Hotkeys with CallbackShortcuts

Did you know?

The CallbackShortcuts widget makes it easy to add keyboard shortcuts to your Flutter app.

To use it:

1. Add one or more key bindings using SingleActivator
2. Add a Focus widget to capture the desired events
3. Use callbacks to perform your desired actions

Example Code

// * If another widget captures the focus (e.g. a text field), call
// * hotkeysFocusNode.requestFocus() in the onEditingComplete callback.
static final hotkeysFocusNode = FocusNode();
 
// in the build method:
return CallbackShortcuts(
  bindings: {
    const SingleActivator(LogicalKeyboardKey.arrowLeft): () {
      onPrevious();
    },
    const SingleActivator(LogicalKeyboardKey.arrowRight): () {
      onNext();
    },
  },
  child: Focus(
    focusNode: hotkeysFocusNode,
    autofocus: true,
    descendantsAreFocusable: false,
    descendantsAreTraversable: false,
    child: Row(
      children: [
        IconButton(
          tooltip: 'Hotkey: ⬅️',
          icon: const Icon(Icons.arrow_back),
          onPressed: onPrevious,
        ),
        IconButton(
          tooltip: 'Hotkey: ➡️',
          icon: const Icon(Icons.arrow_forward),
          onPressed: onNext,
        ),
      ],
    ),
  ),
);

Note: the activators will only be triggered when there’s a focused child widget.

The easiest way to do this is to wrap your child widget in a Focus widget with autofocus: true.

If other widgets also rely on active focus, you can explicitly request focus with a FocusNode.

For more details about CallbackShortcuts, check this video:

• CallbackShortcuts (Widget of the Week)

To dive deeper and learn what to do when things don’t work as you expect, watch this three-part series. 👇

• Part 1: Focus (Widget of the Week)
• Part 2: Shortcuts (Widget of the Week)
• Part 3: Actions (Widget of the Week)

If you want to see this technique in action, check my Flutter Tips app (web version):

• Flutter Tips web app

This supports three different keyboard shortcuts:

• Left arrow: go to the previous tip
• Space: favorite/unfavorite a tip
• Right arrow: go to the next tip

Happy coding!