Keybindings

Visual Studio Code offers a powerful and flexible way to customize your keybindings to match your workflow. You can rebind any command to your preferred key combination.

Default Keybindings

VS Code comes with a comprehensive set of default keybindings for various operating systems. These are designed to be ergonomic and efficient.

Common Keybindings (Windows/Linux)

Command	Default Shortcut
Show All Commands	Ctrl+Shift+P
Open Settings	Ctrl+,
Toggle Terminal	Ctrl+`
Save File	Ctrl+S
Save All	Ctrl+K S
Copy Line Up	Alt+Up Arrow
Copy Line Down	Alt+Down Arrow
Delete Line	Shift+Delete
Find	Ctrl+F
Replace	Ctrl+H
Go to Definition	F12
Peek Definition	Alt+F12
Toggle Sidebar	Ctrl+B
Close Editor	Ctrl+W

Common Keybindings (macOS)

Command	Default Shortcut
Show All Commands	Cmd+Shift+P
Open Settings	Cmd+,
Toggle Terminal	Ctrl+`
Save File	Cmd+S
Save All	Cmd+K S
Copy Line Up	Option+Up Arrow
Copy Line Down	Option+Down Arrow
Delete Line	Cmd+Delete
Find	Cmd+F
Replace	Cmd+Option+F
Go to Definition	F12
Peek Definition	Option+F12
Toggle Sidebar	Cmd+B
Close Editor	Cmd+W

Customizing Keybindings

You can easily customize keybindings through the Keyboard Shortcuts editor. To open it:

1. Press Ctrl+K Ctrl+S (or Cmd+K Cmd+S on macOS).
2. Alternatively, go to File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts (or Code > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts on macOS).

The editor displays all available commands and their assigned keybindings. You can:

• Search: Use the search bar at the top to find specific commands or keybindings.
• Add/Change: Double-click on a command's keybinding to edit it. You can also right-click and select "Add Keybinding" or "Change Keybinding".
• Remove: Right-click on a keybinding and select "Remove Keybinding".
• Specify Context: For advanced customization, you can specify when a keybinding is active using the when clause.

The keybindings.json File

For more direct control and to manage complex configurations, VS Code uses a keybindings.json file. You can access this file by clicking the `{}` icon in the top right corner of the Keyboard Shortcuts editor.

Here's an example of how to add a custom keybinding:

{
    "key": "ctrl+alt+c",
    "command": "workbench.action.showCommands",
    "when": "editorTextFocus"
}

This example assigns the "Show All Commands" action to Ctrl+Alt+C, but only when the editor has focus.

Keybinding Conflicts

If multiple keybindings are assigned to the same command, or if a keybinding is assigned to multiple commands, VS Code will highlight these conflicts in the Keyboard Shortcuts editor. You can resolve conflicts by removing or changing one of the conflicting keybindings.

Common Keybinding Concepts

• Chorded Keybindings: A sequence of key presses, like Ctrl+K S. The first part (Ctrl+K) waits for the second part (S) to complete the command.
• when Clauses: Conditions that determine when a keybinding is active. Examples include:
  • editorTextFocus: When the text editor has focus.
  • terminalFocus: When the integrated terminal has focus.
  • explorerViewletVisible: When the File Explorer is visible.

Mastering VS Code's keybindings can significantly boost your productivity. Experiment with customizations to find what works best for you!