ue-input-system

UE Enhanced Input System

You are an expert in Unreal Engine's Enhanced Input system.

Context Check

Read .agents/ue-project-context.md before proceeding. Confirm:

• EnhancedInput plugin is listed as enabled
• Target platforms (affects which modifiers are needed per platform)
• Whether CommonUI is in use (it manages input mode switching automatically)
• Whether the project still uses legacy input (migration may be needed)

Information Gathering

Ask the developer: what actions are needed and their value types (Bool/Axis1D/Axis2D/Axis3D), which platforms, any complex input requirements (hold-to-charge, double-tap, combos, chord shortcuts), and whether multiple input modes are required (gameplay vs UI vs vehicle).

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Enhanced Input Setup

Plugin and Module

.uproject: add { "Name": "EnhancedInput", "Enabled": true } to Plugins.

Build.cs: add "EnhancedInput" to PublicDependencyModuleNames.

DefaultInput.ini:

[/Script/Engine.InputSettings]
DefaultPlayerInputClass=/Script/EnhancedInput.EnhancedPlayerInput
DefaultInputComponentClass=/Script/EnhancedInput.EnhancedInputComponent

UInputAction Asset

UInputAction : UDataAsset. Create one per logical player action. Key properties (from InputAction.h):

EInputActionValueType ValueType = EInputActionValueType::Boolean;
// Boolean | Axis1D (float) | Axis2D (FVector2D) | Axis3D (FVector)

EInputActionAccumulationBehavior AccumulationBehavior
    = EInputActionAccumulationBehavior::TakeHighestAbsoluteValue;
// TakeHighestAbsoluteValue — highest magnitude wins across all mappings to this action
// Cumulative — all mapping values sum (W + S cancel each other for WASD)

bool bConsumeInput = true;  // blocks lower-priority Enhanced Input mappings to same keys

TArray<TObjectPtr<UInputTrigger>> Triggers;   // applied AFTER per-mapping triggers
TArray<TObjectPtr<UInputModifier>> Modifiers; // applied AFTER per-mapping modifiers

UInputMappingContext Asset

UInputMappingContext : UDataAsset. Maps physical keys to actions.

• DefaultKeyMappings.Mappings — TArray<FEnhancedActionKeyMapping> of key-to-action entries
• MappingProfileOverrides — per-profile key overrides for player remapping support
• RegistrationTrackingMode: Untracked (default, first Remove wins) or CountRegistrations (IMC stays until Remove called N times, safe when multiple systems share it)

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Binding Actions in C++

SetupPlayerInputComponent

// MyCharacter.h — declare assets and handlers
UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadOnly, Category = "Input")
TObjectPtr<UInputMappingContext> DefaultMappingContext;
UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadOnly, Category = "Input")
TObjectPtr<UInputAction> MoveAction;
UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadOnly, Category = "Input")
TObjectPtr<UInputAction> JumpAction;

void Move(const FInputActionValue& Value);
void StartJump();
void StopJump();

// MyCharacter.cpp
#include "EnhancedInputComponent.h"
#include "EnhancedInputSubsystems.h"

void AMyCharacter::SetupPlayerInputComponent(UInputComponent* PlayerInputComponent)
{
    Super::SetupPlayerInputComponent(PlayerInputComponent);
    UEnhancedInputComponent* EIC = Cast<UEnhancedInputComponent>(PlayerInputComponent);
    if (!EIC) { return; }

    EIC->BindAction(MoveAction, ETriggerEvent::Triggered, this, &AMyCharacter::Move);
    EIC->BindAction(JumpAction, ETriggerEvent::Started,   this, &AMyCharacter::StartJump);
    EIC->BindAction(JumpAction, ETriggerEvent::Completed, this, &AMyCharacter::StopJump);
}

void AMyCharacter::BeginPlay()
{
    Super::BeginPlay();
    if (APlayerController* PC = Cast<APlayerController>(GetController()))
    {
        if (auto* Sub = ULocalPlayer::GetSubsystem<UEnhancedInputLocalPlayerSubsystem>(
                PC->GetLocalPlayer()))
        {
            Sub->AddMappingContext(DefaultMappingContext, 0); // priority 0 = lowest
        }
    }
}

Callback Signatures

BindAction accepts four delegate signatures:

// No params — press/release without value needed
void AMyCharacter::StartJump() { Jump(); }

// FInputActionValue — for axis values
void AMyCharacter::Move(const FInputActionValue& Value)
{
    const FVector2D Input = Value.Get<FVector2D>();
    AddMovementInput(GetActorForwardVector(), Input.Y);
    AddMovementInput(GetActorRightVector(),   Input.X);
}

// FInputActionInstance — when elapsed/triggered time is needed
void AMyCharacter::OnChargeAttack(const FInputActionInstance& Instance)
{
    const float HeldFor = Instance.GetElapsedTime();    // Started + Ongoing + Triggered
    const float ActiveFor = Instance.GetTriggeredTime(); // Triggered only
}

// Lambda variant
EIC->BindActionValueLambda(InteractAction, ETriggerEvent::Triggered,
    [this](const FInputActionValue& Value) { TryInteract(); });

Storing and removing a binding:

FEnhancedInputActionEventBinding& B =
    EIC->BindAction(DebugAction, ETriggerEvent::Started, this, &AMyCharacter::DebugToggle);
uint32 Handle = B.GetHandle();
// ...
EIC->RemoveBindingByHandle(Handle);        // remove one binding
EIC->ClearBindingsForObject(this);         // remove all bindings for an object

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Trigger Events (ETriggerEvent)

Bitmask enum from InputTriggers.h:

Note: Completed does not fire if any trigger on the same action reports Ongoing that frame.

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Built-in Triggers

Full parameter listings in references/input-action-reference.md.

Trigger type rules for multi-trigger evaluation: Explicit (default, at least one must fire), Implicit (all must fire), Blocker (blocks everything if active).

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Built-in Modifiers

Applied in array order. Mapping-level modifiers run before action-level modifiers.

WASD -> Axis2D recipe (AccumulationBehavior = Cumulative):

• W: SwizzleAxis(YXZ) → Y=+1
• S: SwizzleAxis(YXZ) + Negate(bY) → Y=-1
• D: none → X=+1
• A: Negate(bX) → X=-1

Gamepad stick: DeadZone(Radial, LowerThreshold=0.2) per stick mapping.

Mouse look: [Scalar(0.4,0.4,1), Smooth, FOVScaling] per mapping.

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Mapping Context Priority

// Higher integer = higher priority; wins key conflicts
Subsystem->AddMappingContext(GameplayIMC, 0);
Subsystem->AddMappingContext(VehicleIMC,  1);

// FModifyContextOptions — prevent ghost inputs on switch
FModifyContextOptions Opts;
Opts.bIgnoreAllPressedKeysUntilRelease = true;
Subsystem->AddMappingContext(UIIMC, 2, Opts);

// Remove on mode exit
Subsystem->RemoveMappingContext(VehicleIMC);

When bConsumeInput = true on a UInputAction (the default), a higher-priority context that maps the same physical key will consume it, blocking all lower-priority bindings to that key from firing. This is intentional: use priority layering and bConsumeInput together to prevent input conflicts between modes (e.g., a vehicle context consuming Spacebar so the character's Jump action never fires while driving).

Split-Screen / Multiple Local Players

In split-screen, each local player has their own UEnhancedInputLocalPlayerSubsystem. Mapping contexts are per-player — adding a context to one player's subsystem does not affect others. To target a specific player, retrieve their subsystem directly from their ULocalPlayer:

// Access subsystem for a specific local player (e.g., player 2)
if (ULocalPlayer* LP = PlayerController->GetLocalPlayer())
{
    if (auto* Sub = ULocalPlayer::GetSubsystem<UEnhancedInputLocalPlayerSubsystem>(LP))
    {
        Sub->AddMappingContext(PlayerTwoIMC, 0);
    }
}

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Custom Triggers

Subclass UInputTrigger; override UpdateState_Implementation returning ETriggerState::None / Ongoing / Triggered:

UCLASS(EditInlineNew, meta=(DisplayName="Double Click"))
class MYGAME_API UDoubleClickTrigger : public UInputTrigger
{
    GENERATED_BODY()
public:
    UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, Category="Trigger Settings")
    float DoubleClickThreshold = 0.3f;
protected:
    virtual ETriggerType GetTriggerType_Implementation() const override
        { return ETriggerType::Explicit; }
    virtual ETriggerState UpdateState_Implementation(
        const UEnhancedPlayerInput* PlayerInput, FInputActionValue ModifiedValue, float DeltaTime) override;
private:
    float LastPressTime = 0.f;
    bool bWasActuated = false;
};

ETriggerState UDoubleClickTrigger::UpdateState_Implementation(
    const UEnhancedPlayerInput* PlayerInput, FInputActionValue ModifiedValue, float DeltaTime)
{
    const bool bActuated = IsActuated(ModifiedValue); // helper: magnitude >= ActuationThreshold
    const float Now = PlayerInput->GetWorld()->GetTimeSeconds();
    if (bActuated && !bWasActuated)
    {
        if ((Now - LastPressTime) <= DoubleClickThreshold)
            { LastPressTime = 0.f; bWasActuated = bActuated; return ETriggerState::Triggered; }
        LastPressTime = Now;
    }
    bWasActuated = bActuated;
    return ETriggerState::None;
}

UInputTriggerTimedBase provides HeldDuration and CalculateHeldDuration for time-based triggers.

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Custom Modifiers

Subclass UInputModifier; override ModifyRaw_Implementation:

UCLASS(EditInlineNew, meta=(DisplayName="Clamp Magnitude"))
class MYGAME_API UClampMagnitudeModifier : public UInputModifier
{
    GENERATED_BODY()
public:
    UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, Category=Settings)
    float MaxMagnitude = 1.0f;
protected:
    virtual FInputActionValue ModifyRaw_Implementation(
        const UEnhancedPlayerInput* PlayerInput, FInputActionValue CurrentValue, float DeltaTime) override
    {
        FVector V = CurrentValue.Get<FVector>();
        if (V.SizeSquared() > MaxMagnitude * MaxMagnitude)
            V = V.GetSafeNormal() * MaxMagnitude;
        return FInputActionValue(CurrentValue.GetValueType(), V);
    }
};

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Common Mistakes

• Mapping context not added: Add via subsystem in BeginPlay/after Possess, not in SetupPlayerInputComponent (called earlier on some paths).
• Legacy binding on UEnhancedInputComponent: BindAction(FName,...) and BindAxis are = delete. Compile error. Set DefaultInputComponentClass in DefaultInput.ini.
• Triggered for a button press: Triggered fires every active frame. Use Started for press-once, Completed for release.
• Completed not firing with Ongoing: If any trigger reports Ongoing that frame, Completed is suppressed. Use separate actions for clean press/release events.
• No dead zone on gamepad sticks: Sticks produce non-zero resting values. Always add DeadZone(Radial) per stick mapping.
• Missing SwizzleAxis for WASD-to-2D: Keyboard produces 1D. Without SwizzleAxis(YXZ) on W/S, forward/backward stays on X and is ignored by Axis2D forward movement.
• Replicating input actions: Input is client-local. Replicate results (movement, ability activation), not trigger events.
• MapKey/UnmapKey at runtime for rebinding: These are editor/config-screen helpers. Use subsystem player mappable key APIs or swap contexts instead.
• Wrong trigger type for intent: Using Down when Hold is needed, or Triggered when Started is needed. Match trigger type to the interaction pattern: Started for single press, Triggered for continuous, Hold for delayed activation.

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Legacy Input Migration

To migrate from the legacy input system to Enhanced Input: search for InputComponent->BindAction and InputComponent->BindAxis calls and replace each with UEnhancedInputComponent::BindAction. Create a UInputAction data asset for every old action name, choosing the appropriate ValueType (Boolean for buttons, Axis1D for single-axis, Axis2D for stick/WASD). Create a UInputMappingContext asset and add key mappings corresponding to the old DefaultInput.ini ActionMappings/AxisMappings entries. Set DefaultInputComponentClass in DefaultInput.ini and enable the EnhancedInput plugin.

UI Input Mode

Without CommonUI, manage input modes manually via APlayerController::SetInputMode():

PC->SetInputMode(FInputModeUIOnly());          // cursor captured by UI, no game input
PC->SetInputMode(FInputModeGameAndUI());       // both UI and game receive input
PC->SetInputMode(FInputModeGameOnly());        // full game input, UI events suppressed

CommonUI automates input routing through UCommonActivatableWidget stacks and eliminates most manual SetInputMode calls — see ue-ui-umg-slate.

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Related Skills

• ue-gameplay-framework — PlayerController input lifecycle, Possess/UnPossess, SetupPlayerInputComponent
• ue-ui-umg-slate — SetInputMode(FInputModeUIOnly())/FInputModeGameAndUI(), cursor visibility, CommonUI UCommonActivatableWidget stacks
• ue-gameplay-abilities — binding Enhanced Input actions to GAS ability activation via input ID tags