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How to Use the Keyboard in Puppeteer

Use Puppeteer’s virtual keyboard to type into the focused element, tap special keys, or hold modifiers across actions—with examples and targeting tips.
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Use page.keyboard.type(text) to enter text into the currently focused element, page.keyboard.press(key) to tap a key such as Enter, and down() followed by up() when a key needs to remain held during another action. If you need to target a particular field, focus it with a selector or locator first; keyboard input goes to the page’s focused element.

Choose the right keyboard method

Goal Method What it does
Enter text page.keyboard.type(text) Sends the keyboard and input event sequence for each character to the focused element.
Tap a key page.keyboard.press(key) Presses and releases one key; it is a shortcut for down() followed by up().
Keep a key held down(key), then up(key) Holds a key across subsequent keyboard actions until you release it.
Send character input events only page.keyboard.sendCharacter(char) Emits keypress and input, without keydown or keyup.

Puppeteer’s Keyboard API reference describes the interface as a virtual keyboard for managing browser keyboard events. It is available as page.keyboard.

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Type text into the focused element

After the page has focused a text field, call type() with the text to enter:

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await page.keyboard.type('Hello');

For each character, type() sends keydown, keypress/input, and keyup events. An optional delay sets the time in milliseconds between key events; it defaults to 0:

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await page.keyboard.type('Hello', {delay: 100});

A delay is timing control, not proof that the action is indistinguishable from a person typing. Also, type() enters the text you provide: a held modifier does not transform that text. For example, holding Shift and then calling type('hello') does not make it uppercase.

Target a field before typing

Keyboard calls act on whichever element currently has focus. To direct text to a specific field, focus it first. The getting-started guide demonstrates the pattern of opening search with a keyboard shortcut and then using a locator to fill the accessible Search field:

await page.keyboard.press('/');
await page.locator('aria/Search').fill('Puppeteer');

For direct selector-based typing, Puppeteer also documents page.type(selector, text, options). Its selector can use CSS or Puppeteer selector syntax. When working with an element handle, ElementHandle.type() and ElementHandle.press() are available as well. These helpers target an element; page.keyboard itself sends input to the focused element.

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Press a key once

Use press() for a discrete key, including special keys such as Enter, Backspace, or ArrowDown:

await page.keyboard.press('Enter');
await page.keyboard.press('ArrowDown');

Accepted key names are defined by Puppeteer’s KeyInput type. Because press() performs both the press and release, use it for a tap rather than a key you need to hold.

Hold a key or modifier across actions

Call down() to hold a key, perform the dependent actions, then call up() so later input is no longer modified:

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await page.keyboard.down('Shift');
await page.keyboard.press('ArrowLeft');
await page.keyboard.up('Shift');

While Shift is held, a key press can be modified—for example, a character key can produce uppercase text. Subsequent presses remain modified until the key is released. Repeated down() calls for an already-held key set its repeat state after the initial press.

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To select text at the end of “Hello World!” and remove “ World”, Puppeteer’s API reference shows the same sequence of typing, moving left, extending the selection with Shift, releasing Shift, and deleting:

await page.keyboard.type('Hello World!');
await page.keyboard.press('ArrowLeft');
await page.keyboard.down('Shift');
for (let i = 0; i < ' World'.length; i++) {
  await page.keyboard.press('ArrowLeft');
}
await page.keyboard.up('Shift');
await page.keyboard.press('Backspace');

Release a held key when its effect should end. A down() call by itself is not a complete tap.

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Use sendCharacter only for its narrower event behavior

sendCharacter(char) sends keypress and input events without keydown or keyup. Choose it only when that specific event behavior is needed; for ordinary text entry, use type().

Important shortcut limitation on macOS

Puppeteer’s API reference specifically warns that macOS shortcuts such as ⌘+A for Select All do not work. Do not assume that simulating this shortcut will select all text on macOS. The reference points to Puppeteer issue 1313; it does not establish a general workaround.

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Common problems and fixes

  • Text goes into the wrong place: the intended field may not have focus. Locate and focus or fill the field deliberately before using page.keyboard.
  • Shift does not capitalize text passed to type(): type() sends the provided raw text, unaffected by held modifiers. Use the exact text needed, or use down() and press() when you specifically need modifier behavior.
  • A key seems to remain held: pair down(key) with up(key) after the dependent actions. Use press(key) when you only need a tap.
  • A keyboard shortcut has no effect: confirm the page and target control have focus, and check the platform limitation above for macOS Select All.
  • A character-sensitive handler does not respond as expected: check whether it needs keydown or keyup events; sendCharacter() emits neither.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Puppeteer keyboard input require a physical keyboard?

No. page.keyboard is Puppeteer’s virtual keyboard interface; the calls send browser keyboard and input events.

Which Puppeteer method should I use for normal text entry?

Use page.keyboard.type(text) after focusing the element that should receive the text.

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