name	godot-input-handling
description	Expert patterns for input handling covering InputMap actions, InputEvent processing, controller support, rebinding, deadzones, and input buffering. Use when setting up player controls, implementing input systems, or adding gamepad/accessibility features. Keywords InputMap, InputEvent, gamepad, controller, rebinding, deadzone, input buffer.

Input Handling

Handle keyboard, mouse, gamepad, and touch input with proper buffering and accessibility support.

MANDATORY script triggers (by scenario)

Scenario	Load before coding
Jump/dash/coyote feel	input_buffer.gd (physics-tied decay) + advanced_input_buffer.gd for multi-action priority
Settings remapping UI	safe_runtime_rebind.gd (ConfigFile persist to user://)
Analog stick movement	analog_deadzone_manager.gd — never raw axis without radial deadzone
"Press X / Press E" prompts	glyph_prompt_manager.gd
UI nav vs gameplay confirm	input_echo_filter.gd — echoes move menus, not Confirm/Back
Gameplay vs menu clicks	unhandled_input_priority.gd

Do-NOT-Load (by scenario)

Scenario	Load	Do NOT load
Settings remapping UI	safe_runtime_rebind.gd	multi_touch_gestures.gd, mouse_capture_manager.gd, combo/replay injectors
Mobile / touch gestures	multi_touch_gestures.gd	mouse_capture_manager.gd, desktop remapper persistence
Jump/dash buffer only	input_buffer.gd / advanced_input_buffer.gd	Remapper, multi-touch, replay, combo validator
FPS mouse look	mouse_capture_manager.gd + deadzone/glyph as needed	multi_touch_gestures.gd, combo/replay
Combo / fighting sequences	combo_validator.gd + buffers	Touch gestures, mouse capture
Replay / virtual injection tests	input_replay_buffer.gd / virtual_input_injector.gd	Remapper UI, multi-touch

Available Scripts

advanced_input_buffer.gd

Frame-perfect input buffering system for responsive jumps, dashes, and combo chains.

input_buffer.gd

Timed action buffer with _physics_process decay so windows match CharacterBody consumption, not render FPS.

safe_runtime_rebind.gd

Dynamic input rebinding with conflict detection and user://input_rebinds.cfg persistence.

analog_deadzone_manager.gd

Radial deadzone management for analog sticks to eliminate drift while maintaining natural follow-through.

multi_touch_gestures.gd

Handling touch, drags, and pinch-to-zoom gestures for mobile and touchscreen compatibility.

input_echo_filter.gd

Filtering echo events to distinguish between hold-to-navigate (UI) and one-time gameplay actions.

mouse_capture_manager.gd

Robust mouse capture and sensitivity scaling logic for FPS and mouse-intensive systems.

hold_toggle_accessibility.gd

Software-side support for user-defined 'Hold' vs 'Toggle' accessibility preferences.

glyph_prompt_manager.gd

Real-time switching between Keyboard and Gamepad UI prompts based on the last active device.

action_state_machine.gd

Tracking the lifecycle of an action ('Just Pressed', 'Held', 'Released') for complex state logic.

unhandled_input_priority.gd

Demonstrating the correct use of _unhandled_input to prevent gameplay logic from leaking into UI.

virtual_input_injector.gd

Input.parse_input_event injection for CI tutorials / AI assistance — not physical hardware.

combo_validator.gd

Rolling timed sequence buffer for special-move validation (fighting / action RPG).

input_replay_buffer.gd

Frame-tagged capture + deterministic replay via parse_input_event.

NEVER Do in Input Handling

• NEVER poll input in _process() for gameplay actions — Use _physics_process() or _unhandled_input(). _process() is frame-rate dependent, causing dropped inputs at low FPS [22].
• NEVER use hardcoded key checks (e.g., KEY_W) — Always use InputMap actions. Hardcoded keys prevent rebinding and break compatibility with non-QWERTY layouts [23].
• NEVER ignore analog stick deadzones — Drifting sticks at 0.05 magnitude will cause unintended movement. Implement a radial deadzone (not axial) in code or settings [24].
• NEVER assume a single input device — Players may switch between Keyboard and Controller mid-session. Use Input.joy_connection_changed to update UI prompts dynamically [25].
• NEVER use _input() for gameplay actions — _input() fires for ALL events (including UI). Use _unhandled_input() so gameplay logic doesn't trigger while clicking menus [26].
• NEVER omit input buffering in fast-paced games — If a player presses jump 50ms before landing, the input is lost without a buffer. Implement a 100-150ms buffer for a "tight" feel [27].
• NEVER use Input.is_action_pressed() for one-time triggers — It returns true every frame the key is held. Use _just_pressed for jumps, attacks, and toggles to avoid logic spam.
• NEVER implement manual 'Hold vs Toggle' logic in multiple places — Centralize it in a setting or input wrapper to ensure accessibility consistency across the whole game.
• NEVER forget to handle InputEvent.is_echo() in UI navigation — Echo events (keyboard repeat) should move menus but rarely should they trigger "Confirm" or "Back" actions.
• NEVER capture the mouse without a 'Release' shortcut — If your game crashes or blocks ui_cancel, the user is trapped. Always provide a fallback escape for mouse capture.

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Input Propagation & Isolation

Godot propagates input events in a specific order. Understanding this is key to isolating UI from gameplay.

1. _input(event): High-priority global intercept. Use for dev consoles or debug overlays.
2. _gui_input(event): Handled by Control nodes (UI). If a UI element consumes the event (e.g., clicking a button), it calls accept_event(), stopping further propagation.
3. _unhandled_input(event): Reached ONLY if no UI element consumed the event. Expert Pattern: Put all gameplay logic (jump, shoot) here to prevent accidental triggers while interacting with menus.

InputMap Best Practices

Avoid physical key checks. Define semantic actions (e.g., move_left, interact) in Project Settings > Input Map.

1. Analog Deadzones

Analog sticks suffer from drift. MANDATORY: analog_deadzone_manager.gd. Prefer Input.get_vector() for circular deadzones — never subtract axes into a square deadzone.

2. Expert polling delta (no hardcoded keys)

Gameplay samples actions in _physics_process / _unhandled_input — never KEY_* / MOUSE_BUTTON_* branches. Pause/cancel must be InputMap actions (e.g. ui_cancel) so rebinds and non-QWERTY layouts work. See unhandled_input_priority.gd.

Multi-Modal Input & UI Glyphs

Modern games must handle simultaneous Controller and Keyboard/Mouse input smoothly.

1. Handling Input Modes

• Mouse Aiming: Process InputEventMouseMotion in _unhandled_input() for relative movement (mouse_capture_manager.gd).
• Stick Movement: Poll vectors in _physics_process() after analog_deadzone_manager.gd.

2. Dynamic Glyph Swapping

MANDATORY: glyph_prompt_manager.gd for last-device prompt swaps. Do not hand-roll event is InputEventJoypadButton detectors in every HUD widget.

Expert Input Extensions (script sole-source)

• Input buffering — MANDATORY: input_buffer.gd + advanced_input_buffer.gd. Do not paste jump-timer tutorials inline.
• Coyote time — Owned by movement skills: godot-characterbody-2d (frame_perfect_coyote_time.gd) and godot-genre-platformer. Pair with buffers from this skill; do not re-implement coyote here.
• Multiplayer input sync — Do not RPC sync_input here. Route to godot-multiplayer-networking for authoritative action snapshots / get_remote_sender_id validation.
• Virtual injection — MANDATORY: virtual_input_injector.gd (Input.parse_input_event).
• Combo sequences — MANDATORY: combo_validator.gd; fighting fiction stays in godot-genre-fighting.
• Deterministic replay — MANDATORY: input_replay_buffer.gd.

Deep recipes (on demand)

Topic	Reference / script
Buffering / coyote / MP sync	input-event-processing.md
Virtual injection / combos / replay	expert-input-extensions.md
InputMap & device IDs	inputmap-best-practices.md

Reference

Progressive disclosure: open Official Documentation links only when researching a specific API; load Related Skills when routing to a peer domain — do not preload the whole lattice.

Official Documentation

• Using InputEvent — Event propagation order (_input → GUI → _unhandled_input) and why gameplay belongs after UI consumes events.
• Input examples — Practical InputMap action polling, mouse buttons, and keyboard patterns this skill builds on.
• Controllers, gamepads, and joysticks — Joypad connection, button/axis events, and multi-device mapping for remappers and glyph swaps.
• Controller vibration and features — Extended pad capabilities beyond basic buttons when shipping console-style feedback.
• Mouse and input coordinates — Viewport vs screen coordinates for clicks, aim, and capture-relative motion.
• Customizing the mouse cursor — Cursor shapes alongside Input.mouse_mode capture/release flows.
• Handling quit requests — Safe ESC / back / quit paths so mouse capture never traps the player.
• Input — Singleton API: is_action_*, get_vector, mouse_mode, parse_input_event, and joy connection signals.
• InputMap — Runtime action_add_event / erase / conflict checks for safe rebinding.
• InputEvent — Base event API including is_echo(), is_action_pressed(), and device IDs.
• Idle and Physics Processing — Why hold/poll gameplay input in _physics_process, not frame-tied _process.
• Control — _gui_input / accept_event so menus stop events before _unhandled_input gameplay.

Related Skills

Prerequisites

• godot-project-foundations — Project Settings Input Map, scene boot, and Autoload registration that host remappers and glyph managers.
• godot-gdscript-mastery — Typed InputEvent branches, StringName actions, and safe signal/await patterns used in buffers and device routers.

Complements

• godot-ui-containers — Control focus and _gui_input ownership so menus consume clicks before gameplay _unhandled_input.
• godot-signal-architecture — device_changed and rebind events should signal up to HUD/prompt listeners without hard UI refs.
• godot-autoload-architecture — Singleton ownership for InputBuffer / GlyphPrompt / Remapper services that survive scene changes.
• godot-characterbody-2d — Consumes buffered jump/dash and get_vector movement inside physics steps.
• godot-camera-systems — Mouse-look sensitivity and capture modes pair with FPS camera rigs.
• godot-state-machine-advanced — Action just-pressed / held / released phases drive FSM transitions without polling spam.
• godot-save-load-systems — Persist InputMap rebinds and hold/toggle accessibility prefs to user:// config.
• godot-adapt-desktop-to-mobile — Virtual joysticks and touch cameras extend this skill’s multi-touch gesture patterns.

Downstream / consumers

• godot-genre-platformer — Coyote time and jump buffers are the primary consumer of input buffering.
• godot-genre-shooter-fps — Captured mouse aim, fire just-pressed, and gamepad look rely on this skill’s capture/deadzone stack.
• godot-genre-fighting — Combo sequence validators and frame-perfect buffers feed special-move detection.
• godot-multiplayer-networking — Authoritative peers need sanitized action snapshots / RPC’d input, not raw local keycodes.

Master

• godot-master — Library router and mirrored module entry; open when discovering which Domain Skill owns a cross-cutting input concern.