kakoune/doc/pages/mapping.asciidoc

= Mapping

== Description

Creating and removing shortcuts boils down to the following commands,
respectively:

---------------------------------------
map [switches] <scope> <mode> <key> <keys>
unmap <scope> <mode> <key> [<expected>]
---------------------------------------

The *map* command makes *key* behave as if the *keys* sequence was typed.

*mode* dictates in what context the mapping will be available:

    *insert*::
        insert mode

    *normal*::
        normal mode

    *prompt*::
        prompts, such as when entering a command through *:*, or a regex through */*

    *menu*::
        mode entered when a menu is displayed with the 'menu' command

    *user*::
        mode entered when the user prefix is hit (default: ',')

    *goto*::
        mode entered when the goto key is hit (default: 'g')

    *view*::
        mode entered when the view key is hit (default: 'v')

    *object*::
        mode entered when an object selection is triggered (e.g. '<a-i>')

The context of execution of the above modes is always the current one at the
time of execution of the mapping, except for *user* mode (always executed
in a 'normal' context). Refer to <<modes#,`:doc modes`>> for more details.

An optional *-docstring* switch followed by a string can be used
to describe what the mapping does. This docstring will be used
in autoinfo boxes.

The *unmap* command removes a mapping of *key* in the given *scope* and
*mode*. If *expected* is specified, the mapping is removed only if it is
set to the same sequence of keys passed using the *expected* argument.

For more information about the values of the *scope* parameter, refer to
<<scopes#,`:doc scopes`>>.

== Mapping commands

It's common to use a normal-mode or user-mode mapping to trigger a command,
like this:

----
map global user n ': make-next-error<ret>'
----

Note the space between the `:` and the command. This prevents Kakoune from
adding this command to the prompt history, so the user won't have to scroll
past it to review commands they actually typed.

If you make a normal-mode mapping, you can prefix it with a count or a register
name like any other normal-mode key. You can forward this information to the
command you invoke with the `%val{count}` and `%val{register}` expansions
(See <<expansions#`:doc expansions`>>). For example:

----
map global normal = ': echo Got count %val{count} and reg %val{register}<ret>'
----

== Mappable keys

See <<keys#,`:doc keys`>> to discover the list of default bindings.

For *key* and *keys* in the *map* command, the following key names can
be used:

*x*, *<x>*::
    Most keys, especially alphabetic keys, represent themselves.
    Keys can also be wrapped in angle-brackets for consistency
    with the non-alphabetic keys below.

*<c-x>*::
    Holding down Control while pressing the *x* key.

*<a-x>*::
    Holding down Alt while pressing the *x* key.

*<s-x>*, *X*, *<X>*, *<s-X>*::
    Holding down Shift while pressing the *x* key.
    *<s-x>*, *<s-X>* and *<X>* are treated as the same key. The *s-* modifier
    only works with ASCII letters and cannot be used with other printable keys
    (non-ASCII letters, digits, punctuation) because their shift behaviour
    depends on your keyboard layout. The *s-* modifier _can_ be used with
    special keys like *<up>* and *<tab>*.

*<c-a-x>*::
    Holding down Control and Alt while pressing the *x* key.

*<lt>*, *<gt>*::
    The *<* and *>* characters.

*<plus>*, *<minus>*::
    The *+* and *-* characters.

*<ret>*::
    The Return or Enter key.

*<space>*::
    The space bar.

*<tab>*::
    The Tab key.

*<backspace>*::
    The Backspace (delete to the left) key.

*<del>*::
    The Delete (to the right) key.

*<esc>*::
    The Escape key.

*<up>*, *<down>*, *<left>*, *<right>*::
*<pageup>*, *<pagedown>*, *<home>*, *<end>*::
    The usual cursor-movement keys.

*<ins>*::
    The Insert key.

*<F1>*, *<F2>*, ...*<F12>*::
    Function keys.

NOTE: Although Kakoune allows many key combinations to be mapped, not every
possible combination can be triggered. For example, due to limitations in
the way terminals handle control characters, mappings like *<c-s-a>* are
unlikely to work in Kakoune's terminal UI.

== Default mappings

Some mappings exist by default in the global scope:

In normal mode:

  * `<left>`  maps to `h`
  * `<right>` maps to `l`
  * `<up>`    maps to `k`
  * `<down>`  maps to `j`
  * `<home>`  maps to `<a-h>`
  * `<end>`   maps to `<a-l>`

Shift version of those mappings exist as well
(for example `<s-left>` maps to `H`).