Keymap
--
-
- Normal mode
-
-
-
- Movement -
- Changes
-
-
-
- Shell -
- - Selection manipulation -
- Search -
- Minor modes
-
-
-
- View mode -
- Goto mode -
- Match mode -
- Window mode -
- Space mode
-
-
-
- Comment mode -
- Popup -
- - Unimpaired -
-
- - Insert mode -
- Select / extend mode -
- Picker -
- Prompt -
--💡 Mappings marked (LSP) require an active language server for the file.
-
--💡 Mappings marked (TS) require a tree-sitter grammar for the file type.
-
Normal mode
-Normal mode is the default mode when you launch helix. You can return to it from other modes by pressing the Escape
key.
Movement
---NOTE: Unlike Vim,
-f
,F
,t
andT
are not confined to the current line.
Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
h , Left | Move left | move_char_left |
j , Down | Move down | move_visual_line_down |
k , Up | Move up | move_visual_line_up |
l , Right | Move right | move_char_right |
w | Move next word start | move_next_word_start |
b | Move previous word start | move_prev_word_start |
e | Move next word end | move_next_word_end |
W | Move next WORD start | move_next_long_word_start |
B | Move previous WORD start | move_prev_long_word_start |
E | Move next WORD end | move_next_long_word_end |
t | Find 'till next char | find_till_char |
f | Find next char | find_next_char |
T | Find 'till previous char | till_prev_char |
F | Find previous char | find_prev_char |
G | Go to line number <n> | goto_line |
Alt-. | Repeat last motion (f , t , m , [ or ] ) | repeat_last_motion |
Home | Move to the start of the line | goto_line_start |
End | Move to the end of the line | goto_line_end |
Ctrl-b , PageUp | Move page up | page_up |
Ctrl-f , PageDown | Move page down | page_down |
Ctrl-u | Move cursor and page half page up | page_cursor_half_up |
Ctrl-d | Move cursor and page half page down | page_cursor_half_down |
Ctrl-i | Jump forward on the jumplist | jump_forward |
Ctrl-o | Jump backward on the jumplist | jump_backward |
Ctrl-s | Save the current selection to the jumplist | save_selection |
Changes
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
r | Replace with a character | replace |
R | Replace with yanked text | replace_with_yanked |
~ | Switch case of the selected text | switch_case |
` | Set the selected text to lower case | switch_to_lowercase |
Alt-` | Set the selected text to upper case | switch_to_uppercase |
i | Insert before selection | insert_mode |
a | Insert after selection (append) | append_mode |
I | Insert at the start of the line | insert_at_line_start |
A | Insert at the end of the line | insert_at_line_end |
\ | Insert digraphs | insert_digraph |
o | Open new line below selection | open_below |
O | Open new line above selection | open_above |
. | Repeat last insert | N/A |
u | Undo change | undo |
U | Redo change | redo |
Alt-u | Move backward in history | earlier |
Alt-U | Move forward in history | later |
y | Yank selection | yank |
p | Paste after selection | paste_after |
P | Paste before selection | paste_before |
" <reg> | Select a register to yank to or paste from | select_register |
> | Indent selection | indent |
< | Unindent selection | unindent |
= | Format selection (currently nonfunctional/disabled) (LSP) | format_selections |
d | Delete selection | delete_selection |
Alt-d | Delete selection, without yanking | delete_selection_noyank |
c | Change selection (delete and enter insert mode) | change_selection |
Alt-c | Change selection (delete and enter insert mode, without yanking) | change_selection_noyank |
Ctrl-a | Increment object (number) under cursor | increment |
Ctrl-x | Decrement object (number) under cursor | decrement |
Q | Start/stop macro recording to the selected register (experimental) | record_macro |
q | Play back a recorded macro from the selected register (experimental) | replay_macro |
Shell
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
| | Pipe each selection through shell command, replacing with output | shell_pipe |
Alt-| | Pipe each selection into shell command, ignoring output | shell_pipe_to |
! | Run shell command, inserting output before each selection | shell_insert_output |
Alt-! | Run shell command, appending output after each selection | shell_append_output |
$ | Pipe each selection into shell command, keep selections where command returned 0 | shell_keep_pipe |
Selection manipulation
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
s | Select all regex matches inside selections | select_regex |
S | Split selection into sub selections on regex matches | split_selection |
Alt-s | Split selection on newlines | split_selection_on_newline |
Alt-minus | Merge selections | merge_selections |
Alt-_ | Merge consecutive selections | merge_consecutive_selections |
& | Align selection in columns | align_selections |
_ | Trim whitespace from the selection | trim_selections |
; | Collapse selection onto a single cursor | collapse_selection |
Alt-; | Flip selection cursor and anchor | flip_selections |
Alt-: | Ensures the selection is in forward direction | ensure_selections_forward |
, | Keep only the primary selection | keep_primary_selection |
Alt-, | Remove the primary selection | remove_primary_selection |
C | Copy selection onto the next line (Add cursor below) | copy_selection_on_next_line |
Alt-C | Copy selection onto the previous line (Add cursor above) | copy_selection_on_prev_line |
( | Rotate main selection backward | rotate_selections_backward |
) | Rotate main selection forward | rotate_selections_forward |
Alt-( | Rotate selection contents backward | rotate_selection_contents_backward |
Alt-) | Rotate selection contents forward | rotate_selection_contents_forward |
% | Select entire file | select_all |
x | Select current line, if already selected, extend to next line | extend_line_below |
X | Extend selection to line bounds (line-wise selection) | extend_to_line_bounds |
Alt-x | Shrink selection to line bounds (line-wise selection) | shrink_to_line_bounds |
J | Join lines inside selection | join_selections |
Alt-J | Join lines inside selection and select the inserted space | join_selections_space |
K | Keep selections matching the regex | keep_selections |
Alt-K | Remove selections matching the regex | remove_selections |
Ctrl-c | Comment/uncomment the selections | toggle_comments |
Alt-o , Alt-up | Expand selection to parent syntax node (TS) | expand_selection |
Alt-i , Alt-down | Shrink syntax tree object selection (TS) | shrink_selection |
Alt-p , Alt-left | Select previous sibling node in syntax tree (TS) | select_prev_sibling |
Alt-n , Alt-right | Select next sibling node in syntax tree (TS) | select_next_sibling |
Search
-Search commands all operate on the /
register by default. To use a different register, use "<char>
.
Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
/ | Search for regex pattern | search |
? | Search for previous pattern | rsearch |
n | Select next search match | search_next |
N | Select previous search match | search_prev |
* | Use current selection as the search pattern | search_selection |
Minor modes
-These sub-modes are accessible from normal mode and typically switch back to normal mode after a command.
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
v | Enter select (extend) mode | select_mode |
g | Enter goto mode | N/A |
m | Enter match mode | N/A |
: | Enter command mode | command_mode |
z | Enter view mode | N/A |
Z | Enter sticky view mode | N/A |
Ctrl-w | Enter window mode | N/A |
Space | Enter space mode | N/A |
These modes (except command mode) can be configured by -remapping keys.
-View mode
-Accessed by typing z
in normal mode.
View mode is intended for scrolling and manipulating the view without changing
-the selection. The "sticky" variant of this mode (accessed by typing Z
in
-normal mode) is persistent and can be exited using the escape key. This is
-useful when you're simply looking over text and not actively editing it.
Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
z , c | Vertically center the line | align_view_center |
t | Align the line to the top of the screen | align_view_top |
b | Align the line to the bottom of the screen | align_view_bottom |
m | Align the line to the middle of the screen (horizontally) | align_view_middle |
j , down | Scroll the view downwards | scroll_down |
k , up | Scroll the view upwards | scroll_up |
Ctrl-f , PageDown | Move page down | page_down |
Ctrl-b , PageUp | Move page up | page_up |
Ctrl-u | Move cursor and page half page up | page_cursor_half_up |
Ctrl-d | Move cursor and page half page down | page_cursor_half_down |
Goto mode
-Accessed by typing g
in normal mode.
Jumps to various locations.
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
g | Go to line number <n> else start of file | goto_file_start |
e | Go to the end of the file | goto_last_line |
f | Go to files in the selections | goto_file |
h | Go to the start of the line | goto_line_start |
l | Go to the end of the line | goto_line_end |
s | Go to first non-whitespace character of the line | goto_first_nonwhitespace |
t | Go to the top of the screen | goto_window_top |
c | Go to the middle of the screen | goto_window_center |
b | Go to the bottom of the screen | goto_window_bottom |
d | Go to definition (LSP) | goto_definition |
y | Go to type definition (LSP) | goto_type_definition |
r | Go to references (LSP) | goto_reference |
i | Go to implementation (LSP) | goto_implementation |
a | Go to the last accessed/alternate file | goto_last_accessed_file |
m | Go to the last modified/alternate file | goto_last_modified_file |
n | Go to next buffer | goto_next_buffer |
p | Go to previous buffer | goto_previous_buffer |
. | Go to last modification in current file | goto_last_modification |
j | Move down textual (instead of visual) line | move_line_down |
k | Move up textual (instead of visual) line | move_line_up |
w | Show labels at each word and select the word that belongs to the entered labels | goto_word |
Match mode
-Accessed by typing m
in normal mode.
See the relevant section in Usage for an explanation about -surround and textobject usage.
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
m | Goto matching bracket (TS) | match_brackets |
s <char> | Surround current selection with <char> | surround_add |
r <from><to> | Replace surround character <from> with <to> | surround_replace |
d <char> | Delete surround character <char> | surround_delete |
a <object> | Select around textobject | select_textobject_around |
i <object> | Select inside textobject | select_textobject_inner |
TODO: Mappings for selecting syntax nodes (a superset of [
).
Window mode
-Accessed by typing Ctrl-w
in normal mode.
This layer is similar to Vim keybindings as Kakoune does not support windows.
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
w , Ctrl-w | Switch to next window | rotate_view |
v , Ctrl-v | Vertical right split | vsplit |
s , Ctrl-s | Horizontal bottom split | hsplit |
f | Go to files in the selections in horizontal splits | goto_file |
F | Go to files in the selections in vertical splits | goto_file |
h , Ctrl-h , Left | Move to left split | jump_view_left |
j , Ctrl-j , Down | Move to split below | jump_view_down |
k , Ctrl-k , Up | Move to split above | jump_view_up |
l , Ctrl-l , Right | Move to right split | jump_view_right |
q , Ctrl-q | Close current window | wclose |
o , Ctrl-o | Only keep the current window, closing all the others | wonly |
H | Swap window to the left | swap_view_left |
J | Swap window downwards | swap_view_down |
K | Swap window upwards | swap_view_up |
L | Swap window to the right | swap_view_right |
Space mode
-Accessed by typing Space
in normal mode.
This layer is a kludge of mappings, mostly pickers.
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
f | Open file picker | file_picker |
F | Open file picker at current working directory | file_picker_in_current_directory |
b | Open buffer picker | buffer_picker |
j | Open jumplist picker | jumplist_picker |
g | Debug (experimental) | N/A |
k | Show documentation for item under cursor in a popup (LSP) | hover |
s | Open document symbol picker (LSP) | symbol_picker |
S | Open workspace symbol picker (LSP) | workspace_symbol_picker |
d | Open document diagnostics picker (LSP) | diagnostics_picker |
D | Open workspace diagnostics picker (LSP) | workspace_diagnostics_picker |
r | Rename symbol (LSP) | rename_symbol |
a | Apply code action (LSP) | code_action |
h | Select symbol references (LSP) | select_references_to_symbol_under_cursor |
' | Open last fuzzy picker | last_picker |
w | Enter window mode | N/A |
c | Comment/uncomment selections | toggle_comments |
C | Block comment/uncomment selections | toggle_block_comments |
Alt-c | Line comment/uncomment selections | toggle_line_comments |
p | Paste system clipboard after selections | paste_clipboard_after |
P | Paste system clipboard before selections | paste_clipboard_before |
y | Yank selections to clipboard | yank_to_clipboard |
Y | Yank main selection to clipboard | yank_main_selection_to_clipboard |
R | Replace selections by clipboard contents | replace_selections_with_clipboard |
/ | Global search in workspace folder | global_search |
? | Open command palette | command_palette |
e | Reveal current file in explorer | reveal_current_file |
--💡 Global search displays results in a fuzzy picker, use
-Space + '
to bring it back up after opening a file.
Popup
-Displays documentation for item under cursor.
-Key | Description |
---|---|
Ctrl-u | Scroll up |
Ctrl-d | Scroll down |
Unimpaired
-These mappings are in the style of vim-unimpaired.
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
]d | Go to next diagnostic (LSP) | goto_next_diag |
[d | Go to previous diagnostic (LSP) | goto_prev_diag |
]D | Go to last diagnostic in document (LSP) | goto_last_diag |
[D | Go to first diagnostic in document (LSP) | goto_first_diag |
]f | Go to next function (TS) | goto_next_function |
[f | Go to previous function (TS) | goto_prev_function |
]t | Go to next type definition (TS) | goto_next_class |
[t | Go to previous type definition (TS) | goto_prev_class |
]a | Go to next argument/parameter (TS) | goto_next_parameter |
[a | Go to previous argument/parameter (TS) | goto_prev_parameter |
]c | Go to next comment (TS) | goto_next_comment |
[c | Go to previous comment (TS) | goto_prev_comment |
]T | Go to next test (TS) | goto_next_test |
[T | Go to previous test (TS) | goto_prev_test |
]p | Go to next paragraph | goto_next_paragraph |
[p | Go to previous paragraph | goto_prev_paragraph |
]g | Go to next change | goto_next_change |
[g | Go to previous change | goto_prev_change |
]G | Go to last change | goto_last_change |
[G | Go to first change | goto_first_change |
]Space | Add newline below | add_newline_below |
[Space | Add newline above | add_newline_above |
Insert mode
-Accessed by typing i
in normal mode.
Insert mode bindings are minimal by default. Helix is designed to -be a modal editor, and this is reflected in the user experience and internal -mechanics. Changes to the text are only saved for undos when -escaping from insert mode to normal mode.
---💡 New users are strongly encouraged to learn the modal editing paradigm -to get the smoothest experience.
-
Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
Escape | Switch to normal mode | normal_mode |
Ctrl-s | Commit undo checkpoint | commit_undo_checkpoint |
Ctrl-x | Autocomplete | completion |
Ctrl-r | Insert a register content | insert_register |
Ctrl-w , Alt-Backspace | Delete previous word | delete_word_backward |
Alt-d , Alt-Delete | Delete next word | delete_word_forward |
Ctrl-u | Delete to start of line | kill_to_line_start |
Ctrl-k | Delete to end of line | kill_to_line_end |
Ctrl-h , Backspace , Shift-Backspace | Delete previous char | delete_char_backward |
Ctrl-d , Delete | Delete next char | delete_char_forward |
Ctrl-j , Enter | Insert new line | insert_newline |
These keys are not recommended, but are included for new users less familiar -with modal editors.
-Key | Description | Command |
---|---|---|
Up | Move to previous line | move_line_up |
Down | Move to next line | move_line_down |
Left | Backward a char | move_char_left |
Right | Forward a char | move_char_right |
PageUp | Move one page up | page_up |
PageDown | Move one page down | page_down |
Home | Move to line start | goto_line_start |
End | Move to line end | goto_line_end_newline |
As you become more comfortable with modal editing, you may want to disable some
-insert mode bindings. You can do this by editing your config.toml
file.
[keys.insert]
-up = "no_op"
-down = "no_op"
-left = "no_op"
-right = "no_op"
-pageup = "no_op"
-pagedown = "no_op"
-home = "no_op"
-end = "no_op"
-
-Select / extend mode
-Accessed by typing v
in normal mode.
Select mode echoes Normal mode, but changes any movements to extend
-selections rather than replace them. Goto motions are also changed to
-extend, so that vgl
, for example, extends the selection to the end of
-the line.
Search is also affected. By default, n
and N
will remove the current
-selection and select the next instance of the search term. Toggling this
-mode before pressing n
or N
makes it possible to keep the current
-selection. Toggling it on and off during your iterative searching allows
-you to selectively add search terms to your selections.
Picker
-Keys to use within picker. Remapping currently not supported.
-Key | Description |
---|---|
Shift-Tab , Up , Ctrl-p | Previous entry |
Tab , Down , Ctrl-n | Next entry |
PageUp , Ctrl-u | Page up |
PageDown , Ctrl-d | Page down |
Home | Go to first entry |
End | Go to last entry |
Enter | Open selected |
Alt-Enter | Open selected in the background without closing the picker |
Ctrl-s | Open horizontally |
Ctrl-v | Open vertically |
Ctrl-t | Toggle preview |
Escape , Ctrl-c | Close picker |
Prompt
-Keys to use within prompt, Remapping currently not supported.
-Key | Description |
---|---|
Escape , Ctrl-c | Close prompt |
Alt-b , Ctrl-Left | Backward a word |
Ctrl-b , Left | Backward a char |
Alt-f , Ctrl-Right | Forward a word |
Ctrl-f , Right | Forward a char |
Ctrl-e , End | Move prompt end |
Ctrl-a , Home | Move prompt start |
Ctrl-w , Alt-Backspace , Ctrl-Backspace | Delete previous word |
Alt-d , Alt-Delete , Ctrl-Delete | Delete next word |
Ctrl-u | Delete to start of line |
Ctrl-k | Delete to end of line |
Backspace , Ctrl-h , Shift-Backspace | Delete previous char |
Delete , Ctrl-d | Delete next char |
Ctrl-s | Insert a word under doc cursor, may be changed to Ctrl-r Ctrl-w later |
Ctrl-p , Up | Select previous history |
Ctrl-n , Down | Select next history |
Ctrl-r | Insert the content of the register selected by following input char |
Tab | Select next completion item |
BackTab | Select previous completion item |
Enter | Open selected |
File explorer
-Press ?
to see keymaps. Remapping currently not supported.