Neovim Cheat Sheet

Key Notation

Keys shown as like this are pressed literally. The table below explains the shorthand notation used in key sequences.

C-x	Ctrl + x	Hold Control, press x
S-x	Shift + x	Hold Shift, press x — e.g. S-h means Shift+H
A-x	Alt + x	Hold Alt (Option on Mac), press x
M-x	Meta + x	Same as Alt on most systems
<leader>	Space	The leader key — tap Space first, then the rest of the sequence
<CR>	Enter / Return	The carriage return key
<Esc>	Escape	Or use jk from insert mode (mapped in this config)
<Tab>	Tab
<BS>	Backspace
{motion}	any motion	e.g. w (word), j (line down), $ (end of line), ip (inner paragraph)
[op]	operator-pending	Key only active while waiting for a motion after an operator like d, y, c
[vis]	visual mode	Key active when text is selected

Modes

entering insert mode
`i` / `a`	Insert before / after cursor
`I` / `A`	Insert at line start / end
`o` / `O`	New line below / above, then insert
`s`	Delete char and insert remapped to Flash in this config
other modes
`v` / `V`	Visual character / line mode
`C-v`	Visual block mode (column select)
`R`	Replace mode (overtype)
`:`	Command-line mode
returning to normal mode
`Esc` / `jk`	Normal mode from insert (`jk` = this config)
`C-\C-n`	Normal mode from terminal (`Esc Esc` = this config)

Basic Motion

character & word
`h` `j` `k` `l`	Left / down / up / right
`w` / `b`	Next / prev word start
`e`	Next word end
`W` / `B` / `E`	Same, skipping punctuation
line
`0` / `$`	Line start / end
`^`	First non-blank character
file & screen
`gg` / `G`	File start / end
`{` / `}`	Prev / next blank line
`%`	Jump to matching bracket
`H` / `M` / `L`	Screen top / middle / bottom
`5j`	Any count prefix works — e.g. 5 lines down
jump list
`C-o` / `C-i`	Jump back / forward in location history
`gi`	Return to last insert location
`''`	Jump back to last cursor position

Operators

Operators combine with a motion or text object: `d`w, `c`iw, `y`$
`d`{motion}	Delete
`c`{motion}	Change (delete + enter insert)
`y`{motion}	Yank (copy)
`dd` / `yy` / `cc`	Delete / yank / change whole line
`D` / `C`	Delete / change to end of line
`x`	Delete character under cursor
`r`{char}	Replace character not to be confused with remote-flash r
`p` / `P`	Paste after / before cursor
`u` / `C-r`	Undo / redo
`.`	Repeat last change
`~`	Toggle case of character
`>>` / `<<`	Indent / un-indent line

Text Objects

Use after any operator or in visual mode: `d`iw, `v`ap, `c`i"
i / a	inner (excludes delimiters) / around (includes them)
built-in
`iw` / `aw`	Word / word + surrounding space
`ip` / `ap`	Paragraph
`i"` / `a"`	Double-quoted string
`i'` / `a'`	Single-quoted string
i` / a`	Backtick string
`i(` / `a(`	Parentheses
`i[` / `a[`	Square brackets
`i{` / `a{`	Curly braces
`it` / `at`	HTML / XML tag
treesitter (this config)
`if` / `af`	Function inner / outer
`ic` / `ac`	Class inner / outer
`ia` / `aa`	Argument / parameter
`ii` / `ai`	Conditional inner / outer
`il` / `al`	Loop inner / outer

Search

`/`{pattern}	Search forward
`?`{pattern}	Search backward
`n` / `N`	Next / prev match (centred in this config)
`*` / `#`	Search word under cursor forward / backward
`Esc`	Clear highlights
substitution (command mode)
`:%s/`old`/`new`/g`	Replace all in file
`:s/`old`/`new`/g`	Replace all on current line
add `c` flag	Confirm each replacement interactively

General

`<leader>w`	Save file
`<leader>q`	Quit
`<leader>Q`	Force quit all
`<leader>a`	Select all
`<leader>?`	Show buffer keymaps (which-key)
`<Esc>`	Clear search highlights
`jk`	Exit insert mode

Windows & Splits

`C-h/j/k/l`	Navigate windows (+ tmux panes)
`C-Up` / `C-Down`	Resize height
`C-Left` / `C-Right`	Resize width
`<leader>sv`	Split vertical
`<leader>s-`	Split horizontal
`<leader>se`	Equalize splits
`<leader>sx`	Close split

Buffers & Tabs

`S-h` / `S-l`	Previous / next buffer
`<leader>bd`	Delete buffer
`<leader>bD`	Force delete buffer
`<leader>be`	Buffer explorer (float)
`<leader>bp`	Toggle pin buffer
`<leader>bP`	Close all unpinned buffers
`<leader>bo`	Close other buffers
`<leader>br`	Close buffers to the right
`<leader>bl`	Close buffers to the left
`<leader><tab>n`	New tab
`<leader><tab>x`	Close tab
`<leader><tab>]` / `[`	Next / prev tab

Motion & Navigation

`s`	Flash jump to any word on screen
`S`	Flash treesitter node select
`r` op	Remote flash (e.g. `yr<jump>`)
`R` op/vis	Treesitter search across screen
`f` `F` `t` `T`	Enhanced with flash jump labels
`C-d` / `C-u`	Scroll half-page (cursor centred)
`n` / `N`	Search result (cursor centred)
`J`	Join lines (cursor stays put)
`]t` / `[t`	Next / prev TODO comment
`[x`	Jump up to treesitter context

File Explorer (Neo-tree)

`<leader>e`	Toggle explorer sidebar
`<leader>E`	Reveal current file in explorer
`<leader>ge`	Git status explorer (float)
inside neo-tree
`l` / `h`	Open / close node
`a`	New file or folder
`d`	Delete
`r`	Rename
`H`	Toggle hidden files
`Y`	Copy full path to clipboard
`P`	Preview (focus stays in tree)

Telescope — Find

`<leader>fs`	Find symbol (LSP workspace, fuzzy)
`<leader>ff`	Find files
`<leader>fF`	Find files (include hidden)
`<leader>fg`	Live grep
`<leader>fw`	Grep word under cursor
`<leader>fr`	Recent files
`<leader>fb`	Buffers
`<leader>/`	Fuzzy find in current buffer
`<leader>:`	Command history
inside picker
`C-j` / `C-k`	Move down / up
`C-n` / `C-p`	History next / prev
`C-q`	Send selection to quickfix
`Esc`	Close

Telescope — Search

`<leader>ss`	Document symbols
`<leader>sS`	Workspace symbols
`<leader>sh`	Help pages
`<leader>sk`	Keymaps
`<leader>sm`	Marks
`<leader>sd`	Document diagnostics
`<leader>sD`	Workspace diagnostics
`<leader>sc`	Commands
`<leader>st`	TODO comments
`<leader>sr`	Replace in files (Spectre)
`<leader>sR` vis	Replace selection (Spectre)

LSP

`gd`	Go to definition
`gD`	Go to declaration
`gr`	Go to references
`gI`	Go to implementation
`gy`	Go to type definition
`K`	Hover documentation
`<leader>cr`	Rename symbol
`<leader>ca`	Code action
`<leader>cf`	Format buffer (or selection)
`<leader>cs`	Document symbols
`<leader>cS`	Workspace symbols
`<leader>ch`	Toggle inlay hints
`<leader>ci`	LSP info
`<leader>cm`	Mason package manager
`[d` / `]d`	Prev / next diagnostic
`<leader>cd`	Line diagnostics float

Completion (blink.cmp)

insert mode — menu navigation
`C-Space`	Open menu / toggle docs
`C-n` / `C-p`	Next / prev item (opens menu if hidden)
`Tab` / `S-Tab`	Next / prev item
`CR`	Accept selected item
`C-e`	Close menu
`C-b` / `C-f`	Scroll documentation up / down
snippets (LuaSnip)
`Tab`	Expand snippet / jump to next placeholder
`S-Tab`	Jump to previous placeholder

Diagnostics & Quickfix (Trouble)

`<leader>xx`	All diagnostics
`<leader>xX`	Buffer diagnostics
`<leader>xs`	Symbols panel
`<leader>xt`	TODOs panel
`<leader>xL`	Location list
`<leader>xQ`	Quickfix list
`[e` / `]e`	Prev / next trouble item
`<leader>xq`	Open quickfix
`<leader>xl`	Open location list
`[q` / `]q`	Prev / next quickfix item

Git — Gitsigns

`]h` / `[h`	Next / prev hunk
`]H` / `[H`	Last / first hunk
`<leader>ghs`	Stage hunk
`<leader>ghr`	Reset hunk
`<leader>ghS`	Stage buffer
`<leader>ghR`	Reset buffer
`<leader>ghu`	Undo stage hunk
`<leader>ghp`	Preview hunk
`<leader>ghb`	Blame line (full)
`<leader>ghB`	Blame buffer
`<leader>ghd`	Diff this
`<leader>ghD`	Diff this against parent (~)
`ih` textobj	Select hunk
`<leader>gp`	Toggle PR diff mode (gutter vs merge-base)
`<leader>gpb`	PR diff mode — prompt for custom base ref

Git — Neogit / Diffview / Telescope

`<leader>gg`	Neogit (magit-style)
`<leader>gG`	Neogit (file's directory)
`<leader>gd`	DiffView open
`<leader>gD`	DiffView close
`<leader>gh`	File history
`<leader>gH`	Repo history
`<leader>gf`	Fugitive
`<leader>gB`	Browse file on remote
`<leader>gc`	Git commits (Telescope)
`<leader>gC`	Buffer commits (Telescope)
`<leader>gb`	Git branches (Telescope)
`<leader>gs`	Git status (Telescope)
`<leader>gS`	Git stash (Telescope)
`<leader>gP`	PR file changes (DiffView vs merge-base)
`<leader>gPb`	PR file changes — prompt for custom base ref

Editing

`A-j` / `A-k`	Move line / selection up or down
`<` / `>` vis	Indent (stays in visual mode)
`p` vis	Paste without overwriting register
`<leader>d`	Delete to black hole (no register)
`gc` motion	Toggle comment
`gcc`	Toggle line comment
system clipboard
`"+y`{motion}	Yank to system clipboard
`"+p`	Paste from system clipboard
surround (nvim-surround)
`ys`{motion}{char}	Add surround
`yss`{char}	Surround current line
`ds`{char}	Delete surround
`cs`{old}{new}	Change surround

Rust (rustaceanvim)

`K`	Hover actions
`<leader>cA`	Code action (Rust)
`<leader>re`	Expand macro
`<leader>rR`	Runnables
`<leader>rt`	Testables
`<leader>rd`	Debuggables
`<leader>rp`	Parent module
`<leader>rj`	Join lines
`<leader>ro`	Open on docs.rs
`<leader>rg`	Crate graph
`<leader>rr`	Related diagnostics

Cargo.toml (crates.nvim)

`<leader>ct`	Toggle crates info
`<leader>cr`	Reload crates
`<leader>cv`	Show crate versions
`<leader>cf`	Show crate features
`<leader>cd`	Show dependencies
`<leader>cu`	Update crate
`<leader>cU`	Update all crates
`<leader>cg`	Upgrade crate
`<leader>cG`	Upgrade all crates

Laravel (laravel.nvim)

`<leader>la`	Artisan command picker
`<leader>lr`	Routes browser
`<leader>lm`	Related files (model ↔ migration, controller ↔ view)

Database (vim-dadbod)

`<leader>Du`	Toggle DB UI
`<leader>Da`	Add connection
`<leader>Df`	Find DB buffer
inside sql buffer
`<leader>DS`	Execute query
`<leader>DE`	Edit bind parameters

Terminal

`<leader>tt`	Open terminal
`Esc Esc`	Exit terminal mode
`C-h/j/k/l`	Navigate out to Nvim window

UI Toggles

`<leader>uc`	Toggle cloak (.env value masking)
`<leader>ut`	Toggle treesitter context header
`<leader>um`	Toggle Markdown rendering
`C-s` cmdline	Toggle flash in / search
`<leader>un`	Dismiss all notifications
noice (messages / cmdline)
`S-Enter` cmdline	Redirect cmdline output to split
`<leader>snl`	Last message
`<leader>snh`	Message history
`<leader>sna`	All messages
`<leader>snd`	Dismiss all