event.metaKey?A Boolean property: true if the META key was pressed when the event fired, otherwise false. Added in jQuery 1.0.4. It is a property — not a method — so do not call it with ().
event.metaKey // Boolean property — no parentheses
// Official idea
$("#checkMetaKey").on("click", function (event) {
$("#display").text(event.metaKey); // true or false
});
// Mac: Command (⌘) · Windows: Windows key
// Cross-platform "primary" shortcut: metaKey || ctrlKey| Need | Use |
|---|---|
| Meta / Command / Windows held? | event.metaKey |
| Control held? | event.ctrlKey |
| Shift held? | event.shiftKey |
| Alt / Option held? | event.altKey |
| Which key / button | event.which |
| Bind handlers | .on("click", fn) |
event.metaKeyRead it on the event object inside any mouse or keyboard handler.
.on("click", …) or .on("keydown", …).event argument in the handler.event.metaKey (no call — it is a property).true, Meta/Command/Windows was held.event.ctrlKey when needed.| Piece | Required? | Role |
|---|---|---|
event | Yes | jQuery event object in the handler |
metaKey | — | Boolean: Meta held or not |
| Arguments | N/A | Property — not a function |
ctrlKey etc. | Optional | Other modifiers on the same event |
target.on("click", handler)
when click fires:
browser sets event.metaKey from keyboard state
if event.metaKey is true:
Meta / Command / Windows was held
else:
Meta was not held
// Common cross-platform pattern:
if event.metaKey OR event.ctrlKey:
treat as "primary modifier" shortcutKeep these facts handy while reading modifier keys.
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Boolean property (not a method) |
| Since | jQuery 1.0.4 |
| Mac | Command (⌘) |
| Windows | Windows key |
| Official demo | $("#display").text(event.metaKey) |
| Read-only | Reflects browser state; do not assign |
| Cross-platform | metaKey || ctrlKey |
| Official docs | api.jquery.com/event.metaKey/ |
Click the target. Hold Command (Mac) or the Windows key and click again — same idea as the official jQuery API demo.
Short, copy-ready snippets. Open DevTools, or use Try It Yourself for a live editor.
Show true or false when the target is clicked.
$("#checkMetaKey").on("click", function (event) {
$("#display").text(event.metaKey);
});event.metaKey — no parentheses.#display.true.Mirror desktop “open in new tab” with Meta or Control.
$("a.doc-link").on("click", function (event) {
if (event.metaKey || event.ctrlKey) {
event.preventDefault();
window.open(this.href, "_blank");
$("#out").text("Opened in new tab (meta/ctrl).");
return;
}
event.preventDefault();
$("#out").text("Normal click → same-tab intent: " + this.href);
});metaKey || ctrlKey covers Mac and Windows.window.open when the modifier is held.Log metaKey, ctrlKey, shiftKey, and altKey on each click.
$("#panel").on("click", function (event) {
$("#out").text(
"metaKey: " + event.metaKey + "\\n" +
"ctrlKey: " + event.ctrlKey + "\\n" +
"shiftKey: " + event.shiftKey + "\\n" +
"altKey: " + event.altKey
);
});true.ctrlKey, not metaKey.Plain click selects one item; Meta/Ctrl click toggles without clearing others.
var selected = [];
$("#list").on("click", "button", function (event) {
var name = $(this).text();
if (!event.metaKey && !event.ctrlKey) {
selected = [name];
} else {
var i = selected.indexOf(name);
if (i === -1) selected.push(name);
else selected.splice(i, 1);
}
$("#out").text("Selected: " + selected.join(", "));
});Detect a Meta+S chord on keydown.
$(document).on("keydown", function (event) {
if (event.metaKey && event.key === "s") {
event.preventDefault();
$("#out").text("Save shortcut — metaKey: " + event.metaKey);
}
});keydown on document.metaKey and key === "s".|| event.ctrlKey if needed.Watch for these when using event.metaKey.
Write event.metaKey, not event.metaKey().
Ctrl+click sets ctrlKey. Use metaKey || ctrlKey for shared shortcuts.
Setting event.metaKey = true does not simulate holding Meta for the browser.
Phones and tablets usually have no Meta key — metaKey stays false.
event.metaKey is a jQuery event-object property available since 1.0.4. Browsers map Meta to Command (Mac) or the Windows key (PC). Works wherever your loaded jQuery version runs.
Supported in jQuery 1.0.4–3.x. Prefer jQuery 3.x with .on() handlers. Read the Boolean on click, mousedown, keydown, and related events.
Bottom line: Safe for production. Remember platform mapping: Command on Mac, Windows key on PC; use metaKey || ctrlKey for shared shortcuts.
| Approach | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
Read event.metaKey | Free | One Boolean check in a handler |
metaKey || ctrlKey | Free | Cross-platform shortcut branches |
Document keydown | Cheap | Global chords; keep the handler tiny |
Modifier reads are free. Cost comes from what you do when the flag is true — keep shortcut handlers short.
$("#display").text(event.metaKey).metaKey || ctrlKey for shared shortcuts.One line: event.metaKey answers “was Command / Windows held for this event?”
Identify which key or mouse button produced the event.
9 people found this page helpful