1# Keybindings
2
3Dumber uses modal keybindings. Pick the activation style with `workspace.keymap`:
4
5- `zellij` (default): each mode has its own activation key, listed below.
6- `tmux`: one prefix key, then a single action key. See [Keymap presets](#keymap-presets).
7
8## Mode Activation
9
10| Mode | Key | Purpose |
11|------|-----|---------|
12| Pane Mode | `Ctrl+P` | Split, close, focus panes |
13| Tab Mode | `Ctrl+T` | Create, close, switch tabs |
14| Vim Mode | `Ctrl+Y` | Scroll, navigate headings, and focus page inputs with Vim-style commands; arrow keys stay native and page focus stays inside the page while other app shortcuts wait until exit |
15| Resize Mode | `Ctrl+N` | Resize pane splits |
16| Session Mode | `Ctrl+O` | Session management |
17
18Press `Escape` or `Enter` to exit any mode.
19`Ctrl+Y` can activate Vim Mode even when a page input is already focused, so you can use Vim commands without first moving focus away from the editor.
20
21Keybinding tables use uppercase letters as visual labels for unshifted letter keys. In config, use lowercase (for example, `["w"]` for Pane Mode eject). Shifted keys are shown with an explicit `Shift+` prefix.
22
23## Pane Mode (`Ctrl+P`)
24
25| Action | Keys |
26|--------|------|
27| Split right | `→`, `R` |
28| Split left | `←`, `L` |
29| Split up | `↑`, `U` |
30| Split down | `↓`, `D` |
31| Stack pane | `S` |
32| Close pane | `X` |
33| Move to tab | `M` |
34| Move to next tab | `Shift+M` |
35| Eject to window | `W` |
36| Focus right | `Shift+→`, `Shift+L` |
37| Focus left | `Shift+←`, `Shift+H` |
38| Focus up | `Shift+↑`, `Shift+K` |
39| Focus down | `Shift+↓`, `Shift+J` |
40| Consume/expel left | `[` |
41| Consume/expel right | `]` |
42| Consume/expel up | `{` |
43| Consume/expel down | `}` |
44| Confirm | `Enter` |
45| Cancel | `Escape` |
46
47## Tab Mode (`Ctrl+T`)
48
49| Action | Keys |
50|--------|------|
51| New tab | `N`, `C` |
52| Close tab | `X` |
53| Next tab | `L`, `Tab` |
54| Previous tab | `H`, `Shift+Tab` |
55| Rename tab | `R` |
56| Confirm | `Enter` |
57| Cancel | `Escape` |
58
59## Vim Mode (`Ctrl+Y`)
60
61Vim Mode is an explicit Vim-style navigation mode for the active pane only. Its frame uses `workspace.styling.vim_mode_color`, a bottom-left `VIM MODE` toast stays visible while the mode is active, and a shortcut legend appears after 500 ms. Set `workspace.styling.mode_legend` to `always` or `off` to change the legend timing. The mode exits automatically when focus moves into the omnibox, find bar, overlays, or an editable element inside the page. The default `timeout_ms` is `0`, so Vim Mode does not auto-time out unless you configure one. Arrow keys continue to flow through the browser engine's native page-navigation path while Vim Mode is active, while other app-level shortcuts stay suspended until you leave the mode. `Ctrl+Y` remains available when an editable page control is already focused.
62
63CEF and WebKit execute Vim Mode scroll commands (`h/j/k/l`, `Shift+J/K`) with the shared `BuildPageScrollByJS` resolver. Each step starts under the viewport center, walks up through ancestors that can move in the requested direction, and hands scrolling to the document when a nested container reaches its boundary. Cross-origin frame contents remain best-effort.
64
65`gi` focuses the next visible, editable page input. With no eligible input focused it starts at the first one; repeated `gi` commands cycle through the inputs. `]]` and `[[` move through visible `h1`–`h6` headings and outline the selected heading with the current Dumber theme accent. `Enter` activates the first link inside the selected heading, or a link wrapping that heading, then leaves Vim Mode; without an associated link, it only leaves the mode. `Escape` leaves without activation. When a page input is focused, `Tab` and `Shift+Tab` keep focus traversal inside the page; traversal stops safely at the page boundaries instead of moving into the host window. These live input, heading, activation, and page-focus actions currently use the CEF engine path; the WebKit fallback supports Vim scrolling but not these semantic actions yet.
66
67| Action | Keys |
68|--------|------|
69| Scroll left | `H` |
70| Scroll down | `J` |
71| Scroll up | `K` |
72| Scroll right | `L` |
73| Scroll down fast | `Shift+J` |
74| Scroll up fast | `Shift+K` |
75| Focus next page input | `gi` |
76| Next heading | `]]` |
77| Previous heading | `[[` |
78| Page focus traversal | `Tab`, `Shift+Tab` |
79| Activate selected heading link and exit | `Enter` |
80| Exit without activation | `Escape` |
81
82## Resize Mode (`Ctrl+N`)
83
84| Action | Keys |
85|--------|------|
86| Increase left | `H`, `←` |
87| Increase down | `J`, `↓` |
88| Increase up | `K`, `↑` |
89| Increase right | `L`, `→` |
90| Decrease left | `Shift+H` |
91| Decrease down | `Shift+J` |
92| Decrease up | `Shift+K` |
93| Decrease right | `Shift+L` |
94| Increase (smart) | `+`, `=` |
95| Decrease (smart) | `-` |
96| Confirm | `Enter` |
97| Cancel | `Escape` |
98
99## Session Mode (`Ctrl+O`)
100
101| Action | Keys |
102|--------|------|
103| Session manager | `S`, `W` |
104| Confirm | `Enter` |
105| Cancel | `Escape` |
106
107## Keymap Presets
108
109```toml
110[workspace]
111keymap = "tmux"   # or "zellij" (default)
112```
113
114With `keymap = "tmux"`, the Pane, Tab, Resize, and Session activation keys are unbound. Press the prefix (`Ctrl+Space` by default), then one action key. Dumber runs the action and returns to normal mode; an unbound key or `Escape` cancels the prefix. Vim Mode keeps `Ctrl+Y` in both presets.
115
116| After `Ctrl+Space` | Action |
117|--------------------|--------|
118| `%` | Split right |
119| `"` | Split down |
120| `x` | Close pane |
121| `Shift+S` | Stack pane |
122| `!` | Move pane to another tab |
123| `←` `→` `↑` `↓` | Focus pane |
124| `c` | New tab |
125| `&` | Close tab |
126| `n` / `p` | Next / previous tab |
127| `,` | Rename tab |
128| `s` | Session manager |
129| `r` | Enter Resize Mode |
130| `[` | Enter Vim Mode |
131
132Change the prefix or its actions under `[workspace.prefix_mode]`. Symbols such as `%` and `"` match whichever Shift state your layout needs, so write them without `shift+`. `Ctrl+Space` is often used to switch input methods; pick another prefix (for example `alt+a`) if your desktop already uses it.
133
134```toml
135[workspace.prefix_mode]
136activation_shortcut = "alt+a"
137timeout_ms = 2000
138
139[workspace.prefix_mode.actions.split-right]
140keys = ["%", "v"]
141```
142
143## Global Shortcuts
144
145These work outside modal modes in both keymaps. Every entry lives under `[workspace.shortcuts.actions]`, so you can rebind it or disable it with `keys = []`.
146
147| Action | Keys |
148|--------|------|
149| Open omnibox | `Ctrl+L` |
150| Find in page / next / previous | `Ctrl+F` / `F3`, `Ctrl+G` / `Shift+F3`, `Ctrl+Shift+G` |
151| Reload / hard reload | `Ctrl+R`, `F5` / `Ctrl+Shift+R`, `Ctrl+F5` |
152| Back / forward | `Ctrl+←` / `Ctrl+→` |
153| Zoom in / out / reset | `Ctrl++`, `Ctrl+=` / `Ctrl+-` / `Ctrl+0` |
154| Focus pane | `Alt+H/J/K/L`, `Alt+arrows` |
155| Copy URL | `Ctrl+Shift+C` |
156| Print | `Ctrl+Shift+P` |
157| Session manager | `Ctrl+Shift+S` |
158| Developer tools | `F12` |
159| Fullscreen | `F11` |
160| Quit | `Ctrl+Q` |
161| Toggle floating pane | `Alt+F` |
162| Toggle History sidebar (native GTK sidebar panel only). Ctrl+H may conflict with the browser's default History shortcut; behavior can vary by browser. | `Ctrl+H` |
163| Toggle Favorites sidebar (native GTK bookmarks panel) | `Ctrl+B` |
164| Toggle current page favorite/bookmark | `Ctrl+D` |
165| Toggle Config system view in right split | unbound by default |
166| Close pane (or release floating pane) | `Ctrl+W` |
167| Next tab | `Ctrl+Tab` |
168| Previous tab | `Ctrl+Shift+Tab` |
169| Consume/expel left | `Alt+[` |
170| Consume/expel right | `Alt+]` |
171| Consume/expel up | `Alt+{` |
172| Consume/expel down | `Alt+}` |
173
174- `Alt+F` is the only floating-pane shortcut enabled by default.
175- `Alt+F` toggles floating visibility and keeps floating pane state intact.
176- `Ctrl+H` toggles the native GTK history sidebar. The sidebar shows browsing history grouped by day with search/filter, keyboard navigation (arrows, Home/End, Ctrl+arrows for day jumps), and activation modes (Enter to navigate while keeping the sidebar open, Ctrl+Enter to navigate while keeping the sidebar open, Shift+Enter to open in a new split). If the native sidebar is unavailable, the shortcut returns an error instead of falling back to `dumb://history`.
177- `Ctrl+B` toggles the native GTK Favorites sidebar. Search matches favorite titles, URLs, and tag names. `Tab`/`Shift+Tab` traverse search, every tag filter, and the favorites list; arrow keys navigate favorites once the list is focused. The `+` at the right end of the tag-filter row creates a named tag. With a favorite selected in the list, `+` opens its tag binding controls. `Enter` and `Ctrl+Enter` open the selected favorite in the current pane while keeping the sidebar open; `Shift+Enter` opens it in a new split. Inside the sidebar, `a` adds, `e` edits, `s` opens shortcut mode, `Delete` starts delete confirmation, `/` focuses search, `Esc` clears/cancels/closes, `r` reloads, and `c` clears search and filters.
178- `Ctrl+D` toggles the active page as a favorite/bookmark. Favorite shortcut metadata can be assigned in the sidebar, but global `Alt+1..9` remains tab switching.
179- `Ctrl+W` closes the active pane; when the floating pane is active, it fully releases that floating session.
180- Any URL shortcut (for example `Alt+G`) must be defined explicitly in `workspace.floating_pane.profiles`.
181- Floating profile shortcuts support modifier combos with `ctrl`, `shift`, and `alt` (for example `ctrl+shift+y` or `ctrl+alt+m`).
182
183Warning: some `Alt+<key>` combinations may conflict with browser-engine shortcuts, website handlers, or your desktop environment.
184If a shortcut does not trigger in Dumber, choose a different keybinding.
185
186For details, see [Floating Pane](./floating-pane.md).
187
188## Customization
189
190All keybindings can be customized in `~/.config/dumber/config.toml`:
191
192```toml
193[workspace.pane_mode.actions]
194split-right = ["arrowright", "r"]
195close-pane = ["x", "q"]
196
197[workspace.vim_mode]
198activation_shortcut = "ctrl+y"
199timeout_ms = 0
200
201[workspace.vim_mode.actions.vim-scroll-left]
202keys = ["h"]
203
204[workspace.vim_mode.actions.vim-scroll-down]
205keys = ["j"]
206
207[workspace.vim_mode.actions.vim-scroll-up]
208keys = ["k"]
209
210[workspace.vim_mode.actions.vim-scroll-right]
211keys = ["l"]
212
213[workspace.vim_mode.actions.vim-scroll-down-fast]
214keys = ["shift+j"]
215
216[workspace.vim_mode.actions.vim-scroll-up-fast]
217keys = ["shift+k"]
218
219[workspace.vim_mode.actions.focus-input]
220keys = ["gi"]
221
222[workspace.vim_mode.actions.heading-next]
223keys = ["]]"]
224
225[workspace.vim_mode.actions.heading-prev]
226keys = ["[["]
227
228[workspace.shortcuts.actions.close-pane]
229keys = ["ctrl+w"]
230
231[workspace.shortcuts.actions.toggle-floating-pane]
232keys = ["alt+f"]
233
234[workspace.shortcuts.actions.toggle-history-systemview]
235keys = ["ctrl+h"]
236
237[workspace.shortcuts.actions.toggle-favorites-sidebar]
238keys = ["ctrl+b"]
239
240[workspace.shortcuts.actions.toggle-current-page-favorite]
241keys = ["ctrl+d"]
242
243[workspace.shortcuts.actions.toggle-config-systemview]
244keys = []
245
246[workspace.floating_pane]
247width_pct = 0.82
248height_pct = 0.72
249
250[workspace.floating_pane.profiles.google]
251keys = ["alt+g"]
252url = "https://google.com"
253
254[workspace.floating_pane.profiles.github]
255keys = ["alt+h"]
256url = "https://github.com"
257```
258
259See [Configuration](../config/index.md) for full details.