bind - handle fish key bindings¶
Synopsis¶
bind [(-M | --mode) MODE] [(-m | --sets-mode) NEW_MODE] [--preset | --user] [-s | --silent] [-k | --key] SEQUENCE COMMAND ...
bind [(-M | --mode) MODE] [-k | --key] [--preset] [--user] SEQUENCE
bind (-K | --key-names) [-a | --all] [--preset] [--user]
bind (-f | --function-names)
bind (-L | --list-modes)
bind (-e | --erase) [(-M | --mode) MODE] [--preset] [--user] [-a | --all] | [-k | --key] SEQUENCE ...
Description¶
bind manages bindings.
It can add bindings if given a SEQUENCE of characters to bind to. These should be written as fish escape sequences. The most important of these are \c for the control key, and \e for escape, and because of historical reasons also the Alt key (sometimes also called “Meta”).
For example, Alt+W can be written as \ew, and Control+X (^X) can be written as \cx. Note that Alt-based key bindings are case sensitive and Control-based key bindings are not. This is a constraint of text-based terminals, not fish.
The generic key binding that matches if no other binding does can be set by specifying a SEQUENCE of the empty string (that is, '' ). For most key bindings, it makes sense to bind this to the self-insert function (i.e. bind '' self-insert). This will insert any keystrokes not specifically bound to into the editor. Non-printable characters are ignored by the editor, so this will not result in control sequences being inserted.
If the -k switch is used, the name of a key (such as ‘down’, ‘up’ or ‘backspace’) is used instead of a sequence. The names used are the same as the corresponding curses variables, but without the ‘key_’ prefix. (See terminfo(5) for more information, or use bind --key-names for a list of all available named keys). Normally this will print an error if the current $TERM entry doesn’t have a given key, unless the -s switch is given.
To find out what sequence a key combination sends, you can use fish_key_reader.
COMMAND can be any fish command, but it can also be one of a set of special input functions. These include functions for moving the cursor, operating on the kill-ring, performing tab completion, etc. Use bind --function-names for a complete list of these input functions.
When COMMAND is a shellscript command, it is a good practice to put the actual code into a function and simply bind to the function name. This way it becomes significantly easier to test the function while editing, and the result is usually more readable as well.
If a script produces output, it should finish by calling commandline -f repaint to tell fish that a repaint is in order.
Note that special input functions cannot be combined with ordinary shell script commands. The commands must be entirely a sequence of special input functions (from bind -f) or all shell script commands (i.e., valid fish script).
If no SEQUENCE is provided, all bindings (or just the bindings in the given MODE) are printed. If SEQUENCE is provided but no COMMAND, just the binding matching that sequence is printed.
To save custom keybindings, put the bind statements into config.fish. Alternatively, fish also automatically executes a function called fish_user_key_bindings if it exists.
Key bindings may use “modes”, which mimics Vi’s modal input behavior. The default mode is “default”, and every bind applies to a single mode. The mode can be viewed/changed with the $fish_bind_mode variable.
Options¶
The following options are available:
- -k or --key
Specify a key name, such as ‘left’ or ‘backspace’ instead of a character sequence
- -K or --key-names
Display a list of available key names. Specifying -a or --all includes keys that don’t have a known mapping
- -f or --function-names
Display a list of available input functions
- -L or --list-modes
Display a list of defined bind modes
- -M MODE or --mode MODE
Specify a bind mode that the bind is used in. Defaults to “default”
- -m NEW_MODE or --sets-mode NEW_MODE
Change the current mode to NEW_MODE after this binding is executed
- -e or --erase
Erase the binding with the given sequence and mode instead of defining a new one. Multiple sequences can be specified with this flag. Specifying -a or --all with -M or --mode erases all binds in the given mode regardless of sequence. Specifying -a or --all without -M or --mode erases all binds in all modes regardless of sequence.
- -a or --all
See --erase and --key-names
- --preset and --user
Specify if bind should operate on user or preset bindings. User bindings take precedence over preset bindings when fish looks up mappings. By default, all
bindinvocations work on the “user” level except for listing, which will show both levels. All invocations except for inserting new bindings can operate on both levels at the same time (if both --preset and --user are given). --preset should only be used in full binding sets (like when working onfish_vi_key_bindings).- -h or --help
Displays help about using this command.
Special input functions¶
The following special input functions are available:
andonly execute the next function if the previous succeeded (note: only some functions report success)
accept-autosuggestionaccept the current autosuggestion
backward-charmove one character to the left. If the completion pager is active, select the previous completion instead.
backward-bigwordmove one whitespace-delimited word to the left
backward-delete-chardeletes one character of input to the left of the cursor
backward-kill-bigwordmove the whitespace-delimited word to the left of the cursor to the killring
backward-kill-linemove everything from the beginning of the line to the cursor to the killring
backward-kill-path-componentmove one path component to the left of the cursor to the killring. A path component is everything likely to belong to a path component, i.e. not any of the following: /={,}’":@ |;<>&, plus newlines and tabs.
backward-kill-wordmove the word to the left of the cursor to the killring. The “word” here is everything up to punctuation or whitespace.
backward-wordmove one word to the left
beginning-of-buffermoves to the beginning of the buffer, i.e. the start of the first line
beginning-of-historymove to the beginning of the history
beginning-of-linemove to the beginning of the line
begin-selectionstart selecting text
cancelcancel the current commandline and replace it with a new empty one
cancel-commandlinecancel the current commandline and replace it with a new empty one, leaving the old one in place with a marker to show that it was cancelled
capitalize-wordmake the current word begin with a capital letter
completeguess the remainder of the current token
complete-and-searchinvoke the searchable pager on completion options (for convenience, this also moves backwards in the completion pager)
delete-chardelete one character to the right of the cursor
delete-or-exitdelete one character to the right of the cursor, or exit the shell if the commandline is empty
down-linemove down one line
downcase-wordmake the current word lowercase
end-of-buffermoves to the end of the buffer, i.e. the end of the first line
end-of-historymove to the end of the history
end-of-linemove to the end of the line
end-selectionend selecting text
expand-abbrexpands any abbreviation currently under the cursor
executerun the current commandline
exitexit the shell
forward-bigwordmove one whitespace-delimited word to the right
forward-charmove one character to the right; or if at the end of the commandline, accept the current autosuggestion. If the completion pager is active, select the next completion instead.
forward-single-charmove one character to the right; or if at the end of the commandline, accept a single char from the current autosuggestion.
forward-wordmove one word to the right; or if at the end of the commandline, accept one word from the current autosuggestion.
history-search-backwardsearch the history for the previous match
history-search-forwardsearch the history for the next match
history-prefix-search-backwardsearch the history for the previous prefix match
history-prefix-search-forwardsearch the history for the next prefix match
history-token-search-backwardsearch the history for the previous matching argument
history-token-search-forwardsearch the history for the next matching argument
forward-jumpandbackward-jumpread another character and jump to its next occurence after/before the cursor
forward-jump-tillandbackward-jump-tilljump to right before the next occurence
repeat-jumpandrepeat-jump-reverseredo the last jump in the same/opposite direction
kill-bigwordmove the next whitespace-delimited word to the killring
kill-linemove everything from the cursor to the end of the line to the killring
kill-selectionmove the selected text to the killring
kill-whole-linemove the line to the killring
kill-wordmove the next word to the killring
nextd-or-forward-wordif the commandline is empty, then move forward in the directory history, otherwise move one word to the right; or if at the end of the commandline, accept one word from the current autosuggestion.
oronly execute the next function if the previous succeeded (note: only some functions report success)
pager-toggle-searchtoggles the search field if the completions pager is visible.
prevd-or-backward-wordif the commandline is empty, then move backward in the directory history, otherwise move one word to the left
repaintreexecutes the prompt functions and redraws the prompt (also
force-repaintfor backwards-compatibility)repaint-modereexecutes the fish_mode_prompt and redraws the prompt. This is useful for vi-mode. If no
fish_mode_promptexists or it prints nothing, it acts like a normal repaint.self-insertinserts the matching sequence into the command line
self-insert-notfirstinserts the matching sequence into the command line, unless the cursor is at the beginning
suppress-autosuggestionremove the current autosuggestion. Returns true if there was a suggestion to remove.
swap-selection-start-stopgo to the other end of the highlighted text without changing the selection
transpose-charstranspose two characters to the left of the cursor
transpose-wordstranspose two words to the left of the cursor
togglecase-chartoggle the capitalisation (case) of the character under the cursor
togglecase-selectiontoggle the capitalisation (case) of the selection
insert-line-underadd a new line under the current line
insert-line-overadd a new line over the current line
up-linemove up one line
undoandredorevert or redo the most recent edits on the command line
upcase-wordmake the current word uppercase
yankinsert the latest entry of the killring into the buffer
yank-poprotate to the previous entry of the killring
Additional functions¶
The following functions are included as normal functions, but are particularly useful for input editing:
up-or-searchanddown-or-searchmove the cursor or search the history depending on the cursor position and current mode
edit_command_bufferopen the visual editor (controlled by the
VISUALorEDITORenvironment variables) with the current command-line contentsfish_clipboard_copycopy the current selection to the system clipboard
fish_clipboard_pastepaste the current selection from the system clipboard before the cursor
fish_commandline_appendappend the argument to the command-line. If the command-line already ends with the argument, this removes the suffix instead. Starts with the last command from history if the command-line is empty.
fish_commandline_prependprepend the argument to the command-line. If the command-line already starts with the argument, this removes the prefix instead. Starts with the last command from history if the command-line is empty.
Examples¶
Exit the shell when Control+D is pressed:
bind \cd 'exit'
Perform a history search when Page Up is pressed:
bind -k ppage history-search-backward
Turn on Vi key bindings and rebind Control+C to clear the input line:
set -g fish_key_bindings fish_vi_key_bindings
bind -M insert \cc kill-whole-line repaint
Launch git diff and repaint the commandline afterwards when Control+G is pressed:
bind \cg 'git diff; commandline -f repaint'
Terminal Limitations¶
Unix terminals, like the ones fish operates in, are at heart 70s technology. They have some limitations that applications running inside them can’t workaround.
For instance, the control key modifies a character by setting the top three bits to 0. This means:
Many characters + control are indistinguishable from other keys. Control+I is tab, Control+J is newline (
\n).Control and shift don’t work simultaneously
Other keys don’t have a direct encoding, and are sent as escape sequences. For example → (Right) often sends \e\[C. These can differ from terminal to terminal, and the mapping is typically available in terminfo(5). Sometimes however a terminal identifies as e.g. xterm-256color for compatibility, but then implements xterm’s sequences incorrectly.
Special Case: The Escape Character¶
The escape key can be used standalone, for example, to switch from insertion mode to normal mode when using Vi keybindings. Escape can also be used as a “meta” key, to indicate the start of an escape sequence, like for function or arrow keys. Custom bindings can also be defined that begin with an escape character.
Holding alt and something else also typically sends escape, for example holding alt+a will send an escape character and then an “a”.
fish waits for a period after receiving the escape character, to determine whether it is standalone or part of an escape sequence. While waiting, additional key presses make the escape key behave as a meta key. If no other key presses come in, it is handled as a standalone escape. The waiting period is set to 30 milliseconds (0.03 seconds). It can be configured by setting the fish_escape_delay_ms variable to a value between 10 and 5000 ms. This can be a universal variable that you set once from an interactive session.
