How to catch keyboard input without visible input field in JavaScript

Question

Situation:

• HTML5 with jQuery Mobile on iPad ( EDIT : HTML5 page in a PhoneGap app)
• external keyboard attached
• text input field is hidden, no visible input field
• no focus on text input field -> no soft keyboard shown

Goal:

• catch keyboard input without showing & focusing on a text input field
• Keyboard input is are variable phrases (eg name1, object2, phrase3)
• Just start typing and the page should capture that typing

--> How can I detect the keyboard input into the hidden input field?

I know the keydown / keypress / keyup events, however they seem to require a visible input field

Answer 1

You can bind the event to the document like this:-

$(document).bind('keyup', function(e) {
    alert('testing');
});

Answer 2

You can also simply position the element off-canvas, without needing to alter its DOM/CSS visibility state.

<style> .inputValue{position:absolute;left:-99999px} </style>
<input type="text" class="inputValue" autofocus="autofocus"/>

And then at any given point when you require the input's value you call the below script.

<script> $('.inputValue').val(); </script>