---
title: "pressKeys()"
sidebarTitle: "pressKeys"
description: "Press keyboard keys and shortcuts"
icon: "keyboard"
---

## Overview

Press one or more keyboard keys simultaneously, useful for keyboard shortcuts, navigation, and special keys.

## Syntax

```javascript
await testdriver.pressKeys(keys)
```

## Parameters

<ParamField path="keys" type="Array&lt;string&gt;" required>
  Array of keys to press simultaneously
</ParamField>

## Returns

`Promise<void>`

## Common Keys

### Special Keys
- `'enter'`, `'tab'`, `'escape'`, `'backspace'`, `'delete'`
- `'space'`, `'up'`, `'down'`, `'left'`, `'right'`
- `'home'`, `'end'`, `'pageup'`, `'pagedown'`

### Modifier Keys
- `'ctrl'`, `'alt'`, `'shift'`
- `'command'` (macOS), `'win'` (Windows)
- `'ctrlleft'`, `'ctrlright'`, `'shiftleft'`, `'shiftright'`

### Function Keys
- `'f1'` through `'f24'`

## Examples

### Navigation

```javascript
// Tab to next field
await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);

// Shift+Tab to previous field
await testdriver.pressKeys(['shift', 'tab']);

// Arrow keys
await testdriver.pressKeys(['down']);
await testdriver.pressKeys(['up']);
await testdriver.pressKeys(['left']);
await testdriver.pressKeys(['right']);

// Home/End
await testdriver.pressKeys(['home']);  // Start of line
await testdriver.pressKeys(['end']);   // End of line

// Page navigation
await testdriver.pressKeys(['pagedown']);
await testdriver.pressKeys(['pageup']);
```

### Keyboard Shortcuts

```javascript
// Copy (Ctrl+C / Cmd+C)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'c']);

// Paste (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'v']);

// Save (Ctrl+S)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 's']);

// Select All (Ctrl+A)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'a']);

// Undo (Ctrl+Z)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'z']);

// Redo (Ctrl+Y)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'y']);

// Find (Ctrl+F)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'f']);

// New tab (Ctrl+T)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 't']);

// Close tab (Ctrl+W)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'w']);

// Refresh (F5 or Ctrl+R)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['f5']);
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'r']);
```

### System Shortcuts

```javascript
// Alt+Tab (Windows - switch apps)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['alt', 'tab']);

// Alt+F4 (Windows - close window)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['alt', 'f4']);

// Win+D (Windows - show desktop)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['winleft', 'd']);

// Win+L (Windows - lock screen)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['winleft', 'l']);

// Cmd+Tab (macOS - switch apps)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['command', 'tab']);

// Cmd+Q (macOS - quit app)
await testdriver.pressKeys(['command', 'q']);
```

### Form Submission

```javascript
// Submit form
await testdriver.pressKeys(['enter']);

// Cancel/Close
await testdriver.pressKeys(['escape']);

// Check checkbox
await testdriver.pressKeys(['space']);
```

### Text Editing

```javascript
// Delete selected text
await testdriver.pressKeys(['delete']);

// Backspace
await testdriver.pressKeys(['backspace']);

// Select all and delete
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'a']);
await testdriver.pressKeys(['delete']);

// Cut text
await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'x']);
```

## Best Practices

<Check>
  **Wait after shortcuts**
  
  Some keyboard shortcuts trigger animations or navigation:
  
  ```javascript
  await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 't']); // New tab
  await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500)); // Wait for tab
  await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'l']); // Focus URL bar
  ```
</Check>

<Check>
  **Use Tab for form navigation**
  
  Tab is more reliable than clicking multiple fields:
  
  ```javascript
  const firstField = await testdriver.find('email input');
  await firstField.click();
  await testdriver.type('user@example.com');
  
  await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
  await testdriver.type('password123');
  
  await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
  await testdriver.pressKeys(['enter']); // Submit
  ```
</Check>

<Warning>
  **Platform-specific keys**
  
  Use the appropriate modifier key for the platform:
  - Windows/Linux: `'ctrl'`
  - macOS: `'command'`
  
  ```javascript
  // For cross-platform, you might need to detect OS
  const modKey = process.platform === 'darwin' ? 'command' : 'ctrl';
  await testdriver.pressKeys([modKey, 'c']); // Copy
  ```
</Warning>

## Use Cases

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Form Navigation">
    ```javascript
    // Fill form using Tab
    const firstField = await testdriver.find('name field');
    await firstField.click();
    await testdriver.type('John Doe');
    
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
    await testdriver.type('john@example.com');
    
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
    await testdriver.type('555-0123');
    
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['enter']); // Submit
    ```
  </Accordion>
  
  <Accordion title="Text Manipulation">
    ```javascript
    const textArea = await testdriver.find('comment textarea');
    await textArea.click();
    
    // Select all existing text
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'a']);
    
    // Copy it
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'c']);
    
    // Type new text
    await testdriver.type('New comment');
    
    // Undo if needed
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'z']);
    ```
  </Accordion>
  
  <Accordion title="Browser Navigation">
    ```javascript
    // Open new tab
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 't']);
    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500));
    
    // Focus address bar
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'l']);
    await testdriver.type('https://example.com');
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['enter']);
    
    // Refresh page
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['f5']);
    
    // Close tab
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'w']);
    ```
  </Accordion>
  
  <Accordion title="Application Shortcuts">
    ```javascript
    // Save document
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 's']);
    
    // Print
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'p']);
    
    // Find in page
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'f']);
    await testdriver.type('search term');
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['escape']); // Close find
    ```
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Complete Example

```javascript
import { beforeAll, afterAll, describe, it } from 'vitest';
import TestDriver from 'testdriverai';

describe('Keyboard Navigation', () => {
  let testdriver;

  beforeAll(async () => {
    client = new TestDriver(process.env.TD_API_KEY);
    await testdriver.auth();
    await testdriver.connect();
  });

  afterAll(async () => {
    await testdriver.disconnect();
  });

  it('should navigate form with keyboard', async () => {
    await testdriver.focusApplication('Google Chrome');
    
    // Find first field
    const emailField = await testdriver.find('email input');
    await emailField.click();
    await testdriver.type('user@example.com');
    
    // Tab through fields
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
    await testdriver.type('John');
    
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
    await testdriver.type('Doe');
    
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
    await testdriver.type('password123');
    
    // Submit with Enter
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['tab']);
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['enter']);
    
    await testdriver.assert('form submitted successfully');
  });

  it('should use keyboard shortcuts', async () => {
    // Open new browser tab
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 't']);
    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 500));
    
    // Focus address bar
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'l']);
    await testdriver.type('https://example.com');
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['enter']);
    
    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 2000));
    
    // Select all page content
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'a']);
    
    // Copy
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['ctrl', 'c']);
    
    // Refresh page
    await testdriver.pressKeys(['f5']);
  });
});
```

## Related Methods

- [`type()`](/v7/type) - Type text
- [`click()`](/v7/click) - Click elements
- [`scroll()`](/v7/scroll) - Scroll pages
