XGRABDEVICEKEY(3) |  | XGRABDEVICEKEY(3)

# NAME

XGrabDeviceKey, XUngrabDeviceKey - grab/ungrab extension input device Keys

# SYNOPSIS

    #include <X11/extensions/XInput.h>

    int XGrabDeviceKey( Display *display,

                        XDevice *device,

                        unsigned int key,

                        unsigned int modifiers,

                        XDevice *modifier_device,

                        Window grab_window,

                        Bool owner_events,

                        unsigned int event_count,

                        XEventClass *event_list,

                        int this_device_mode,

                        int other_devices_mode);

    int XUngrabDeviceKey( Display *display,

                          XDevice *device,

                          unsigned int key,

                          unsigned int modifiers,

                          XDevice *modifier_device,

                          Window grab_window);

    display

           Specifies the connection to the X server.

    device

           Specifies the device that is to be grabbed or released.

    Key

           Specifies the device Key that is to be grabbed released

           or AnyKey.

    modifiers

           Specifies the set of keymasks or AnyModifier. The mask is

           the bitwise inclusive OR of the valid keymask bits. Valid

           bits are: ShiftMask, LockMask, ControlMask, Mod1Mask,

           Mod2Mask, Mod3Mask, Mod4Mask, Mod5Mask.

    modifier_device

           Specifies the device whose modifiers are to be used. If

           a modifier_device of NULL is specified, the X keyboard

           will be used as the modifier_device.

    grab_window

           Specifies the grab window.

    owner_events

           Specifies a Boolean value that indicates whether the

           device events are to be reported as usual or reported

           with respect to the grab window if selected by the event

           list.

    event_count

           Specifies the number of event classes in the event list.

    event_list

           Specifies which device events are reported to the

           client.

    this_device_mode

           Specifies further processing of events from this

           device. You can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.

    other_devices_mode

           Specifies further processing of events from other

           devices. You can pass GrabModeSync or GrabModeAsync.

# DESCRIPTION

    The XGrabDeviceKey request establishes a passive grab. In the
    future, the device is actively grabbed (as for XGrabDevice, the
    last-device-grab time is set to the time at which the Key was
    pressed (as transmitted in the DeviceKeyPress event), and the
    DeviceKeyPress event is reported if all of the following
    conditions are true:

      * The device is not grabbed, and the specified key is

        logically pressed when the specified modifier keys are

        logically down, and no other keys or modifier keys are

        logically down.

      * The grab_window is an ancestor (or is) the focus window OR

        the grab window is a descendant of the focus window and

        contains the device.

      * The confine_to window (if any) is viewable.

      * A passive grab on the same key/modifier combination does

        not exist on any ancestor of grab_window.

    The interpretation of the remaining arguments is as for
    XGrabDevice. The active grab is terminated automatically when
    the logical state of the device has the specified key released.

    Note that the logical state of a device (as seen by means of
    the X protocol ) may lag the physical state if device event
    processing is frozen.

    If the key is not AnyKey, it must be in the range specified by
    min_keycode and max_keycode as returned by the
    XListInputDevices request. Otherwise, a BadValue error results.

    This request overrides all previous grabs by the same client on
    the same Key/modifier combinations on the same window. A
    modifier of AnyModifier is equivalent to issuing the grab
    request for all possible modifier combinations (including the
    combination of no modifiers). It is not required that all
    modifiers specified have currently assigned KeyCodes. A key of
    AnyKey is equivalent to issuing the request for all possible
    keys. Otherwise, it is not required that the specified key
    currently be assigned to a physical Key.

    If a modifier_device of NULL is specified, the X keyboard will
    be used as the modifier_device.

    If some other client has already issued a XGrabDeviceKey with
    the same Key/modifier combination on the same window, a
    BadAccess error results. When using AnyModifier or AnyKey, the
    request fails completely, and a BadAccess error results (no
    grabs are established) if there is a conflicting grab for any
    combination. XGrabDeviceKey has no effect on an active grab.

    XGrabDeviceKey can generate BadAccess, BadClass, BadDevice,
    BadMatch, BadValue, and BadWindow errors. It returns Success on
    successful completion of the request.

    The XUngrabDeviceKey request releases the passive grab for a
    key/modifier combination on the specified window if it was
    grabbed by this client. A modifier of AnyModifier is equivalent
    to issuing the ungrab request for all possible modifier
    combinations, including the combination of no modifiers. A Key
    of AnyKey is equivalent to issuing the request for all possible
    Keys. XUngrabDeviceKey has no effect on an active grab.

    If a modifier_device of NULL is specified, the X keyboard will
    be used as the modifier_device.

    XUngrabDeviceKey can generate BadDevice, BadMatch, BadValue and
    BadWindow errors.

# DIAGNOSTICS

    BadDevice

           An invalid device was specified. The specified device

           does not exist or has not been opened by this client via

           XOpenInputDevice. This error may also occur if the

           specified device is the X keyboard or X pointer device.

    BadMatch

           This error may occur if an XGrabDeviceKey request was

           made specifying a device that has no keys, or a modifier

           device that has no keys.

    BadValue

           Some numeric value falls outside the range of values

           accepted by the request. Unless a specific range is

           specified for an argument, the full range defined by the

           argument's type is accepted. Any argument defined as a

           set of alternatives can generate this error.

    BadWindow

           A value for a Window argument does not name a defined

           Window.

# SEE ALSO

    XAllowDeviceEvents(3), XGrabDevice(3), XGrabDeviceButton(3)

05/18/2026 |