Keys


Since the keyboard is the primary user interface, many interactions with Neovim are described in terms of the keys that are pressed in order to perform some action.

Key Meaning
<BS> Backspace key
<Tab> The Tab key
<CR> Carriage return. Sometimes Enter or Return
<Esc> Escape key
<Space> The Space key
<Del> The Delete key
<Up> The up arrow
<Down> The down arrow
<Left> The left arrow
<Right> The right arrow

Key Combinations

Some commands are executed by simultaneously pressing two keys, a modifier and a letter (or number).

Keys Meaning
C-{char} Simultaneously press the Control (Ctrl) key and [char]
S-{char} Simultaneously press the Shift key and {char}
A-{char} Simultaneously press the Alt (or Meta) key and [char]
M-{char} Same as A-{char}

Compound Commands

In some cases a command requires a sequence of keypresses. For example, window commands often require first pressing and releasing C-W, then hitting a second key to specify which command is to be executed.

These commands are represented as C-W [char], which indicates that two keypresses (separated by the space) are enclosed within a single command.