Use a compact reverse layout
Display fzf in the lower portion of the terminal with the prompt at the top.
bashANYheightlayoutreverse
bash
fzf --height=40% --layout=reverseNotes
A widely used default that feels natural in terminal workflows.
fzf Layout, UI, and Styling
Tune layout, borders, headers, sorting, and visual style for cleaner fuzzy-finder interfaces.
Export
Copy the compact sheet, download it, or print it.
Download
`D` dense toggle · `C` copy all
Layout options
Shape the finder UI for different terminal sizes and workflows.
bash
fzf --height=100%Notes
Best when you need maximum room for long lines or lots of results.
bash
fzf --border --border-label=' Search ' --prompt='❯ 'Notes
Useful for polished shell functions and scripts.
Show inline info and a header
Tighten the top section while keeping guidance visible.
bashANYinfoheaderui
bash
fzf --info=inline --header='Type to filter, TAB to mark, Enter to accept'Notes
Small usability upgrade for shared team scripts.
bash
git -c color.status=always status --short | fzf --ansiNotes
Required when upstream commands already colorize their output.
Style and theme
Tune colors, pointer symbols, and list presentation.
Set UI defaults globally
Store your preferred UI settings in FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS.
bashANYthemedefault-optscolor
bash
export FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS='--color=fg:#d0d0d0,bg:#101010,hl:#ffaf5f --pointer=▶ --marker=✓ --border'Notes
Centralizes your theme and interface conventions.
Enable cyclic movement and sort
Make navigation wrap around and control sorting behavior.
bashANYcyclesorttac
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fzf --cycle --tacNotes
Useful for logs, history, and reverse chronological lists.
Disable result sorting
Keep input order instead of sorting matches by score.
bashANYno-sorthistoryordering
bash
history | fzf --no-sortNotes
Important when the original order already carries meaning.
Freeze top lines
Keep table headings pinned at the top while filtering the rest.
bashANYheader-linestables
bash
(printf 'PID CMD
'; ps -eo pid,comm) | fzf --header-lines=1Notes
Excellent for tabular data so headings remain visible.
More in fzf
fzf tmux, Editor Integration, Troubleshooting, and Performance
Use fzf with tmux and editors, and fix common issues involving shell integration, source commands, and large repositories.
fzf Reload, Event Bindings, and Dynamic Sources
Build live search interfaces with reload, change events, refresh-preview, and mode-switching key bindings.
fzf Recipes: Files, ripgrep, Git, Processes, and Navigation
Practical pipeline recipes that combine fzf with fd, ripgrep, bat, Git, and shell utilities.
fzf Shell Completion and Key Bindings
Set up fuzzy shell completion and customize built-in key bindings like CTRL-T, CTRL-R, and ALT-C.
fzf Preview Windows, Key Bindings, and Actions
Use previews, key bindings, execute actions, and dynamic UI changes to build powerful interactive pickers.
fzf Basics: Search, Select, and Script Output
Core fzf usage patterns for filtering lists, selecting items, and integrating the result into shell workflows.