_END	End key
VK_F2 (et al)	Function keys
VK_ENTER	Enter key

command is an optional attribute for specifying command keys to be used in conjunction with the primary key to prompt event handlers.

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" command="[ true | false]" />

<key id="saveKey" key="s" command="true" onkeydown="Save()" />

The example above defines a key binding for the command + s key combination. The command keys vary from platform to platform, as shown in the following table:
 

Modifier	GTK	Macintosh	Windows
command	control	command	control
alt	alt	option	alt
shift	shift	shift	shift
control	control	control	control

alt is an optional attribute for specifying command keys to be used in conjunction with the primary key to prompt event handlers.

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" alt="[ true | false]" />

<key id="saveKey" key="s" alt="true" onkeydown="Save()" />

The example above defines a key binding for the alt + s key combination. The alt keys vary from platform to platform, as shown in the following table:
 

Modifier	GTK	Macintosh	Windows
command	control	command	control
alt	alt	option	alt
shift	shift	shift	shift
control	control	control	control

shift is an optional attribute for specifying command keys to be used in conjunction with the primary key to prompt event handlers.

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" shift="[ true | false]" />

<key id="saveKey" key="s" shift="true" onkeydown="Save()" />

The example above defines a key binding for the shift + s key combination. The modifier keys vary from platform to platform, as shown in the following table:
 

Modifier	GTK	Macintosh	Windows
command	control	command	control
alt	alt	option	alt
shift	shift	shift	shift
control	control	control	control

control is an optional attribute for specifying command keys to be used in conjunction with the primary key to prompt event handlers.

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" control="[ true | false]" />

<key id="saveKey" key="s" control="true" onkeydown="Save()" />

The example above defines a key binding for the control + s key combination. The modifier keys vary from platform to platform, as shown in the following table:
 

Modifier	GTK	Macintosh	Windows
command	control	command	control
alt	alt	option	alt
shift	shift	shift	shift
control	control	control	control

onkeydown is an optional attribute for creating event handlers for key bindings. 

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" onkeydown="event handler code" />

<key id="saveKey" key="S" onkeydown="Save()" />

The keydown event is fired when the user first depresses the key specified by the key attribute (and the modifiers). The keypress event is effecctively equivalent to the keydown and keyup events together.

onkeyup is an optional attribute for creating event handlers for key bindings. 

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" onkeyup="event handler code" />

<key id="saveKey" key="S" onkeyup="Save()" />

The keyup event is fired when the user releases the key specified by the key attribute (and the modifiers). The keypress event is effecctively equivalent to the keydown and keyup events together.

onkeypress is an optional attribute for creating event handlers for key bindings. 

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" onkeypress="event handler code" />

<key id="saveKey" key="S" onkeypress="Save()" />

The keypress event is fired when the user presses the key specified by the key attribute (and the modifiers). The keypress event is effecctively equivalent to the keydown and keyup events together.

oncommand is an optional attribute for creating event handlers for key bindings. 

<key id="string" key="keyboard character" oncommand="event handler code" />

<key id="saveKey" key="S" oncommand="Save()" />

XXX. This still has to be updated. The keypress event is fired when the user presses the key specified by the key attribute (and the modifiers). The keypress event is effecctively equivalent to the keydown and keyup events together.