diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4720e27..ae84a50 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ These changes affect authoring of p5.js sketches. Read on for more information o
 1. Instead of `bezierVertex(x1, y1, x2, y2, x3, y3)` and `quadraticVertex(x1, y1, x2, y2)`, use multiple `bezierVertex(x, y)` calls, and set order with `bezierOrder` _(to revert to 1.x use, include [shapes.js](https://github.com/processing/p5.js-compatibility/blob/main/src/shapes.js))_
 2.  Instead of `curveVertex`, use `splineVertex` - and expect `endShape(CLOSE)` to create a smoothly connected shape  _(for 1.x usage, include [shapes.js](https://github.com/processing/p5.js-compatibility/blob/main/src/shapes.js))_
 3. The previous usage of of `textWidth(..)` is now covered by `fontWidth(..)` in 2.x. Use `textWidth(..)` to measure text *without* space (tight bounding box). In 2.x, `fontWidth(..)` measures text width including trailing space.
-4. Instead of `keyCode === UP_ARROW` (and similar), use `keyIsDown(UP_ARROW)` (works in both versions) or `code === UP_ARROW` (works in 2.x). _(to revert to 1.x use, include [events.js](https://github.com/processing/p5.js-compatibility/blob/main/src/events.js))_
+4. Instead of `keyCode === UP_ARROW` (and similar), use `keyIsDown(UP_ARROW)` (works in both versions) or `code === UP_ARROW` (works in 2.x). _(to revert to 1.x use, include [data.js](https://github.com/processing/p5.js-compatibility/blob/main/src/data.js))_
 5. Instead of `mouseButton === RIGHT` (and similar), use `mouseButton.right`
 6. Instead of `preload()`, `loadImage(...)`, `loadJSON(...)` and all other `load...` functions return **promises** can be used with `async/await` in `setup()` (or with callbacks)  _(to revert to 1.x use, include [preload.js](https://github.com/processing/p5.js-compatibility/blob/main/src/preload.js))_
 7. Affecting only add-on libraries:  read below how `registerPreloadMethod` can support both preload (1.x) and promises (2.x)
diff --git a/src/data.js b/src/data.js
index 77bbe60..106ba42 100644
--- a/src/data.js
+++ b/src/data.js
@@ -1,4 +1,101 @@
 function addData(p5, fn){
+   /**
+   * legacy keyboard constants — they map human-readable names to their corresponding numeric key codes.
+   * key codes - (the old event.keyCode values from the DOM API).
+   */
+  p5.prototype.BACKSPACE = 8;
+  p5.prototype.DELETE = 46;
+  p5.prototype.ENTER = 13;
+  p5.prototype.RETURN = 13;
+  p5.prototype.TAB = 9;
+  p5.prototype.ESCAPE = 27;
+  p5.prototype.SHIFT = 16;
+  p5.prototype.CONTROL = 17;
+  p5.prototype.OPTION = 18;
+  p5.prototype.ALT = 18;
+  p5.prototype.UP_ARROW = 38;
+  p5.prototype.DOWN_ARROW = 40;
+  p5.prototype.LEFT_ARROW = 37;
+  p5.prototype.RIGHT_ARROW = 39;
+
+  /**
+   * lookup table (a plain object used as a dictionary)
+   * it maps modern string-based key codes → old numeric key codes.
+   */
+  const CODE_TO_KEYCODE = {
+    ArrowUp: 38,
+    ArrowDown: 40,
+    ArrowLeft: 37,
+    ArrowRight: 39,
+    ShiftLeft: 16,
+    ShiftRight: 16,
+    ControlLeft: 17,
+    ControlRight: 17,
+    AltLeft: 18,
+    AltRight: 18,
+    Backspace: 8,
+    Tab: 9,
+    Enter: 13,
+    Escape: 27,
+    Delete: 46,
+  };
+
+  /**
+   * _pressedKeyCodes - Internal set to track which numeric keyCodes are currently pressed.
+   * _origOnKeyDown - Override key event handlers to set numeric keyCode from event.keyCode and maintain the pressed-keys set.
+   */
+  const _pressedKeyCodes = new Set();
+  const _origOnKeyDown = fn._onkeydown;
+
+
+  /**
+   * custom override of p5.js's internal _onkeydown handler.
+   * It intercepts every keydown browser event to patch in backward-compatible behavior for p5.js v1.x sketches running on v2.x.
+   * @param {*} e 
+   */
+  fn._onkeydown = function (e) {
+
+    const numericCode = e.keyCode || CODE_TO_KEYCODE[e.code] || 0;
+    this.keyCode = numericCode;
+    _pressedKeyCodes.add(numericCode);
+
+    if (typeof _origOnKeyDown === "function") {
+      _origOnKeyDown.call(this, e);
+    }
+  };
+
+  /**
+   * keyup event override — the mirror image of the _onkeydown override
+   */
+  const _origOnKeyUp = fn._onkeyup;
+  fn._onkeyup = function (e) {
+
+    const numericCode = e.keyCode || CODE_TO_KEYCODE[e.code] || 0;
+    this.keyCode = numericCode;
+    _pressedKeyCodes.delete(numericCode);
+
+    if (typeof _origOnKeyUp === "function") {
+      _origOnKeyUp.call(this, e);
+    }
+  };
+
+  /**
+   * This block wraps keyIsDown() to make it accept both the old numeric codes (v1.x) and the new string codes (v2.x).
+   */
+  const _origKeyIsDown = fn.keyIsDown;
+
+  fn.keyIsDown = function (code) {
+
+    if (typeof code === "number") {
+      return _pressedKeyCodes.has(code);
+    }
+
+    if (typeof _origKeyIsDown === "function") {
+      return _origKeyIsDown.call(this, code);
+    }
+    return false;
+  };
+  
   fn.touchStarted = function (...args) {
     return this.mousePressed(...args);
   };