unreal-enhanced-input

Unreal Enhanced Input

Wire player input the modern UE5 way with the Enhanced Input system: data-driven Input Actions and Mapping Contexts instead of the legacy Project Settings axis/action mappings. Targets UE 5.8 (Enhanced Input is the default; legacy input is deprecated).

When to use

• Use when adding movement/look/jump/fire input, creating Input Action (IA_) and Input Mapping Context (IMC_) assets, applying modifiers/triggers, adding a mapping context to a player, or binding actions in C++ or Blueprints.
• Use when the project has IA_*/IMC_* assets or references EnhancedInput.

When not to use: engine-agnostic input architecture (rebinding strategy, buffering, multi-device design) → input-systems. The Pawn/Character C++ those bindings live in → unreal-cpp-gameplay.

Core workflow

1. Enable the module/plugin. Enhanced Input is on by default in UE5; for C++ binding add "EnhancedInput" to PublicDependencyModuleNames in *.Build.cs.
2. Create Input Actions (IA_). Each has a Value Type: Digital (bool) for buttons, Axis1D (float) for triggers, Axis2D (Vector2D) for movement/look.
3. Create an Input Mapping Context (IMC_) that maps keys/buttons to those actions. Use Modifiers to shape raw input (Negate, Swizzle Input Axis Values, Dead Zone) — e.g. WASD into one Axis2D needs Negate on A/S and a Swizzle on W/S. Use Triggers (Pressed, Hold, Tap) to decide when an action fires.
4. Add the mapping context to the player via the EnhancedInputLocalPlayerSubsystem (AddMappingContext(IMC, Priority)), usually in BeginPlay/possession.
5. Bind actions to handlers by ETriggerEvent (Triggered, Started, Completed, …) on the EnhancedInputComponent, and read the FInputActionValue in the handler.
6. Verify in PIE; the Enhanced Input debugging console commands (showdebug enhancedinput) show which actions trigger and their values.

Patterns

1. Add the mapping context (C++ Character)