\section bind bind - handle fish key bindings
\subsection bind-synopsis Synopsis
\fish{synopsis}
bind [OPTIONS] SEQUENCE COMMAND
\endfish
\subsection bind-description Description
`bind` adds a binding for the specified key sequence to the
specified command.
SEQUENCE is the character sequence to bind to. These should be written as fish escape sequences. For example, because
pressing the Alt key and another character sends that character prefixed with
an escape character, Alt-based key bindings can be written using the `\e`
escape. For example, @key{Alt,w} can be written as `\ew`. The control
character can be written in much the same way using the `\c` escape, for
example @key{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 default key binding can be set by specifying a `SEQUENCE` of the empty
string (that is, ```''``` ). It will be used whenever no other binding
matches. For most key bindings, it makes sense to use the `self-insert`
function (i.e. ```bind '' self-insert```) as the default keybinding. 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 printable.
If the `-k` switch is used, the name of the 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.)
`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 such a script produces output, the script needs to finish by calling
`commandline -f repaint` in order to tell fish that a repaint is in order.
Key bindings are not saved between sessions by default. To save custom
keybindings, edit the `fish_user_key_bindings` function and insert the
appropriate `bind` statements.
The following parameters 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
- `-f` or `--function-names` Display a list of available input functions
The following special input functions are available:
- `backward-char`, moves one character to the left
- `backward-delete-char`, deletes one character of input to the left of the cursor
- `backward-kill-line`, move everything from the beginning of the line to the cursor to the killring
- `backward-kill-word`, move the word to the left of the cursor to the killring
- `backward-word`, move one word to the left
- `beginning-of-history`, move to the beginning of the history
- `beginning-of-line`, move to the beginning of the line
- `capitalize-word`, make the current word begin with a capital letter
- `complete`, guess the remainder of the current token
- `delete-char`, delete one character to the right of the cursor
- `delete-line`, delete the entire line
- `downcase-word`, make the current word lowercase
- `dump-functions`, print a list of all key-bindings
- `end-of-history`, move to the end of the history
- `end-of-line`, move to the end of the line
- `explain`, print a description of possible problems with the current command
- `forward-char`, move one character to the right
- `forward-word`, move one word to the right
- `history-search-backward`, search the history for the previous match
- `history-search-forward`, search the history for the next match
- `kill-line`, move everything from the cursor to the end of the line to the killring
- `kill-whole-line`, move the line to the killring
- `kill-word`, move the next word to the killring
- `upcase-word`, make the current word uppercase
- `yank`, insert the latest entry of the killring into the buffer
- `yank-pop`, rotate to the previous entry of the killring
\subsection bind-example Examples
`bind \cd 'exit'` causes `fish` to exit when @key{Control,D} is pressed.
`bind -k ppage history-search-backward` performs a history search when the @key{Page Up} key is pressed.