# How to Configure Mobile Keyboard Input Mode for OTP Fields in Vue 3

> Master mobile keyboard input for Vue 3 OTP fields. Learn how to use the inputmode prop to control numeric, telephone, or text keyboard display for smoother user input.

- Repository: [Ejiro Asiuwhu/vue3-otp-input](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input)
- Tags: how-to-guide
- Published: 2026-03-01

---

**The `vue3-otp-input` component exposes an `inputmode` prop that forwards the HTML `inputmode` attribute to each underlying `<input>` element, controlling whether mobile browsers display numeric, telephone, or text keyboards.**

When building OTP (One-Time Password) verification flows in Vue 3, optimizing the mobile user experience requires configuring the appropriate virtual keyboard. The `ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input` library provides granular control over mobile keyboard input modes through a dedicated prop that maps directly to the HTML specification. Understanding how to leverage this property ensures users see the correct keypad layout—whether entering numeric codes, phone numbers, or alphanumeric tokens.

## How the `inputmode` Prop Works in vue3-otp-input

The component architecture separates concerns between a wrapper component and individual input handlers. In [`src/components/single-otp-input.vue`](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input/blob/main/src/components/single-otp-input.vue), the `inputmode` prop is declared with a default value of `"numeric"` (lines 7‑15) and bound directly to the native `<input>` element via `:inputmode="inputmode"` (lines 45‑46).

However, the main wrapper component in [`src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue`](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input/blob/main/src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue) redeclares this prop with a default value of `"text"` (lines 18‑27). This means developers must explicitly override the prop when instantiating the component to achieve numeric keyboard behavior, as the wrapper's default takes precedence in the final render.

## Configuring Mobile Keyboard Modes for OTP Entry

### Numeric Keypad (Default for Single Inputs)

To display a numeric keyboard optimized for OTP codes, explicitly set `inputmode="numeric"`:

```vue
<template>
  <Vue3OtpInput
    v-model="otpCode"
    :numInputs="6"
    inputmode="numeric"
  />
</template>

<script setup lang="ts">
import { ref } from 'vue';
import Vue3OtpInput from 'vue3-otp-input';

const otpCode = ref('');
</script>

```

### Telephone Keypad

For OTP scenarios involving phone number verification, use `inputmode="tel"` to trigger the telephone-specific keypad layout:

```vue
<Vue3OtpInput
  v-model="otpCode"
  :numInputs="4"
  inputmode="tel"
/>

```

### Alphanumeric Input

When your OTP format includes letters and numbers, configure `inputmode="text"` combined with the appropriate `inputType`:

```vue
<Vue3OtpInput
  v-model="otpCode"
  :numInputs="5"
  inputmode="text"
  inputType="letter-numeric"
/>

```

## Source Code Reference

The keyboard mode functionality is implemented across two core components:

- **[`src/components/single-otp-input.vue`](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input/blob/main/src/components/single-otp-input.vue)**: Defines the `inputmode` prop with validation for HTML inputmode values and binds it to the native input element (lines 7‑15, 45‑46).
- **[`src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue`](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input/blob/main/src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue)**: Acts as the public API, re-exporting the `inputmode` prop with a default value of `"text"` and forwarding it to each `SingleOtpInput` instance (lines 18‑27, 36‑37).

## Summary

- The `inputmode` prop in `vue3-otp-input` controls which virtual keyboard appears on mobile devices by forwarding the HTML `inputmode` attribute to each OTP digit field.
- Set `inputmode="numeric"` to display numeric keypads for standard OTP codes, overriding the wrapper component's default `"text"` value.
- Alternative modes include `"tel"` for telephone-style keypads and `"text"` for alphanumeric OTP entry.
- The implementation spans [`src/components/single-otp-input.vue`](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input/blob/main/src/components/single-otp-input.vue) (input binding) and [`src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue`](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input/blob/main/src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue) (prop forwarding).

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the default inputmode in vue3-otp-input?

The wrapper component ([`src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue`](https://github.com/ejirocodes/vue3-otp-input/blob/main/src/components/vue3-otp-input.vue)) defaults to `"text"`, while the underlying single input component defaults to `"numeric"`. Because the wrapper passes its prop value down, you must explicitly set `inputmode="numeric"` on the component instance to trigger numeric keyboards.

### Why does my OTP field show an alphabetic keyboard instead of numeric?

This occurs because the main `Vue3OtpInput` component initializes the `inputmode` prop with a default value of `"text"`. Without explicit override, the wrapper forwards `"text"` to all child inputs, causing mobile browsers to display the standard text keyboard rather than the numeric pad.

### Can I use inputmode='tel' for OTP verification codes?

Yes. Setting `inputmode="tel"` is appropriate when the OTP is sent to a phone number or when you prefer the telephone keypad layout, which typically features larger touch targets and a distinct visual style optimized for numeric entry on mobile devices.

### How do I enable alphanumeric OTP entry in vue3-otp-input?

To accept both letters and numbers, set `inputmode="text"` combined with `inputType="letter-numeric"`. This configuration displays the standard text keyboard while allowing alphanumeric characters in the OTP fields.