Console.ReadKey Method

Reference

Definition

Namespace:: System

Assembly:: System.Console.dll

Assembly:: mscorlib.dll

Assembly:: netstandard.dll

Important

Some information relates to prerelease product that may be substantially modified before it’s released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

Obtains the next character or function key pressed by the user.

Overloads

ReadKey()	Obtains the next character or function key pressed by the user. The pressed key is displayed in the console window.
ReadKey(Boolean)	Obtains the next character or function key pressed by the user. The pressed key is optionally displayed in the console window.

ReadKey()

Source:: Console.cs

Source:: Console.cs

Source:: Console.cs

Obtains the next character or function key pressed by the user. The pressed key is displayed in the console window.

public:
 static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey();

[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")]
public static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey ();

[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("android")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("ios")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("tvos")]
public static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey ();

public static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey ();

[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")>]
static member ReadKey : unit -> ConsoleKeyInfo

[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("android")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("ios")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("tvos")>]
static member ReadKey : unit -> ConsoleKeyInfo

static member ReadKey : unit -> ConsoleKeyInfo

Public Shared Function ReadKey () As ConsoleKeyInfo

Returns

ConsoleKeyInfo

An object that describes the ConsoleKey constant and Unicode character, if any, that correspond to the pressed console key. The ConsoleKeyInfo object also describes, in a bitwise combination of ConsoleModifiers values, whether one or more Shift, Alt, or Ctrl modifier keys was pressed simultaneously with the console key.

Attributes: UnsupportedOSPlatformAttribute

Exceptions

InvalidOperationException

The In property is redirected from some stream other than the console.

Examples

One of the most common uses of the ReadKey() method is to halt program execution until the user presses a key and the app either terminates or displays an additional window of information. The following example uses the ReadKey() method to wait for the user to press the Enter key before terminating the app.

using System;

public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      DateTime dat = DateTime.Now;
      Console.WriteLine("The time: {0:d} at {0:t}", dat);
      TimeZoneInfo tz = TimeZoneInfo.Local;
      Console.WriteLine("The time zone: {0}\n",
                        tz.IsDaylightSavingTime(dat) ?
                           tz.DaylightName : tz.StandardName);
      Console.Write("Press <Enter> to exit... ");
      while (Console.ReadKey().Key != ConsoleKey.Enter) {}
   }
}
// The example displays output like the following:
//     The time: 11/11/2015 at 4:02 PM:
//     The time zone: Pacific Standard Time

open System

let dat = DateTime.Now
printfn $"The time: {dat:d} at {dat:t}"

let tz = TimeZoneInfo.Local
printfn $"The time zone: {if tz.IsDaylightSavingTime dat then tz.DaylightName else tz.StandardName}\n"
printf"Press <Enter> to exit... "
while Console.ReadKey().Key <> ConsoleKey.Enter do ()


// The example displays output like the following:
//     The time: 12/28/2021 at 8:35 PM
//     The time zone: Pacific Standard Time

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim dat As Date = Date.Now
      Console.WriteLine("The time: {0:d} at {0:t}", dat)
      Dim tz As TimeZoneInfo = TimeZoneInfo.Local
      Console.WriteLine("The time zone: {0}", 
                        If(tz.IsDaylightSavingTime(dat),
                           tz.DaylightName, tz.StandardName))
      Console.WriteLine()
      Console.Write("Press <Enter> to exit... ")
      Do While Console.ReadKey().Key <> ConsoleKey.Enter
      Loop
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'     The time: 11/11/2015 at 4:02 PM
'     The time zone: Pacific Standard Time

Note that this overload of the ReadKey method by default echoes any displayable keys that the user presses to the console. To suppress them, call the ReadKey method with an intercept argument of true.

The following example uses the ReadKey() method to display information about which key the user pressed.

using namespace System;

void main()
{
   ConsoleKeyInfo cki;
   // Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
   Console::TreatControlCAsInput = true;

   Console::WriteLine("Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.");
   Console::WriteLine("Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: \n");
   do 
   {
      cki = Console::ReadKey();
      Console::Write(" --- You pressed ");
      if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers::Alt) != ConsoleModifiers()) Console::Write("ALT+");
      if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers::Shift) != ConsoleModifiers()) Console::Write("SHIFT+");
      if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers::Control) != ConsoleModifiers()) Console::Write("CTL+");
      Console::WriteLine(cki.Key.ToString());
   } while (cki.Key != ConsoleKey::Escape);
}
// This example displays output similar to the following:
//       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
//       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
//       
//       a --- You pressed A 
//       k --- You pressed ALT+K 
//       ► --- You pressed CTL+P 
//         --- You pressed RightArrow 
//       R --- You pressed SHIFT+R 
//                --- You pressed CTL+I 
//       j --- You pressed ALT+J 
//       O --- You pressed SHIFT+O 
//       § --- You pressed CTL+U }

using System;

class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      ConsoleKeyInfo cki;
      // Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
      Console.TreatControlCAsInput = true;

      Console.WriteLine("Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.");
      Console.WriteLine("Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: \n");
      do
      {
         cki = Console.ReadKey();
         Console.Write(" --- You pressed ");
         if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Alt) != 0) Console.Write("ALT+");
         if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Shift) != 0) Console.Write("SHIFT+");
         if((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Control) != 0) Console.Write("CTL+");
         Console.WriteLine(cki.Key.ToString());
       } while (cki.Key != ConsoleKey.Escape);
    }
}
// This example displays output similar to the following:
//       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
//       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
//
//       a --- You pressed A
//       k --- You pressed ALT+K
//       ► --- You pressed CTL+P
//         --- You pressed RightArrow
//       R --- You pressed SHIFT+R
//                --- You pressed CTL+I
//       j --- You pressed ALT+J
//       O --- You pressed SHIFT+O
//       § --- You pressed CTL+U

open System

// Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
Console.TreatControlCAsInput <- true

printfn "Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key."
printfn "Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: \n"

let mutable cki = Unchecked.defaultof<ConsoleKeyInfo>

while cki.Key <> ConsoleKey.Escape do
    cki <- Console.ReadKey()
    printf " --- You pressed "
    if int (cki.Modifiers &&& ConsoleModifiers.Alt) <> 0 then printf "ALT+"
    if int (cki.Modifiers &&& ConsoleModifiers.Shift) <> 0 then printf "SHIFT+"
    if int (cki.Modifiers &&& ConsoleModifiers.Control) <> 0 then printf "CTL+"
    printfn $"{cki.Key}"


// This example displays output similar to the following:
//       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
//       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
//
//       a --- You pressed A
//       k --- You pressed ALT+K
//       ► --- You pressed CTL+P
//         --- You pressed RightArrow
//       R --- You pressed SHIFT+R
//                --- You pressed CTL+I
//       j --- You pressed ALT+J
//       O --- You pressed SHIFT+O
//       § --- You pressed CTL+U

Class Example
   Public Shared Sub Main()
      Dim cki As ConsoleKeyInfo
      ' Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
      Console.TreatControlCAsInput = True

      Console.WriteLine("Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.")
      Console.WriteLine("Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: " + vbCrLf)
      Do
         cki = Console.ReadKey()
         Console.Write(" --- You pressed ")
         If (cki.Modifiers And ConsoleModifiers.Alt) <> 0 Then Console.Write("ALT+")
         If (cki.Modifiers And ConsoleModifiers.Shift) <> 0 Then Console.Write("SHIFT+")
         If (cki.Modifiers And ConsoleModifiers.Control) <> 0 Then Console.Write("CTL+")
         Console.WriteLine(cki.Key.ToString)
      Loop While cki.Key <> ConsoleKey.Escape
   End Sub 
End Class 
' This example displays output similar to the following:
'       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
'       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
'       
'       a --- You pressed A 
'       k --- You pressed ALT+K 
'       ► --- You pressed CTL+P 
'         --- You pressed RightArrow 
'       R --- You pressed SHIFT+R 
'                --- You pressed CTL+I 
'       j --- You pressed ALT+J 
'       O --- You pressed SHIFT+O 
'       § --- You pressed CTL+U

Remarks

The ReadKey method waits, that is, blocks on the thread issuing the ReadKey method, until a character or function key is pressed. A character or function key can be pressed in combination with one or more Alt, Ctrl, or Shift modifier keys. However, pressing a modifier key by itself will not cause the ReadKey method to return.

Depending on your application, you might want to use the ReadKey method in conjunction with the KeyAvailable property.

The ReadKey method reads from the keyboard even if the standard input is redirected to a file with the SetIn method.

Applies to

ReadKey(Boolean)

Source:: Console.cs

Source:: Console.cs

Source:: Console.cs

Obtains the next character or function key pressed by the user. The pressed key is optionally displayed in the console window.

public:
 static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey(bool intercept);

[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")]
public static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey (bool intercept);

[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("android")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("ios")]
[System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("tvos")]
public static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey (bool intercept);

public static ConsoleKeyInfo ReadKey (bool intercept);

[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")>]
static member ReadKey : bool -> ConsoleKeyInfo

[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("browser")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("android")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("ios")>]
[<System.Runtime.Versioning.UnsupportedOSPlatform("tvos")>]
static member ReadKey : bool -> ConsoleKeyInfo

static member ReadKey : bool -> ConsoleKeyInfo

Public Shared Function ReadKey (intercept As Boolean) As ConsoleKeyInfo

Parameters

intercept: Boolean

Determines whether to display the pressed key in the console window. true to not display the pressed key; otherwise, false.

Returns

ConsoleKeyInfo

Attributes: UnsupportedOSPlatformAttribute

Exceptions

InvalidOperationException

The In property is redirected from some stream other than the console.

Examples

One of the most common uses of the ReadKey method is to halt program execution until the user presses a key and the app either terminates or displays an additional window of information. The following example uses the ReadKey(Boolean) method to wait for the user to press the Enter key before terminating the app. Note that, if the user presses any other key, it is not echoed to the console.

using System;

public class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      DateTime dat = DateTime.Now;
      Console.WriteLine("The time: {0:d} at {0:t}", dat);
      TimeZoneInfo tz = TimeZoneInfo.Local;
      Console.WriteLine("The time zone: {0}\n",
                        tz.IsDaylightSavingTime(dat) ?
                           tz.DaylightName : tz.StandardName);
      Console.Write("Press <Enter> to exit... ");
      while (Console.ReadKey(true).Key != ConsoleKey.Enter) {}
   }
}
// The example displays output like the following:
//     The time: 11/11/2015 at 4:02 PM:
//     The time zone: Pacific Standard Time

open System

let dat = DateTime.Now
printfn $"The time: {dat:d} at {dat:t}"

let tz = TimeZoneInfo.Local
printfn $"The time zone: {if tz.IsDaylightSavingTime dat then tz.DaylightName else tz.StandardName}\n"
printf"Press <Enter> to exit... "
while Console.ReadKey(true).Key <> ConsoleKey.Enter do ()


// The example displays output like the following:
//     The time: 12/28/2021 at 8:37 PM
//     The time zone: Pacific Standard Time

Module Example
   Public Sub Main()
      Dim dat As Date = Date.Now
      Console.WriteLine("The time: {0:d} at {0:t}", dat)
      Dim tz As TimeZoneInfo = TimeZoneInfo.Local
      Console.WriteLine("The time zone: {0}", 
                        If(tz.IsDaylightSavingTime(dat),
                           tz.DaylightName, tz.StandardName))
      Console.WriteLine()
      Console.Write("Press <Enter> to exit... ")
      Do While Console.ReadKey(True).Key <> ConsoleKey.Enter
      Loop
   End Sub
End Module
' The example displays the following output:
'     The time: 11/11/2015 at 4:02 PM
'     The time zone: Pacific Standard Time

The following example uses the ReadKey(Boolean) method to display information about the key pressed by a user without echoing that key to the console.

using namespace System;

void main()
{
   ConsoleKeyInfo cki;
   // Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
   Console::TreatControlCAsInput = true;

   Console::WriteLine("Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.");
   Console::WriteLine("Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: \n");
   do {
      cki = Console::ReadKey(true);
      Console::Write("You pressed ");
      if ((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers::Alt) != ConsoleModifiers()) Console::Write("ALT+");
      if ((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers::Shift) != ConsoleModifiers()) Console::Write("SHIFT+");
      if ((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers::Control) != ConsoleModifiers()) Console::Write("CTL+");
      Console::WriteLine("{0} (character '{1}')", cki.Key, cki.KeyChar);
   } while (cki.Key != ConsoleKey::Escape);
}
// This example displays output similar to the following:
//       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
//       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
//       
//       You pressed CTL+A (character '☺')
//       You pressed C (character 'c')
//       You pressed CTL+C (character '♥')
//       You pressed K (character 'k')
//       You pressed ALT+I (character 'i')
//       You pressed ALT+U (character 'u')
//       You pressed ALT+SHIFT+H (character 'H')
//       You pressed Escape (character '←')

using System;

class Example
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      ConsoleKeyInfo cki;
      // Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
      Console.TreatControlCAsInput = true;

      Console.WriteLine("Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.");
      Console.WriteLine("Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: \n");
      do {
         cki = Console.ReadKey(true);
         Console.Write("You pressed ");
         if ((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Alt) != 0) Console.Write("ALT+");
         if ((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Shift) != 0) Console.Write("SHIFT+");
         if ((cki.Modifiers & ConsoleModifiers.Control) != 0) Console.Write("CTL+");
         Console.WriteLine("{0} (character '{1}')", cki.Key, cki.KeyChar);
      } while (cki.Key != ConsoleKey.Escape);
   }
}
// This example displays output similar to the following:
//       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
//       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
//
//       You pressed CTL+A (character '☺')
//       You pressed C (character 'c')
//       You pressed CTL+C (character '♥')
//       You pressed K (character 'k')
//       You pressed ALT+I (character 'i')
//       You pressed ALT+U (character 'u')
//       You pressed ALT+SHIFT+H (character 'H')
//       You pressed Escape (character '←')

open System

// Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
Console.TreatControlCAsInput <- true

printfn "Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key."
printfn "Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: \n"

let mutable cki = Unchecked.defaultof<ConsoleKeyInfo>

while cki.Key <> ConsoleKey.Escape do
    cki <- Console.ReadKey true
    printf "You pressed "
    if int (cki.Modifiers &&& ConsoleModifiers.Alt) <> 0 then printf "ALT+"
    if int (cki.Modifiers &&& ConsoleModifiers.Shift) <> 0 then printf "SHIFT+"
    if int (cki.Modifiers &&& ConsoleModifiers.Control) <> 0 then printf "CTL+"
    printfn $"{cki.Key} (character '{cki.KeyChar}')" 


// This example displays output similar to the following:
//       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
//       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
//
//       You pressed CTL+A (character '☺')
//       You pressed C (character 'c')
//       You pressed CTL+C (character '♥')
//       You pressed K (character 'k')
//       You pressed ALT+I (character 'i')
//       You pressed ALT+U (character 'u')
//       You pressed ALT+SHIFT+H (character 'H')
//       You pressed Escape (character '←')

Class Example
   Public Shared Sub Main()
      Dim cki As ConsoleKeyInfo
      ' Prevent example from ending if CTL+C is pressed.
      Console.TreatControlCAsInput = True

      Console.WriteLine("Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.")
      Console.WriteLine("Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit: " + vbCrLf)
      Do
         cki = Console.ReadKey(True)
         Console.Write("You pressed ")
         If (cki.Modifiers And ConsoleModifiers.Alt) <> 0 Then Console.Write("ALT+")
         If (cki.Modifiers And ConsoleModifiers.Shift) <> 0 Then Console.Write("SHIFT+")
         If (cki.Modifiers And ConsoleModifiers.Control) <> 0 Then Console.Write("CTL+")
         Console.WriteLine("{0} (character '{1}')", cki.Key, cki.KeyChar)
      Loop While cki.Key <> ConsoleKey.Escape
   End Sub
End Class 
' This example displays output similar to the following:
'       Press any combination of CTL, ALT, and SHIFT, and a console key.
'       Press the Escape (Esc) key to quit:
'       
'       You pressed CTL+A (character '☺')
'       You pressed C (character 'c')
'       You pressed CTL+C (character '♥')
'       You pressed K (character 'k')
'       You pressed ALT+I (character 'i')
'       You pressed ALT+U (character 'u')
'       You pressed ALT+SHIFT+H (character 'H')
'       You pressed Escape (character '←')

Remarks

If the intercept parameter is true, the pressed key is intercepted and not displayed in the console window; otherwise, the pressed key is displayed.

Depending on your application, you might want to use the ReadKey method in conjunction with the KeyAvailable property.

The ReadKey method reads from the keyboard even if the standard input is redirected to a file with the SetIn method.

Applies to

Share via

Console.ReadKey Method

Definition

Overloads

ReadKey()

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

See also

Applies to

ReadKey(Boolean)

Parameters

Returns

Exceptions

Examples

Remarks

See also

Applies to

Additional resources