$('body').keypress(function(event){
if(event.keyCode == 46){console.log('Delete Key Pressed')}; //does not work
if(event.keyCode == 32){console.log('SPACE BAR')}; //works
})
Instead of keypress, use the keyup or keydown event: keypress is meant for PRINTABLE characters, whereas keydown will capture non-printing key presses including delete, backspace, and return. http://jsfiddle.net/5cNTn/9/
$('body').keydown(function(event){
var letter = String.fromCharCode(event.which);
if(event.keyCode == 32){console.log('SPACE BAR');}
if(event.keyCode == 46){console.log('Delete Key Pressed');}
console.log(event);
console.log(event.keyCode);
});