HTML DOM accessKey Property

Last Updated : 18 Aug, 2026

The DOM accessKey property is used to set or return the accesskey attribute of an element. 

Syntax

  • To set the accessKey
HTMLElementObject.accessKey = value
  • To return the accessKey
HTMLElementObject.accessKey

Value: A character that is used to specify the shortcut key.

Return Value: This will return the selected element with the attached access key. 

Example 1: This example shows how an accessKey is attached to a selected element. 

html 
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>
        HTML DOM accessKey Property
    </title>
    <style>
        body {
            width: 90%;
            color: green;
            border: 2px solid green;
            height: 40%;
            font-weight: bold;
            text-align: center;
            padding: 30px;
            font-size: 20px;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->

    <a id="main" href="https://www.geeksforgeeks.org">
        GeeksforGeeks
    </a>
    <br>
    <p>
        This example show how to attach
        an accessKey to a selected element.
    </p>
    <script>
        document.getElementById("main").accessKey = "g";
    </script>

<!--Driver Code Starts-->
  </body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->

Example 2: This example shows how to check which accessKey is attached to a selected element. 

HTML 
<!--Driver Code Starts-->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <title>
        HTML DOM accessKey Property
    </title>
    <style>
        div {
            width: 80%;
            color: green;
            border: 2px solid green;
            height: 40%;
            font-weight: bold;
            text-align: center;
            padding: 30px;
            font-size: 20px;
        }
        #p1 {
            width: 130px;
            height: 20px;
            display: block;
            background-color: lightgrey;
            float: right;
            margin-top: -10px;
            padding: 5px;
        }
        #d {
            color: black;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <div>
        <a id="main" 
           accesskey="g" 
           href="https://www.geeksforgeeks.org">
            GeeksforGeeks
        </a>
        <p>
            Click the button to get the
            accesskey of the link.
        </p>
        <p id="p1">Answer : <span id="d">
            </span>
        </p>
    </div>
    <br>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->

    <input type="button" 
           onclick="myFunction()" 
           value="Click Me.!" />
    <script>
        function myFunction() {
            let gfg =
                document.getElementById("main").accessKey;
            document.getElementById("d").innerHTML = gfg;
        }
    </script>

<!--Driver Code Starts-->
</body>
</html>
<!--Driver Code Ends-->
  • element.accessKey lets you assign (or read) a single character that can be used as a keyboard shortcut to focus or activate the element. Browsers usually require a modifier key (e.g. Alt + key, or Alt + Shift + key) to trigger it, because the bare key would conflict with normal typing.
  • Access keys frequently clash with browser, operating system, or assistive-technology shortcuts. Behavior and required modifier keys also vary significantly across browsers and platforms, making the feature unreliable. Because of these conflicts, modern accessibility guidelines generally advise against using accesskey / accessKey for general web content.
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