Minus key code — keyCode 189

Punctuation

Minus has keyCode 189 and key "-", at location 0.

This is where keyCode values part ways between browsers.

Firefox reports 173 for this key. Punctuation keyCodes differ between browsers.

code (position): Minus
key (US layout): "-"
With Shift: "_"
keyCode (deprecated): 189
Hexadecimal: 0xBD
location: 0 · Standard
Types a character: Yes
Shares keyCode with: None

In code

Comparing against code keeps working when the layout changes.

window.addEventListener('keydown', e => {
  if (e.code === 'Minus') {
    // -
  }
});

code versus key

code is the physical position, the same on a Korean or French keyboard. key is what gets typed and changes — the same spot gives a, A or ㅁ. Use code to ask which spot was pressed, key to ask what was entered.

keyCode has been dropped from the standard. Write new code against code or key; the numbers here are for reading old code.

Keys of the same kind

Semicolon Equal Comma Period Slash Backquote

How to read this

code is the position, key is the character typed. Match on code for shortcuts.
keyCode is deprecated; use it only to read old code.
Left and right Shift share a keyCode and are told apart by location.
The 1 on the number row and the 1 on the numpad are different keys — 49 and 97.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What is the keyCode for Minus?

189, or 0xBD in hexadecimal.

Q. How do I match Minus in code?

Compare with e.code === 'Minus'. Matching on keyCode wobbles between browsers and layouts.

Q. What is this key's location?

Q. Does this key type a character?

Yes — key is "-", and "_" with Shift held.