Keymap

Mappings marked (LSP) require an active language server for the file.
Mappings marked (TS) require a tree-sitter grammar for the filetype.

Normal mode

Movement

NOTE: Unlike vim, f, F, t and T are not confined to the current line.

Key	Description	Command
`h`/`Left`	Move left	`move_char_left`
`j`/`Down`	Move down	`move_line_down`
`k`/`Up`	Move up	`move_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` or `m`)	`repeat_last_motion`
`Alt-:`	Ensures the selection is in forward direction	`ensure_selections_forward`
`Home`	Move to the start of the line	`goto_line_start`
`End`	Move to the end of the line	`goto_line_end`
`PageUp`	Move page up	`page_up`
`PageDown`	Move page down	`page_down`
`Ctrl-u`	Move half page up	`half_page_up`
`Ctrl-d`	Move half page down	`half_page_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`
`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

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	`prepend_to_line`
`A`	Insert at the end of the line	`append_to_line`
`o`	Open new line below selection	`open_below`
`O`	Open new line above selection	`open_above`
`.`	Repeat last change	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 subselections on regex matches	`split_selection`
`Alt-s`	Split selection on newlines	`split_selection_on_newline`
`&`	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`
`,`	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`
`X`	Extend selection to line bounds (line-wise selection)	`extend_to_line_bounds`
`J`	Join lines inside selection	`join_selections`
`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-k`	Expand selection to parent syntax node (TS)	`expand_selection`
`Alt-j`	Shrink syntax tree object selection (TS)	`shrink_selection`
`Alt-h`	Select previous sibling node in syntax tree (TS)	`select_prev_sibling`
`Alt-l`	Select next sibling node in syntax tree (TS)	`select_next_sibling`

Search

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.

View mode is intended for scrolling and manipulating the view without changing the selection. The "sticky" variant of this mode is persistent; use the Escape key to return to normal mode after usage (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`	Move page down	`page_down`
`Ctrl-b`	Move page up	`page_up`
`Ctrl-d`	Move half page down	`half_page_down`
`Ctrl-u`	Move half page up	`half_page_up`

Goto 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 selection	`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`

Match mode

Enter this mode using m from normal mode. See the relavant 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

This layer is similar to vim keybindings as kakoune does not support window.

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`
`h`, `Ctrl-h`, `left`	Move to left split	`jump_view_left`
`f`	Go to files in the selection in horizontal splits	`goto_file`
`F`	Go to files in the selection in vertical splits	`goto_file`
`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`

Space mode

This layer is a kludge of mappings, mostly pickers.

Key	Description	Command
`f`	Open file picker	`file_picker`
`b`	Open buffer picker	`buffer_picker`
`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`
`r`	Rename symbol (LSP)	`rename_symbol`
`a`	Apply code action (LSP)	`code_action`
`'`	Open last fuzzy picker	`last_picker`
`w`	Enter window mode	N/A
`p`	Paste system clipboard after selections	`paste_clipboard_after`
`P`	Paste system clipboard before selections	`paste_clipboard_before`
`y`	Join and yank selections to clipboard	`yank_joined_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`

TIP: Global search displays results in a fuzzy picker, use space + ' to bring it back up after opening a file.

Displays documentation for item under cursor.

Key	Description
`Ctrl-u`	Scroll up
`Ctrl-d`	Scroll down

Unimpaired

Mappings in the style of vim-unimpaired.

Key	Description	Command
`[d`	Go to previous diagnostic (LSP)	`goto_prev_diag`
`]d`	Go to next diagnostic (LSP)	`goto_next_diag`
`[D`	Go to first diagnostic in document (LSP)	`goto_first_diag`
`]D`	Go to last diagnostic in document (LSP)	`goto_last_diag`
`[space`	Add newline above	`add_newline_above`
`]space`	Add newline below	`add_newline_below`

Insert Mode

Key	Description	Command
`Escape`	Switch to normal mode	`normal_mode`
`Ctrl-x`	Autocomplete	`completion`
`Ctrl-r`	Insert a register content	`insert_register`
`Ctrl-w`	Delete previous word	`delete_word_backward`
`Alt-d`	Delete next word	`delete_word_forward`
`Alt-b`, `Alt-Left`	Backward a word	`move_prev_word_end`
`Ctrl-b`, `Left`	Backward a char	`move_char_left`
`Alt-f`, `Alt-Right`	Forward a word	`move_next_word_start`
`Ctrl-f`, `Right`	Forward a char	`move_char_right`
`Ctrl-e`, `End`	move to line end	`goto_line_end_newline`
`Ctrl-a`, `Home`	move to line start	`goto_line_start`
`Ctrl-u`	delete to start of line	`kill_to_line_start`
`Ctrl-k`	delete to end of line	`kill_to_line_end`
`backspace`, `Ctrl-h`	delete previous char	`delete_char_backward`
`delete`, `Ctrl-d`	delete previous char	`delete_char_forward`
`Ctrl-p`, `Up`	move to previous line	`move_line_up`
`Ctrl-n`, `Down`	move to next line	`move_line_down`

Select / extend mode

I'm still pondering whether to keep this mode or not. It changes movement commands (including goto) to extend the existing selection instead of replacing it.

NOTE: It's a bit confusing at the moment because extend hasn't been implemented for all movement commands yet.

Picker

Keys to use within picker. Remapping currently not supported.

Key	Description
`Up`, `Ctrl-k`, `Ctrl-p`	Previous entry
`PageUp`, `Ctrl-b`	Page up
`Down`, `Ctrl-j`, `Ctrl-n`	Next entry
`PageDown`, `Ctrl-f`	Page down
`Home`	Go to first entry
`End`	Go to last entry
`Ctrl-space`	Filter options
`Enter`	Open selected
`Ctrl-s`	Open horizontally
`Ctrl-v`	Open vertically
`Escape`, `Ctrl-c`	Close picker

Prompt

Keys to use within prompt, Remapping currently not supported.

Key	Description
`Escape`, `Ctrl-c`	Close prompt
`Alt-b`, `Alt-Left`	Backward a word
`Ctrl-b`, `Left`	Backward a char
`Alt-f`, `Alt-Right`	Forward a word
`Ctrl-f`, `Right`	Forward a char
`Ctrl-e`, `End`	Move prompt end
`Ctrl-a`, `Home`	Move prompt start
`Ctrl-w`	Delete previous word
`Alt-d`	Delete next word
`Ctrl-u`	Delete to start of line
`Ctrl-k`	Delete to end of line
`backspace`, `Ctrl-h`	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
`Tab`	Select next completion item
`BackTab`	Select previous completion item
`Enter`	Open selected