Default Keymaps

NeoVim ships with keymaps you get for free. These have evolved significantly, especially in 0.10 and 0.11. Knowing them avoids redundant config.

LSP Keymaps (0.11+)

These activate when an LSP client attaches to a buffer:

Keymap	Mode	Action
`grn`	Normal	`vim.lsp.buf.rename()`
`gra`	Normal, Visual	`vim.lsp.buf.code_action()`
`grr`	Normal	`vim.lsp.buf.references()`
`gri`	Normal	`vim.lsp.buf.implementation()`
`grt`	Normal	`vim.lsp.buf.type_definition()`
`grx`	Normal	`vim.lsp.codelens.run()`
`gO`	Normal	`vim.lsp.buf.document_symbol()`
`<C-S>`	Insert	`vim.lsp.buf.signature_help()`
`K`	Normal	`vim.lsp.buf.hover()` (since 0.10)

Tip: The gr prefix is mnemonic: “go refactor” (rename, action, references). gO is “go outline”. These don’t conflict with common custom mappings.

Keymap	Mode	Action
`]d`	Normal	Jump to next diagnostic
`[d`	Normal	Jump to previous diagnostic
`]D`	Normal	Jump to last diagnostic
`[D`	Normal	Jump to first diagnostic
`<C-W>d`	Normal	Open diagnostic float

Borrowed from vim-unimpaired, these navigate lists:

Keymap	Action
`[q` / `]q`	Previous/next quickfix item
`[Q` / `]Q`	First/last quickfix item
`[l` / `]l`	Previous/next location list item
`[L` / `]L`	First/last location list item
`[t` / `]t`	Previous/next tag
`[T` / `]T`	First/last tag
`[a` / `]a`	Previous/next argument
`[A` / `]A`	First/last argument
`[b` / `]b`	Previous/next buffer
`[B` / `]B`	First/last buffer

Comment Toggle

Keymap	Mode	Action
`gc`	Normal, Visual	Toggle comment (motion-based)
`gcc`	Normal	Toggle comment on current line
`gc` in visual	Visual	Toggle comment on selection

gcc      -- Toggle comment on line
gcap     -- Toggle comment on paragraph
gc3j     -- Toggle comment on 3 lines down
Vjjgc    -- Visual select + toggle comment

Keymap	Mode	Action
`<Tab>`	Insert, Select	Jump to next snippet placeholder
`<S-Tab>`	Insert, Select	Jump to previous snippet placeholder

These only activate when inside an active snippet. Otherwise, Tab inserts a tab character.

Yanking and Visual

Keymap	Mode	Action
`Y`	Normal	Yank to end of line (`y$`)
`*`	Visual	Search forward for visual selection
`#`	Visual	Search backward for visual selection
`Q`	Visual	Execute last macro on each selected line

Tip: Y mapping to y$ makes it consistent with D (delete to end) and C (change to end). In stock Vim, Y is the same as yy (yank whole line), which is inconsistent.

Search and Command Line

Keymap	Mode	Action
`<C-L>`	Normal	Clear search highlighting + redraw screen
`&`	Normal	Repeat last `:s` substitution

Terminal Mode

Keymap	Mode	Action
`<C-\><C-N>`	Terminal	Exit terminal mode to normal mode

Gotcha: There’s no built-in easy escape from terminal mode. Many users add: vim.keymap.set("t", "<Esc><Esc>", "<C-\\><C-N>") for a double-Escape exit.

What NeoVim Does NOT Map

Common operations you still need to configure yourself:

Operation	Common mapping	Why it’s not default
`gd` (go to definition)	`vim.lsp.buf.definition()`	Conflicts with Vim’s built-in `gd` (go to local declaration)
`<leader>f` (find files)	telescope/fzf	Requires a plugin
`<leader>e` (file explorer)	netrw/oil/nvim-tree	Style preference
`<C-h/j/k/l>` (window nav)	`<C-W>h/j/k/l`	Already works with `<C-W>` prefix
Format on save	`vim.lsp.buf.format()`	Opt-in behavior

Checking Current Mappings

:map              " Show all mappings
:nmap             " Normal mode only
:imap             " Insert mode only
:verbose map K    " Show where K was mapped and by whom

-- Programmatically check a mapping
local map = vim.fn.maparg("grn", "n", false, true)
print(vim.inspect(map))