C# Signature:

[DllImport("user32.dll")]
static extern short GetKeyState(int nVirtKey);

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

Here are some sample values for nVirtKey:

const int VK_SHIFT = 0x10;
const int VK_CONTROL = 0x11;
const int VK_MENU = 0x12;

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

using System.Windows.Forms;

public static bool IsKeyLocked(Keys keyVal) {

    switch( keyVal ) {
    case Keys.NumLock :
    case Keys.Capital :
    case Keys.Scroll :
    case Keys.Insert :
    return (GetKeyState((int)keyVal) & 0x8001) != 0;
    }
    return false;

}

public static bool IsKeyPressed(Keys keyVal) {

  return GetKeyState((int)keyVal) < 0;

}

- Added by Kasper -

    /// <summary>
    /// This method tests whether a key is down or not.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="k">The key to test.</param>
    /// <returns>True if the keys is down.</returns>
    public static bool IsKeyDown(System.Windows.Forms.Keys k)
    {
        short state = GetKeyState((int)k);
        if((state & 0x8000) == 0x8000) //It's down
            return true;
        return false;
    }
    /// <summary>
    /// This method tests whether a key is on or not.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="k">The key to test.</param>
    /// <returns>True if the keys is on.</returns>
    public static bool IsKeyOn(System.Windows.Forms.Keys k)
    {
        short state = GetKeyState((int)k);
        if((state & 0x0001) == 0x0001) //It's on
            return true;
        return false;
    }

Alternative Managed API:

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