Introduction

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is one of the most popular code editors used by developers across languages and platforms. Knowing the right shortcuts can make a huge difference in your coding speed and efficiency. This tutorial walks you through essential VS Code shortcuts that every developer should know, plus how to customize and discover more.

1. Open Command Palette

The Command Palette lets you access nearly all features of VS Code from a single interface.

Ctrl + Shift + P

Use this to run commands like changing settings, installing extensions, or switching themes.

2. Multi-Cursor Editing

Edit multiple lines or instances of text at once.

Alt + Click (or Option + Click on Mac)

Places multiple cursors so you can type in multiple locations simultaneously.

3. Move Lines Up and Down

Rearrange your code quickly without using copy and paste.

Alt + ↑ / ↓

Moves the current line or selection up or down one line at a time.

4. Duplicate Line

Create a copy of the current line instantly.

Shift + Alt + ↓

Useful for duplicating code blocks quickly.

5. Go to Definition / Peek Definition

Jump to where a function, class, or variable is defined or see a preview inline.

F12 (Go to Definition)
Alt + F12 (Peek Definition)

6. Integrated Terminal

Open a terminal directly inside VS Code without leaving the editor.

Ctrl + `

7. Search and Replace

Find and replace text across your current file or entire workspace.

Ctrl + F (Find)
Ctrl + H (Replace)

8. Navigate Between Files

Quickly switch between recent files using:

Ctrl + Tab

9. Format Code

Automatically format your code using the configured formatter for your language.

Shift + Alt + F

Conclusion

Learning and using shortcuts in VS Code will help you navigate and manipulate your code more efficiently. Take time to practice and incorporate these into your daily routine. You can also customize your keybindings by opening the keyboard shortcuts UI with Ctrl + K Ctrl + S.