Run Input and TextArea key bindings inline to keep ordering with type…

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -5,6 +5,12 @@ All notable changes to this project will be documented in this file.
 The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/)
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 
+## Unreleased
+
+### Fixed
+
+- Fixed bound keys (backspace, arrows, etc.) executing out of order with typed characters in `Input` and `TextArea` under fast input https://github.com/Textualize/textual/issues/6605
+
 ## [8.2.8] - 2026-06-30
 
 ### Fixed

src/textual/widget.py

@@ -4708,6 +4708,30 @@ async def _on_key(self, event: events.Key) -> None:
     async def handle_key(self, event: events.Key) -> bool:
         return await dispatch_key(self, event)
 
+    async def _run_key_bindings(self, event: events.Key) -> bool:
+        """Run this widget's own bindings for a key event, without waiting for
+        the event to bubble to the app.
+
+        Widgets that handle printable keys directly in `_on_key` (such as Input
+        and TextArea) call this so that bound keys are applied in the order they
+        were typed, rather than after the event has bubbled to the app, which
+        could reorder them relative to fast typing.
+
+        Args:
+            event: A key event.
+
+        Returns:
+            True if a binding was run, otherwise False.
+        """
+        for binding in self._bindings.key_to_bindings.get(event.key, ()):
+            if not binding.priority and await self.app.run_action(
+                binding.action, self
+            ):
+                event.stop()
+                event.prevent_default()
+                return True
+        return False
+
     async def _on_compose(self, event: events.Compose) -> None:
         _rich_traceback_omit = True
         event.prevent_default()

src/textual/widgets/_input.py

@@ -752,6 +752,8 @@ async def _on_key(self, event: events.Key) -> None:
             else:
                 self.replace(event.character, *selection)
             event.prevent_default()
+        else:
+            await self._run_key_bindings(event)
 
     def _on_paste(self, event: events.Paste) -> None:
         if event.text:

src/textual/widgets/_text_area.py

@@ -1847,6 +1847,8 @@ async def _on_key(self, event: events.Key) -> None:
             assert insert is not None
             start, end = self.selection
             self._replace_via_keyboard(insert, start, end)
+        else:
+            await self._run_key_bindings(event)
 
     def _find_columns_to_next_tab_stop(self) -> int:
         """Get the location of the next tab stop after the cursors position on the current line.

tests/test_key_ordering.py

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+"""Regression tests for https://github.com/Textualize/textual/issues/6605
+
+Keys handled by bindings (such as backspace) used to take a detour through
+ancestor message queues before their action ran, so under fast input they
+could be applied out of order with printable keys, which Input and TextArea
+handle directly.
+"""
+
+from textual import events
+from textual.app import App, ComposeResult
+from textual.widgets import Input, TextArea
+
+
+def type_fast(app: App, *keys: str) -> None:
+    """Post key events back to back, without waiting for each to settle."""
+    for key in keys:
+        app.post_message(events.Key(key, key if len(key) == 1 else None))
+
+
+async def test_input_binding_keys_apply_in_order_with_typed_text():
+    class KeysApp(App):
+        def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
+            yield Input()
+
+    app = KeysApp()
+    async with app.run_test() as pilot:
+        type_fast(app, "b", "a", "backspace", "c")
+        for _ in range(3):
+            await pilot.pause()
+        assert app.query_one(Input).value == "bc"
+
+
+async def test_text_area_binding_keys_apply_in_order_with_typed_text():
+    class KeysApp(App):
+        def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
+            yield TextArea()
+
+    app = KeysApp()
+    async with app.run_test() as pilot:
+        type_fast(app, "b", "a", "backspace", "c")
+        for _ in range(3):
+            await pilot.pause()
+        assert app.query_one(TextArea).text == "bc"