helix/book/src/remapping.md

## Key remapping

Helix currently supports one-way key remapping through a simple TOML configuration
file. (More powerful solutions such as rebinding via commands will be
available in the future).

There are three kinds of commands that can be used in keymaps:

* Static commands: commands like `move_char_right` which are usually bound to
  keys and used for movement and editing. A list of static commands is
  available in the [Keymap](./keymap.html) documentation and in the source code
  in [`helix-term/src/commands.rs`](https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/blob/master/helix-term/src/commands.rs)
  at the invocation of `static_commands!` macro.
* Typable commands: commands that can be executed from command mode (`:`), for
  example `:write!`. See the [Commands](./commands.html) documentation for a
  list of available typeable commands or the `TypableCommandList` declaration in
  the source code at [`helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs`](https://github.com/helix-editor/helix/blob/master/helix-term/src/commands/typed.rs).
* Macros: sequences of keys that are executed in order. These keybindings
  start with `@` and then list any number of keys to be executed. For example
  `@miw` can be used to select the surrounding word. For now, macro keybindings
  are not allowed in keybinding sequences due to limitations in the way that
  command sequences are executed. Modifier keys (e.g. Alt+o) can be used
  like `"<A-o>"`, e.g. `"@miw<A-o>"`

To remap keys, create a `config.toml` file in your `helix` configuration
directory (default `~/.config/helix` on Linux systems) with a structure like
this:

> 💡 To set a modifier + key as a keymap, type `A-X = ...` or  `C-X = ...` for Alt + X or Ctrl + X. Combine with Shift using a dash, e.g. `C-S-esc`. 
> Within macros, wrap them in `<>`, e.g. `<A-X>` and `<C-X>` to distinguish from the `A` or `C` keys.

```toml
# At most one section each of 'keys.normal', 'keys.insert' and 'keys.select'
[keys.normal]
C-s = ":w" # Maps Ctrl-s to the typable command :w which is an alias for :write (save file)
C-o = ":open ~/.config/helix/config.toml" # Maps Ctrl-o to opening of the helix config file
a = "move_char_left" # Maps the 'a' key to the move_char_left command
w = "move_line_up" # Maps the 'w' key move_line_up
"C-S-esc" = "extend_line" # Maps Ctrl-Shift-Escape to extend_line
g = { a = "code_action" } # Maps `ga` to show possible code actions
"ret" = ["open_below", "normal_mode"] # Maps the enter key to open_below then re-enter normal mode
"A-x" = "@x<A-d>" # Maps Alt-x to a macro selecting the whole line and deleting it without yanking it

[keys.insert]
"A-x" = "normal_mode"     # Maps Alt-X to enter normal mode
j = { k = "normal_mode" } # Maps `jk` to exit insert mode
```

## Minor modes

Minor modes are accessed by pressing a key (usually from normal mode), giving access to dedicated bindings. Bindings
can be modified or added by nesting definitions.

```toml
[keys.insert.j]
k = "normal_mode" # Maps `jk` to exit insert mode

[keys.normal.g]
a = "code_action" # Maps `ga` to show possible code actions

# invert `j` and `k` in view mode
[keys.normal.z]
j = "scroll_up"
k = "scroll_down"

# create a new minor mode bound to `+`
[keys.normal."+"]
m = ":run-shell-command make"
c = ":run-shell-command cargo build"
t = ":run-shell-command cargo test"
```

## Special keys and modifiers

Ctrl, Shift and Alt modifiers are encoded respectively with the prefixes
`C-`, `S-` and `A-`. Special keys are encoded as follows:

| Key name     | Representation |
| ---          | ---            |
| Backspace    | `"backspace"`  |
| Space        | `"space"`      |
| Return/Enter | `"ret"`        |
| \-           | `"minus"`      |
| Left         | `"left"`       |
| Right        | `"right"`      |
| Up           | `"up"`         |
| Down         | `"down"`       |
| Home         | `"home"`       |
| End          | `"end"`        |
| Page Up      | `"pageup"`     |
| Page Down    | `"pagedown"`   |
| Tab          | `"tab"`        |
| Delete       | `"del"`        |
| Insert       | `"ins"`        |
| Null         | `"null"`       |
| Escape       | `"esc"`        |

Keys can be disabled by binding them to the `no_op` command.