Keyboard shortcuts are an essential feature for creating efficient and accessible user interfaces. By allowing users to trigger actions using their keyboard, you can significantly improve both usability and accessibility. Keyboard shortcuts make it possible for users to interact with your application more quickly, and they are especially important for users who rely on keyboards for navigation due to mobility or vision-related needs. Implementing keyboard shortcuts can help everyone complete tasks faster, reduce reliance on the mouse, and offer alternative ways to access critical features.

To add keyboard shortcuts in JavaScript, you typically listen for keydown or keyup events on the document. When a specific key or key combination is detected, you trigger the desired UI action. It is important to choose shortcut keys that do not conflict with browser or assistive technology defaults, and to provide clear instructions or documentation for users. When implementing shortcuts, always ensure that focus management and accessibility considerations are addressed—such as allowing users to close dialogs with the Escape key or activate buttons with Enter or Space.

To see how keyboard shortcuts can be implemented in practice, consider the following example, which shows how you can allow users to open and close a modal dialog using the keyboard.