The top VS Code shortcuts every developer needs to know

If you're a developer, then you know that time is of the essence. Every minute counts when you're trying to complete a project. That's why it's essential to use tools that can help you work efficiently, like Visual Studio Code (VS Code). VS Code is a popular code editor that's free, open-source, and packed with powerful features. In this article, we'll be discussing ten VS Code shortcuts that every developer needs to know.

The Basics

Before we dive into the shortcuts, let's talk about the basics. VS Code shortcuts are keyboard combinations that allow you to execute commands quickly. You can use shortcuts to perform various tasks like navigating through files, searching for code, and formatting your code. Most developers are already familiar with some of the most common shortcuts like Ctrl+C for copying and Ctrl+V for pasting. However, there are many more shortcuts that can help you work faster and more efficiently.

10 VS Code Shortcuts That Will Make You a Better Developer

1. Multi-line editing - Use Alt+Click to select multiple lines of code and edit them simultaneously. This saves you time compared to editing each line individually.

2. Commenting and uncommenting lines of code - Use Ctrl+/ to comment or uncomment a line of code. You can also use Shift+Alt+A to comment or uncomment multiple lines of code.

3. Navigation between tabs - Use Ctrl+Tab to switch between open tabs. This shortcut is especially useful if you're working on multiple files simultaneously.

4. Search and replace - Use Ctrl+F to search for a specific word or phrase in your code. You can also use Ctrl+H to replace a word or phrase with another one.

5. Code folding - Use Ctrl+Shift+[ or ] to fold or unfold code blocks. This shortcut is useful when you want to collapse code that you're not working on currently.

6. Creating and navigating through bookmarks - Use Ctrl+F2 to create a bookmark, and use F2 to navigate between bookmarks. This shortcut is useful when you're working on a large codebase and want to keep track of important lines of code.

7. Opening and closing the terminal - Use Ctrl+` to open or close the terminal. This shortcut is useful when you need to execute commands quickly without leaving the editor.

8. Refactoring code - Use Ctrl+Shift+R to refactor your code. This shortcut is useful when you want to rename a variable or function throughout your codebase.

9. Code formatting - Use Shift+Alt+F to format your code based on the language's formatting rules. This shortcut keeps your code clean and readable.

10. Zen mode - Use Ctrl+K Z to enter Zen mode, which hides everything except the editor. This shortcut is useful when you want to focus on your code without any distractions.

Here is a full list of VS Code Keyboard Shortcuts for Windows

Bonus Tips & Tricks

Customizing VS Code according to your team's preferences can make your workflows even more efficient. Here are some bonus tips and tricks to help you customize VS Code:

- Use extensions to add more functionality to VS Code. Some popular extensions are GitLens, GitHub Copilot, and Prettier.

- Customize your keyboard shortcuts by going to File > Preferences > Keyboard Shortcuts. You can also search for specific commands and assign your keyboard shortcuts.

- Use the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) to execute commands quickly. You can search for specific commands, and VS Code will suggest the relevant shortcuts.

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Using shortcuts in VS Code can save you time, improve your productivity, and make your workflows more efficient. By mastering the ten shortcuts we've discussed in this article, you'll be able to work faster and smarter. Don't forget to share these shortcuts with your development team and encourage them to share their favorite shortcuts in the comments section below. Happy coding!