Bind

It is used to bind a key to one or several other commands. Typically, when keys are bound, the corresponding bind command is stored in config.cfg, which is ran when the engine starts, leading to binds staying active between sessions, unless config.cfg is set to read-only.

Syntax

Basic Syntax

The basic syntax for the command is as follows:

bind <key> [command]

For example, after running bind 1 slot1, pressing 1 would execute the command slot1. Additionally, binding a key to a semicolon-separated list of commands in quotation marks would cause all commands to be executed, because everything within quotation marks is interpreted as a single argument. After running bind mouse1 "slot1; unbind mouse1", then pressing mouse1, slot1 would be run, followed by unbind mouse1.

+/- Commands

If the first character in the command/string that the key is bound to is +, then after releasing the key, the same string of commands is executed, except the first character is replaced with -. For example, running bind w +forward will cause +forward to be run when w is pressed, then -forward to be run when w is unpressed. Consequently, there are some cases where the result of pressing a key are different from what is intuitive. Running bind w "+forward; +attack" will cause +forward;+attack to be run when w is pressed, but causes -forward;+attack to be run when w is unpressed, causing +attack to be run, rather than -attack. The alias command can be used in conjunction with bind to yield different results. To make the W key instead run +forward; +attack when pressed, and run -forward; -attack when unpressed, the following commands can be used:

alias +w_pressed "+forward; +attack"
alias -w_pressed "-forward; -attack"
bind w +w_pressed

Special Keys

System Commands, Modifier Keys, Other

Bind name	Key
f1-12	Function key F1 to F12
escape	Esc (Escape)
tab	Tab ⇆ Tabulator
capslock	⇪ Caps Lock
shift	⇧ Shift (Left side)
rshift	⇧ Shift (Right side)
ctrl	Ctrl (Left side)
rctrl	Ctrl (Right side)
alt	Alt (Left side)
ralt	Alt (Right side)
space	Spacebar
backspace	← Backspace
enter	↵ Enter
semicolon	Semicolon (;)
lwin	⊞ Win (Left side)
rwin	⊞ Win (Right side)
apps	≣ Menu
numlock	Num Lock
scrolllock	Scroll Lock

Navigation Keys

Bind name	Key
uparrow	↑ Up Arrow
downarrow	↓ Down Arrow
leftarrow	← Left Arrow
rightarrow	→ Right Arrow
ins	Insert
del	Delete
pgdn	Page Down
pgup	Page Up
home	Home
end	End
pause	Pause (or Pause/Break)

Number Pad

Bind name	Key
kp_end	Keypad 1
kp_downarrow	Keypad 2
kp_pgdn	Keypad 3
kp_leftarrow	Keypad 4
kp_5	Keypad 5
kp_rightarrow	Keypad 6
kp_home	Keypad 7
kp_uparrow	Keypad 8
kp_pgup	Keypad 9
kp_enter	Keypad Enter
kp_ins	Keypad 0
kp_del	Keypad .
kp_slash	Keypad /
kp_multiply	Keypad *
kp_minus	Keypad -
kp_plus	Keypad +

Mouse Buttons

Bind name	Key
mwheeldown	Mouse - Scroll Down
mwheelup	Mouse - Scroll Up
mouse1	(Mouse - Left click)
mouse2	(Mouse - Right click)
mouse3	(Mouse - Middle/Wheel click)
mouse4	(Mouse - Page Back)
mouse5	(Mouse - Page Forward)

Gamepad Buttons (//)

Bind name	Key
joy1	A button X button
joy2	B button O (circle) button
joy3	X button Square button
joy4	Y button Triangle button
joy5	LB (left bumper) button L1 button button
joy6	RB (right bumper) button R1 button button
joy7	Back button View button Select/Share/Create button button
joy8	Start button Menu button Start/Options button button
joy9	Left stick button L3 button button
joy10	Right stick R3 button button
joy11-32	Other joystick & gamepad buttons.
aux1-32	Legacy. Maps directly to joy1-32.
pov_up	D-Pad Up
pov_right	D-Pad Right
pov_down	D-Pad Down
pov_left	D-Pad Left

Related console commands

binds_per_command

Set the maximum number of binds per command when on console. Does not apply to desktop.

Syntax:

binds_per_command <number>

BindToggle

A convenient command for toggling a CVar on or off by pressing a key. Functionally identical to bind <key> "incrementvar <CVar> 0 1 1".

Syntax:

BindToggle <key> <cvar>

If you wanted your p key to turn sv_cheats on or off, you would type BindToggle p sv_cheats.

bind_mac

Functions identically to bind except it only affects macOS users.

unbind

The opposite of bind. Sets a key to do nothing.

Syntax:

unbind <key>

To make your left click do nothing, you would type unbind MOUSE1.

unbind_mac

Functions identically to unbind except it only affects macOS users.

unbindall

The infamous command that unbinds all the keys.

Tip:If you do this command (or you're a poor sap that got tricked), you can reset to default bindings in the Options menu. Keyboard, Use Defaults.

key_listboundkeys

Lists all keys that are bound to something, and what they are bound to.

Example input and output from Half-Life 2:

] key_listboundkeys 
"6" = "slot6"
"1" = "slot1"
"a" = "+moveleft"
"2" = "slot2"
"c" = "impulse 50"
"3" = "slot3"
"d" = "+moveright"
"4" = "slot4"
"e" = "+use"
"5" = "slot5"
"f" = "impulse 100"
"g" = "phys_swap"
"q" = "lastinv"
"w" = "+forward"
"r" = "+reload"
"z" = "+zoom"
"s" = "+back"
"`" = "toggleconsole"
"SPACE" = "+jump"
"NUMLOCK" = "pause"
"ESCAPE" = "cancelselect"
"SHIFT" = "+speed"
"CTRL" = "+duck"
"ALT" = "+walk"
"F5" = "jpeg"
"F6" = "save quick"
"F9" = "load quick"
"MOUSE1" = "+attack"
"MWHEELDOWN" = "invnext"
"MOUSE2" = "+attack2"
"MWHEELUP" = "invprev"

key_findbinding

Searches through the list of bound keys and returns the ones that have a given substring in the command field.

Syntax:

key_findbinding <string>

Example input and output from Half-Life 2:

] key_findbinding slot
"1" = "slot1"
"2" = "slot2"
"3" = "slot3"
"4" = "slot4"
"5" = "slot5"
"6" = "slot6"

key_updatelayout

Updates game keyboard layout to current windows keyboard setting. Only works on windows.

This is only useful if your virtual keyboard layout changes in Windows (i.e changing from QWERTY to AZERTY) while the game is running.