---
id: keysymdef
version: "1.2.0"
license: X11
license_treatment: unclear
maintenance: abandoned
---

# keysymdef — X11 keysym data for Python

License: unclear · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 75.3K/mo

## What it is and what it does

keysymdef is a static data package that bundles X11 and XF86 keysym definitions for use in Python. It exposes two main data structures—keysymdef and xf86keysym—each containing tuples of (mnemonic name, integer value, unicode code point). The data is hard-coded into the package, so there are no external dependencies; you simply import and look up key definitions by index or iterate through them.

This is useful for applications that need to map keyboard symbols to their numeric codes or vice versa, particularly in X11-based environments or tools that work with keyboard input at a low level. Since the data is static and bundled, the package is lightweight and has no runtime overhead beyond the import.

Use it for:

- Map X11 keyboard symbols to their numeric codes in terminal emulators or X11 input handlers.
- Build keyboard configuration tools that need to reference standard keysym mnemonics and their values.
- Implement XF86 multimedia key handling in applications running on X11 desktops.
- Create keyboard layout documentation or debugging tools that display keysym names and codes.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides X11 and XF86 keysym definitions as Python data structures, mapping mnemonic names to integer values and optional Unicode code points.

Yes, if you need X11 keysym data in Python and are comfortable with abandoned maintenance. The package is lightweight, dependency-free, and has no known vulnerabilities. However, the last update was in February 2023 and the repository shows no recent commits, so expect no bug fixes or updates. Use it only if the static keysym data meets your needs and you don't require ongoing support.

## Install

pip install keysymdef
uv add keysymdef
poetry add keysymdef

## Installing keysymdef

Before you install: Installation is frictionless—the package is a pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. However, maintenance is stalled: the last release was in February 2023 and the repository shows no recent activity, so bug fixes or updates are unlikely.

License in practice: The package is licensed under X11, which is a permissive open-source license. However, the license treatment is marked unclear in the metadata, so you may want to verify the exact terms before using it in a commercial or redistributed context.

Quickstart:

from keysymdef import keysymdef, xf86keysym
print(keysymdef[1])  # ('BackSpace', 65288, None)
print(xf86keysym[1])  # ('MonBrightnessUp', 269025026, None)

Verify before relying:

- Whether the X11 keysym data is complete and current for modern keyboard layouts and XF86 extensions.
- Exact compatibility with different Python versions, since python_support is unspecified.

## Package facts

- License: X11 (unclear)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 75.3K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

X11 keysym definitions, keyboard symbol mapping, keysym lookup table, X11 key codes, XF86 keysym data, keyboard mnemonic names, x11, keyboard-data, static-data

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