How does Autohotkey prevent default key action?

[Litaken]

Hello all!

I'm trying to figure out how does Autohotkey "block" the original keypress when there is a bind on a key in AHK. Recently I've been trying to sort-of replicate the function of AHK to have more control over the actions happening (java), and I can catch keypress events and send keypresses but can not interfere with the original keypress, meaning I can't prevent a bind typing it's original key. Is AHK acting as the active window receiving key events and delegating to the real active window or something?

Thanks!
Attila

[lexikos]

It uses a keyboard hook.

[Litaken]

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/54171074/what-is-keyboard-hook