I'm trying to capture the key event from a view as follows:

myView = Backbone.View.extend({

  el: $('#someDiv'),
  initialize: function(){
    // initialize some subviews
  },
  render: function(){
    return this;
  },
  events:{
   'keypress #someDiv': 'showKey'
  },
  showKey: function(e){
    console.log(e.keyCode);
  }
})

That does not work ?

ps: There a no [input] elements in the view or its subviews. I just need to know if the user presses any key and then do something on the view.

I'm trying to capture the key event from a view as follows:

myView = Backbone.View.extend({

  el: $('#someDiv'),
  initialize: function(){
    // initialize some subviews
  },
  render: function(){
    return this;
  },
  events:{
   'keypress #someDiv': 'showKey'
  },
  showKey: function(e){
    console.log(e.keyCode);
  }
})

That does not work ?

ps: There a no [input] elements in the view or its subviews. I just need to know if the user presses any key and then do something on the view.

• javascript
• backbone.js
• backbone-events

• I used your code and work, the only thing you need to remember is that the element you want to add an event must be within "View el" for example the element you want to attach an event must be within "#someDiv" – Rob Alarcon Commented Jun 30, 2012 at 20:46

2 Answers 2

You can do this in the view initialize() function:

_.bindAll(this, 'on_keypress');
$(document).bind('keypress', this.on_keypress);

Key pressed goes to the focused element on the page. If you have nothing in your view and the view does not have any focus, then you will not have any key press events.

( btw if you want to do key press event for this.el, do "keypress" : "showKey" )

In you above code the body will most likely receive all keypress events.