MacOS Basic Navigation and Shortcuts

Ben Turner -

Knowing keyboard and screen shortcuts (a.k.a "hotkeys") will drastically improve your productivity and awesomeness. For a more exhaustive resource visit this site.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Whether you use VS Code, Atom, or otherwise, this list of common keyboard shortcuts will help you write code faster and smarter:

Quick Navigation

  • ⌘ + ↓: Move cursor to the bottom of file
  • ⌘ + ↑: Move cursor to the top of file
  • ⌘ + ←: Move cursor to the beginning of current line
  • ⌘ + →: Move cursor to the end of current line
  • ⌥(Option) + ←: Move cursor to beginning of current word
  • ⌥(Option) + →: Move cursor to end of current word

Quick Selection

  • ⇧(Shift) + Any of the Quick Navigation commands: Select all text from current location to where the cursor lands
  • ⌘ + a: Select all text
  • double-click: Select current word
  • triple-click: Select current line

(Hint: Instead of Lasso-ing with your mouse/trackpad, just click on where you want to start your selection and hold ⇧(Shift) while clicking on where you want to end the selection. No more awkward finger dancing on your trackpad!)

Easy Text Transferring

  • ⌘ + c: Copy current selection to clipboard
  • ⌘ + x: Cut current selection (Hint: cuts entire line if nothing selected, even blank lines)
  • ⌘ + v: Paste from clipboard
  • ⌥(Option) + ↑ : Switch current line/selection with line above
  • ⌥(Option) + ↓ : Switch current line/selection with line below
  • ⇧(Shift) + ⌥(Option) + ↓: Copy current line/selection to line directly below
  • ⇧(Shift) + ⌥(Option) + ↑: Copy current line/selection to line directly above

Mac Window/Display Shortcuts

It's common to have a lot of tabs, programs, and desktops open. Instead of taking your hands off the keyboard every time you want to switch to a new view try this:

Tab Cycling

  • ⌥(Option) + ⌘ + (← or →): Toggle between each open tab (Works in both browsers and editors)

Application Cycling

  • ⌘ + ⇥(Tab): Displays all open applications.
  • Continue holding ⌘ while tapping ⇥(Tab) to toggle through applications.
  • Hold ⇧(Shift) to toggle backwards.
  • Release all to select.
  • ⌘ + Space: Opens up the Spotlight Search

Desktop Cycling

  • ⌃(Ctrl) + ↑ (also three-finger-swipe-up): Displays all windows in current desktop.
  • Continue holding ⌃(Ctrl) and tap ← or → to toggle between available desktops. You can also three-finger-swipe-left or three-finger-swipe-right.
  • Drag and drop windows to new or existing desktops at the top of the screen.
  • ⌃(Ctrl) + ↓ (also three-finger-swipe-down) to select desktop.

Conclusion

A lot of these commands can be used in tandem with others to create earth-shattering efficiencies in the coding process. Practice messing around with these until they become habit. People will stand in awe at your greatness.