⚡flash.nvim

flash.nvim lets you navigate your code with search labels, enhanced character motions, and Treesitter integration.

Search Integration	Standalone Jump

`f`, `t`, `F`, `T`	Treesitter

✨ Features

🔍 Search Integration: integrate flash.nvim with your regular search using / or ?. Labels appear next to the matches, allowing you to quickly jump to any location. Labels are guaranteed not to exist as a continuation of the search pattern.
⌨️ type as many characters as you want before using a jump label.
⚡ Enhanced f, t, F, T motions
🌳 Treesitter Integration: all parents of the Treesitter node under your cursor are highlighted with a label for quick selection of a specific Treesitter node.
🎯 Jump Mode: a standalone jumping mode similar to search
🔎 Search Modes: exact, search (regex), and fuzzy search modes
🪟 Multi Window jumping
🌐 Remote Actions: perform motions in remote locations
⚫ dot-repeatable jumps
📡 highly extensible: check the examples

📋 Requirements

Neovim >= 0.8.0 (needs to be built with LuaJIT)

📦 Installation

Install the plugin with your preferred package manager:

lazy.nvim:

{
  "folke/flash.nvim",
  event = "VeryLazy",
  ---@type Flash.Config
  opts = {},
  -- stylua: ignore
  keys = {
    { "s", mode = { "n", "x", "o" }, function() require("flash").jump() end, desc = "Flash" },
    { "S", mode = { "n", "x", "o" }, function() require("flash").treesitter() end, desc = "Flash Treesitter" },
    { "r", mode = "o", function() require("flash").remote() end, desc = "Remote Flash" },
    { "R", mode = { "o", "x" }, function() require("flash").treesitter_search() end, desc = "Treesitter Search" },
    { "<c-s>", mode = { "c" }, function() require("flash").toggle() end, desc = "Toggle Flash Search" },
  },
}

⚠️ When creating the keymaps manually either use a lua function like function() require("flash").jump() end as the rhs, or a string like <cmd>lua require("flash").jump()<cr>. DO NOT use :lua, since that will break dot-repeat

⚙️ Configuration

flash.nvim is highly configurable. Please refer to the default settings below.

Default Settings

{
  -- labels = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz",
  labels = "asdfghjklqwertyuiopzxcvbnm",
  search = {
    -- search/jump in all windows
    multi_window = true,
    -- search direction
    forward = true,
    -- when `false`, find only matches in the given direction
    wrap = true,
    ---@type Flash.Pattern.Mode
    -- Each mode will take ignorecase and smartcase into account.
    -- * exact: exact match
    -- * search: regular search
    -- * fuzzy: fuzzy search
    -- * fun(str): custom function that returns a pattern
    --   For example, to only match at the beginning of a word:
    --   mode = function(str)
    --     return "\\<" .. str
    --   end,
    mode = "exact",
    -- behave like `incsearch`
    incremental = false,
    -- Excluded filetypes and custom window filters
    ---@type (string|fun(win:window))[]
    exclude = {
      "notify",
      "cmp_menu",
      "noice",
      "flash_prompt",
      function(win)
        -- exclude non-focusable windows
        return not vim.api.nvim_win_get_config(win).focusable
      end,
    },
    -- Optional trigger character that needs to be typed before
    -- a jump label can be used. It's NOT recommended to set this,
    -- unless you know what you're doing
    trigger = "",
    -- max pattern length. If the pattern length is equal to this
    -- labels will no longer be skipped. When it exceeds this length
    -- it will either end in a jump or terminate the search
    max_length = false, ---@type number|false
  },
  jump = {
    -- save location in the jumplist
    jumplist = true,
    -- jump position
    pos = "start", ---@type "start" | "end" | "range"
    -- add pattern to search history
    history = false,
    -- add pattern to search register
    register = false,
    -- clear highlight after jump
    nohlsearch = false,
    -- automatically jump when there is only one match
    autojump = false,
    -- You can force inclusive/exclusive jumps by setting the
    -- `inclusive` option. By default it will be automatically
    -- set based on the mode.
    inclusive = nil, ---@type boolean?
    -- jump position offset. Not used for range jumps.
    -- 0: default
    -- 1: when pos == "end" and pos < current position
    offset = nil, ---@type number
  },
  label = {
    -- allow uppercase labels
    uppercase = true,
    -- add any labels with the correct case here, that you want to exclude
    exclude = "",
    -- add a label for the first match in the current window.
    -- you can always jump to the first match with `<CR>`
    current = true,
    -- show the label after the match
    after = true, ---@type boolean|number[]
    -- show the label before the match
    before = false, ---@type boolean|number[]
    -- position of the label extmark
    style = "overlay", ---@type "eol" | "overlay" | "right_align" | "inline"
    -- flash tries to re-use labels that were already assigned to a position,
    -- when typing more characters. By default only lower-case labels are re-used.
    reuse = "lowercase", ---@type "lowercase" | "all" | "none"
    -- for the current window, label targets closer to the cursor first
    distance = true,
    -- minimum pattern length to show labels
    -- Ignored for custom labelers.
    min_pattern_length = 0,
    -- Enable this to use rainbow colors to highlight labels
    -- Can be useful for visualizing Treesitter ranges.
    rainbow = {
      enabled = false,
      -- number between 1 and 9
      shade = 5,
    },
    -- With `format`, you can change how the label is rendered.
    -- Should return a list of `[text, highlight]` tuples.
    ---@class Flash.Format
    ---@field state Flash.State
    ---@field match Flash.Match
    ---@field hl_group string
    ---@field after boolean
    ---@type fun(opts:Flash.Format): string[][]
    format = function(opts)
      return { { opts.match.label, opts.hl_group } }
    end,
  },
  highlight = {
    -- show a backdrop with hl FlashBackdrop
    backdrop = true,
    -- Highlight the search matches
    matches = true,
    -- extmark priority
    priority = 5000,
    groups = {
      match = "FlashMatch",
      current = "FlashCurrent",
      backdrop = "FlashBackdrop",
      label = "FlashLabel",
    },
  },
  -- action to perform when picking a label.
  -- defaults to the jumping logic depending on the mode.
  ---@type fun(match:Flash.Match, state:Flash.State)|nil
  action = nil,
  -- initial pattern to use when opening flash
  pattern = "",
  -- When `true`, flash will try to continue the last search
  continue = false,
  -- Set config to a function to dynamically change the config
  config = nil, ---@type fun(opts:Flash.Config)|nil
  -- You can override the default options for a specific mode.
  -- Use it with `require("flash").jump({mode = "forward"})`
  ---@type table<string, Flash.Config>
  modes = {
    -- options used when flash is activated through
    -- a regular search with `/` or `?`
    search = {
      -- when `true`, flash will be activated during regular search by default.
      -- You can always toggle when searching with `require("flash").toggle()`
      enabled = false,
      highlight = { backdrop = false },
      jump = { history = true, register = true, nohlsearch = true },
      search = {
        -- `forward` will be automatically set to the search direction
        -- `mode` is always set to `search`
        -- `incremental` is set to `true` when `incsearch` is enabled
      },
    },
    -- options used when flash is activated through
    -- `f`, `F`, `t`, `T`, `;` and `,` motions
    char = {
      enabled = true,
      -- dynamic configuration for ftFT motions
      config = function(opts)
        -- autohide flash when in operator-pending mode
        opts.autohide = opts.autohide or (vim.fn.mode(true):find("no") and vim.v.operator == "y")

        -- disable jump labels when not enabled, when using a count,
        -- or when recording/executing registers
        opts.jump_labels = opts.jump_labels
          and vim.v.count == 0
          and vim.fn.reg_executing() == ""
          and vim.fn.reg_recording() == ""

        -- Show jump labels only in operator-pending mode
        -- opts.jump_labels = vim.v.count == 0 and vim.fn.mode(true):find("o")
      end,
      -- hide after jump when not using jump labels
      autohide = false,
      -- show jump labels
      jump_labels = false,
      -- set to `false` to use the current line only
      multi_line = true,
      -- When using jump labels, don't use these keys
      -- This allows using those keys directly after the motion
      label = { exclude = "hjkliardc" },
      -- by default all keymaps are enabled, but you can disable some of them,
      -- by removing them from the list.
      -- If you rather use another key, you can map them
      -- to something else, e.g., { [";"] = "L", [","] = H }
      keys = { "f", "F", "t", "T", ";", "," },
      ---@alias Flash.CharActions table<string, "next" | "prev" | "right" | "left">
      -- The direction for `prev` and `next` is determined by the motion.
      -- `left` and `right` are always left and right.
      char_actions = function(motion)
        return {
          [";"] = "next", -- set to `right` to always go right
          [","] = "prev", -- set to `left` to always go left
          -- clever-f style
          [motion:lower()] = "next",
          [motion:upper()] = "prev",
          -- jump2d style: same case goes next, opposite case goes prev
          -- [motion] = "next",
          -- [motion:match("%l") and motion:upper() or motion:lower()] = "prev",
        }
      end,
      search = { wrap = false },
      highlight = { backdrop = true },
      jump = { register = false },
    },
    -- options used for treesitter selections
    -- `require("flash").treesitter()`
    treesitter = {
      labels = "abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz",
      jump = { pos = "range" },
      search = { incremental = false },
      label = { before = true, after = true, style = "inline" },
      highlight = {
        backdrop = false,
        matches = false,
      },
    },
    treesitter_search = {
      jump = { pos = "range" },
      search = { multi_window = true, wrap = true, incremental = false },
      remote_op = { restore = true },
      label = { before = true, after = true, style = "inline" },
    },
    -- options used for remote flash
    remote = {
      remote_op = { restore = true, motion = true },
    },
  },
  -- options for the floating window that shows the prompt,
  -- for regular jumps
  prompt = {
    enabled = true,
    prefix = { { "⚡", "FlashPromptIcon" } },
    win_config = {
      relative = "editor",
      width = 1, -- when <=1 it's a percentage of the editor width
      height = 1,
      row = -1, -- when negative it's an offset from the bottom
      col = 0, -- when negative it's an offset from the right
      zindex = 1000,
    },
  },
  -- options for remote operator pending mode
  remote_op = {
    -- restore window views and cursor position
    -- after doing a remote operation
    restore = false,
    -- For `jump.pos = "range"`, this setting is ignored.
    -- `true`: always enter a new motion when doing a remote operation
    -- `false`: use the window's cursor position and jump target
    -- `nil`: act as `true` for remote windows, `false` for the current window
    motion = false,
  },
}

🚀 Usage

Treesitter: require("flash").treesitter(opts?) opens flash in Treesitter mode
- use a jump label, or use ; and , to increase/decrease the selection
regular search: search as you normally do, but enhanced with jump labels. You need to set opts.modes.search.enabled = true, or toggle it with require("flash").toggle()
f, t, F, T motions:
- After typing f{char} or F{char}, you can repeat the motion with f or go to the previous match with F to undo a jump.
- Similarly, after typing t{char} or T{char}, you can repeat the motion with t or go to the previous match with T.
- You can also go to the next match with ; or previous match with ,
- Any highlights clear automatically when moving, changing buffers, or pressing <esc>.
toggle Search: require("flash").toggle(boolean?)
- toggles flash on or off while using regular search
Treesitter Search: require("flash").treesitter_search(opts?) opens flash in Treesitter Search mode
- combination of Treesitter and Search modes
- do something like yR
- you can now start typing a search pattern.
- arround your matches, all the surrounding Treesitter nodes will be labeled.
- select a label to perform the operator on the new selection
remote: require("flash").remote(opts?) opens flash in remote mode
- equivalent to:
```
require("flash").jump({
  remote_op = {
    restore = true,
    motion = true,
  },
})
```
- this is only useful in operator pending mode.
- For example, press yr to start yanking and open flash
  - select a label to set the cursor position
  - perform any motion, like iw or even start flash Treesitter with S
  - the yank will be performed on the new selection
  - you'll be back in the original window / position
- You can also configure the remote_op options by default, so that ys, behaves like yr for remote operations
```
require("flash").jump({
  remote_op = {
    restore = true,
    motion = nil,
  },
})
```
jump: require("flash").jump(opts?) opens flash with the given options
- type any number of characters before typing a jump label
VS Code: some functionality is changed/disabled when running flash in VS Code:
- prompt is disabled
- highlights are set to different defaults that will actually work in VS Code

📡 API

The options for require("flash").jump(opts?), are the same as those in the config section, but can additionally have the following fields:

matcher: a custom function that generates matches for a given window
labeler: a custom function to label matches

You can also add labels in the matcher function and then set labeler to an empty function labeler = function() end

Type Definitions

type FlashMatcher = (win: number, state: FlashState) => FlashMatch[];
type FlashLabeler = (matches: FlashMatch[], state: FlashState) => void;

interface FlashMatch {
  win: number;
  pos: [number, number]; // (1,0)-indexed
  end_pos: [number, number]; // (1,0)-indexed
  label?: string | false; // set to false to never show a label for this match
  highlight?: boolean; // override opts.highlight.matches for this match
}

// Check the code for the full definition
// of Flash.State at `lua/flash/state.lua`
type FlashState = {};

💡 Examples

Forward search only

require("flash").jump({
  search = { forward = true, wrap = false, multi_window = false },
})

Backward search only

require("flash").jump({
  search = { forward = false, wrap = false, multi_window = false },
})

Show diagnostics at target, without changing cursor position

require("flash").jump({
  action = function(match, state)
    vim.api.nvim_win_call(match.win, function()
      vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(match.win, match.pos)
      vim.diagnostic.open_float()
    end)
    state:restore()
  end,
})

-- More advanced example that also highlights diagnostics:
require("flash").jump({
  matcher = function(win)
    ---@param diag Diagnostic
    return vim.tbl_map(function(diag)
      return {
        pos = { diag.lnum + 1, diag.col },
        end_pos = { diag.end_lnum + 1, diag.end_col - 1 },
      }
    end, vim.diagnostic.get(vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(win)))
  end,
  action = function(match, state)
    vim.api.nvim_win_call(match.win, function()
      vim.api.nvim_win_set_cursor(match.win, match.pos)
      vim.diagnostic.open_float()
    end)
    state:restore()
  end,
})

Match beginning of words only

require("flash").jump({
  search = {
    mode = function(str)
      return "\\<" .. str
    end,
  },
})

Initialize flash with the word under the cursor

require("flash").jump({
  pattern = vim.fn.expand("<cword>"),
})

Jump to a line

require("flash").jump({
  search = { mode = "search", max_length = 0 },
  label = { after = { 0, 0 } },
  pattern = "^"
})

Select any word

require("flash").jump({
  pattern = ".", -- initialize pattern with any char
  search = {
    mode = function(pattern)
      -- remove leading dot
      if pattern:sub(1, 1) == "." then
        pattern = pattern:sub(2)
      end
      -- return word pattern and proper skip pattern
      return ([[\<%s\w*\>]]):format(pattern), ([[\<%s]]):format(pattern)
    end,
  },
  -- select the range
  jump = { pos = "range" },
})

f, t, F, T with labels

Use the options below:

{
  modes = {
    char = {
      jump_labels = true
    }
  }
}

Telescope integration

This will allow you to use s in normal mode and <c-s> in insert mode, to jump to a label in Telescope results.

{
    "nvim-telescope/telescope.nvim",
    optional = true,
    opts = function(_, opts)
      local function flash(prompt_bufnr)
        require("flash").jump({
          pattern = "^",
          label = { after = { 0, 0 } },
          search = {
            mode = "search",
            exclude = {
              function(win)
                return vim.bo[vim.api.nvim_win_get_buf(win)].filetype ~= "TelescopeResults"
              end,
            },
          },
          action = function(match)
            local picker = require("telescope.actions.state").get_current_picker(prompt_bufnr)
            picker:set_selection(match.pos[1] - 1)
          end,
        })
      end
      opts.defaults = vim.tbl_deep_extend("force", opts.defaults or {}, {
        mappings = {
          n = { s = flash },
          i = { ["<c-s>"] = flash },
        },
      })
    end,
  }

Continue last search

require("flash").jump({continue = true})

2-char jump, similar to mini.jump2d or HopWord (hop.nvim)

local Flash = require("flash")

---@param opts Flash.Format
local function format(opts)
  -- always show first and second label
  return {
    { opts.match.label1, "FlashMatch" },
    { opts.match.label2, "FlashLabel" },
  }
end

Flash.jump({
  search = { mode = "search" },
  label = { after = false, before = { 0, 0 }, uppercase = false, format = format },
  pattern = [[\<]],
  action = function(match, state)
    state:hide()
    Flash.jump({
      search = { max_length = 0 },
      highlight = { matches = false },
      label = { format = format },
      matcher = function(win)
        -- limit matches to the current label
        return vim.tbl_filter(function(m)
          return m.label == match.label and m.win == win
        end, state.results)
      end,
      labeler = function(matches)
        for _, m in ipairs(matches) do
          m.label = m.label2 -- use the second label
        end
      end,
    })
  end,
  labeler = function(matches, state)
    local labels = state:labels()
    for m, match in ipairs(matches) do
      match.label1 = labels[math.floor((m - 1) / #labels) + 1]
      match.label2 = labels[(m - 1) % #labels + 1]
      match.label = match.label1
    end
  end,
})

🌈 Highlights

Group	Default	Description
`FlashBackdrop`	`Comment`	backdrop
`FlashMatch`	`Search`	search matches
`FlashCurrent`	`IncSearch`	current match
`FlashLabel`	`Substitute`	jump label
`FlashPrompt`	`MsgArea`	prompt
`FlashPromptIcon`	`Special`	prompt icon
`FlashCursor`	`Cursor`	cursor

kevintraver/flash.nvim