Preview file contents with bat
Render a syntax-highlighted preview for files.
bashANYpreviewbatfiles
bash
fzf --preview 'bat --style=numbers --color=always --line-range :200 {}'Notes
A common choice because bat provides color and line numbers.
fzf Preview Windows, Key Bindings, and Actions
Use previews, key bindings, execute actions, and dynamic UI changes to build powerful interactive pickers.
Export
Copy the compact sheet, download it, or print it.
Download
`D` dense toggle · `C` copy all
Preview window
Show file or command previews beside the results list.
bash
find . -type f | fzf --preview 'head -100 {}' --preview-window=right,60%Notes
The preview window is highly configurable for position, size, wrap, border, and follow behavior.
bash
find . -type f | fzf --preview 'bat --color=always {}' --bind 'ctrl-u:preview-half-page-up,ctrl-d:preview-half-page-down'Notes
Helpful for long previews when you want keyboard-only navigation.
Bind actions
Attach commands and UI behavior to keys and events.
Select all items with a key binding
Bind a key to select all results in multi-select mode.
bashANYbindselect-allmulti
bash
seq 100 | fzf -m --bind 'ctrl-a:select-all'Notes
Bindings make fzf much more powerful than a passive filter.
bash
seq 100 | fzf -m --bind 'ctrl-x:deselect-all'Notes
Useful alongside multi-select workflows.
Run a command on the current item
Open the selected file without leaving fzf permanently.
bashANYexecuteeditorbind
bash
find . -type f | fzf --bind 'enter:execute(vim {})'Notes
The execute action launches a subprocess using the current item.
Replace fzf with another process
Turn the selection directly into a new foreground program.
bashANYbecomeeditorbind
bash
find . -type f | fzf --bind 'enter:become(vim {})'Notes
become is ideal when fzf is only a launcher and should hand control to the next process.
bash
printf '%s
' files dirs | fzf --bind 'ctrl-f:change-prompt(Files> ),ctrl-d:change-prompt(Dirs> )'Notes
Useful in advanced menus that switch modes.
Update the header dynamically
Modify informational text in response to events.
bashANYheadertransformevents
bash
printf '%s
' alpha beta gamma | fzf --bind 'focus:transform-header:echo Focused on {1}'Notes
Dynamic headers can make interactive dashboards more self-explanatory.
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 Layout, UI, and Styling
Tune layout, borders, headers, sorting, and visual style for cleaner fuzzy-finder interfaces.
fzf Basics: Search, Select, and Script Output
Core fzf usage patterns for filtering lists, selecting items, and integrating the result into shell workflows.