Trigger a button click with JavaScript on the Enter key in a text box

Question

I have one text input and one button (see below). How can I use JavaScript to trigger the button's click event when the Enter key is pressed inside the text box?

There is already a different submit button on my current page, so I can't simply make the button a submit button. And, I only want the Enter key to click this specific button if it is pressed from within this one text box, nothing else.

<input type="text" id="txtSearch" />
<input type="button" id="btnSearch" value="Search" onclick="doSomething();" />

Important note for rookies like me: The key part of this question is if you already have a form on the page so already have a submit button. The jQuery answer is cross browser compatible and a good solution. — Joshua Dance
– Joshua Dance, Commented Aug 18, 2014 at 17:38
@JoshuaDance, already having a form/submit is not a trouble. A page can have many forms (but not nested), each having their own submit. Every field of each form will trigger only the submit of that form. As stated by this answer. — Frédéric
– Frédéric, Commented Jan 14, 2016 at 11:19

Niraj Chauhan · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-13 10:45:41Z

-4

This also might help, a small JavaScript function, which works fine:

<script type="text/javascript">
function blank(a) { if(a.value == a.defaultValue) a.value = ""; }

function unblank(a) { if(a.value == "") a.value = a.defaultValue; }
</script> 
<input type="text" value="email goes here" onfocus="blank(this)" onblur="unblank(this)" />

I know this question is solved, but I just found something, which can be helpful for others.

answered Sep 13, 2011 at 10:45

Niraj Chauhan

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1 Comment

kdenney Over a year ago

The question was for triggering a button click with the enter key in a textbox. Your solution is for a "watermark" type of functionality.

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