Modifiers & keys

Modifiers

A modifier requires a key or button to be held for the pattern to match. Prefix it to the type: <Control-c>, <Shift-Button-1>, <Control-Alt-Delete>.

Modifier	Requires
Control	The Control key.
Shift	The Shift key.
Alt	The Alt key. On some Linux keymaps Alt is a Mod modifier; if <Alt-…> does not match, try <Mod1-…>.
Lock	Caps Lock to be on.
Command	The ⌘ Command key (macOS).
Option	The ⌥ Option key (macOS).
Meta M	The Meta key (whichever Mod maps to it).
Mod1 … Mod5 M1 … M5	A numbered X modifier. Which physical key maps to which number is platform-dependent.
Button1 … Button5 B1 … B5	A mouse button held down — used with Motion for drags (<B1-Motion>).
Double Triple Quadruple	The pattern to repeat 2 / 3 / 4 times in quick succession, close in time and space — <Double-Button-1> is a double-click.
Extended	The event to come from an extended key — numeric keypad, cursor cluster, right-hand Alt/Control (Windows).

Key symbols

For a key event, the detail is a key symbol (keysym) — a name for the key. A printable key is its own symbol (a, A, 1, space for the space bar). Non-printing keys have names:

Key	Symbol	Pattern
Enter / Return	Return	<Return>
Escape	Escape	<Escape>
Tab	Tab	<Tab>
Backspace	BackSpace	<BackSpace>
Delete	Delete	<Delete>
Insert	Insert	<Insert>
Space	space	<space>
Arrows	Up Down Left Right	<Up>
Home / End	Home End	<Home>
Page Up / Down	Prior Next	<Prior>
Function keys	F1 … F12	<F1>

Tip

To discover any key’s symbol, bind <KeyPress> and print event.keysym (the key name) or event.char (the character it produced). See The event object.