Keyboard navigation

DHTMLX To Do List supports full keyboard navigation, so you can create, manage, and organize tasks without a mouse.

Keyboard shortcuts work only when a task is focused. To focus a task, click on it or use ArrowUp / ArrowDown to navigate through the list.

tip

Keyboard shortcuts do not work when the Search bar in the Toolbar is focused.

info

Keyboard navigation does not work in readonly mode.

Default mode

The following shortcuts work when the inline editor is closed.

Keyboard shortcut	Description
`ArrowUp`	Moves selection to the previous task
`ArrowDown`	Moves selection to the next task
`ArrowRight`	Expands a collapsed parent task
`ArrowLeft`	Collapses an expanded parent task. Otherwise (already collapsed or no children), moves selection to the parent task
`Shift`+`ArrowUp`	Extends selection to the task above. If that task is already selected, deselects it
`Shift`+`ArrowDown`	Extends selection to the task below (including its children). If that task is already selected, deselects it
`Ctrl(Cmd)`+`Click` / `Ctrl(Cmd)`+`Shift`+`Click`	Selects or deselects multiple tasks together with their children: • if the task has selected parents — deselects the task and its parents • if the task has selected children — deselects only the task itself
`Shift`+`Click`	Selects a range of tasks between the currently selected task and the clicked task

info

To learn more about working with multiple selected tasks, see the Multiselection guide.

Keyboard shortcut	Description
`Enter`	Creates a new task at the same level as the selected one, moves selection to it, and opens the editor
`Ctrl(Cmd)`+`Enter`	Opens the inline editor for the selected task
`Space`	Marks the selected task as complete. If already complete, marks it as incomplete
`Delete` / `Backspace`	Removes the selected task. After removal, selection moves down to the next task, or up to the parent task if no next task exists
`Tab`	Demotes the task — moves it one nesting level deeper
`Shift`+`Tab`	Promotes the task — moves it one nesting level up
`Ctrl`+`ArrowUp`	Moves the selected task up within the same level
`Ctrl`+`ArrowDown`	Moves the selected task down within the same level
`Ctrl(Cmd)`+`D`	Duplicates the selected task at the same level
`Ctrl(Cmd)`+`C`	Copies the selected task (including all child tasks) to the clipboard
`Ctrl(Cmd)`+`V`	Pastes the copied task at the same level as the currently selected task, preserving the original structure
`Escape`	Closes the context menu if it is open. Press again to close the editor, reset active filtering, and collapse search results in the Toolbar

The following shortcuts work when the inline editor is open.

Keyboard shortcut	Description
`Enter`	Saves changes and closes the editor
`Shift`+`Enter`	Inserts a new paragraph within the editor
`Escape`	Closes the editor without saving any changes

keypress-on-todo event — use this event to intercept key presses and implement custom behavior
Inline editing — learn how to manage the editor programmatically
Multiselection — work with multiple selected tasks