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How to detect Escape key pressed in macOS apps?

question macOS swift
Ram Patra Published on March 14, 2021

Like Delete key, detection of Escape key press is also slightly different than detecting general key presses.

if Int(event.keyCode) == kVK_Escape {
  print("Escape key pressed!")
}

Below is the full sample code:

NSEvent.addLocalMonitorForEvents(matching: .keyDown) {
  if self.keyDown(with: $0) {
    return nil // needed to get rid of purr sound
  } else {
    return $0
  }
}

private func keyDown(with event: NSEvent) -> Bool {
  if Int(event.keyCode) == kVK_Escape {
    print("Escape key pressed!")
    return true
  } else {
    return false
  }
}

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Ram Patra Published on March 14, 2021
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