Finding and Navigating Code - Zed

Zed provides several ways to move around your codebase quickly. Here's an overview of the main navigation tools.

Command Palette

The Command Palette (command_palette::Toggle) is your gateway to almost everything in Zed. Type a few characters to filter commands, then press Enter to execute.

Learn more about the Command Palette →

Project Panel

The Project Panel (project_panel::ToggleFocus) shows a tree view of your workspace's files and directories. Browse, create, rename, move, and delete files without leaving the editor. It also surfaces git status and diagnostics at a glance.

Learn more about the Project Panel →

File Finder

Open any file in your project with file_finder::Toggle. Type part of the filename or path to narrow results.

Text Finder

Quickly find any string in your project and open the file with project_search::OpenTextFinder. Changed your mind and want a more detailed search with extra filters? Move to the project search using the button in the Actions menu in the right bottom corner.

Project Search

Search across all files with pane::DeploySearch. Type the query in the search field, then press Enter to run the search.

Results appear in a multibuffer, letting you edit matches in place.

Go to Definition

Jump to where a symbol is defined with editor::GoToDefinition (or Cmd+Click / Ctrl+Click). If there are multiple definitions, they open in a multibuffer.

Go to Symbol

• Current file: outline::Toggle opens an outline of symbols in the active file
• Entire project: project_symbols::Toggle searches symbols across all files

Call Hierarchy

With the cursor on a function, call_hierarchy::ShowIncomingCalls (call_hierarchy::ShowIncomingCalls) lists the functions that call it, and call_hierarchy::ShowOutgoingCalls lists the functions it calls. Both open a picker; selecting an entry jumps to the call site, and the secondary confirm opens it in an adjacent pane. While the picker is open, call_hierarchy::ToggleDirection switches between callers and callees, menu::SelectChild re-roots the hierarchy at the selected function to explore one level deeper, and menu::SelectParent steps back up; the picker's footer shows the corresponding key bindings. Both actions are also available in the editor's right-click menu. The modal's width can be changed via the call_hierarchy.modal_max_width setting. This requires the language server to support call hierarchy.

Outline Panel

The Outline Panel (outline_panel::ToggleFocus) shows a persistent tree view of symbols in the current file. It's especially useful with multibuffers for navigating search results or diagnostics.

Learn more about the Outline Panel →

Tab Switcher

Quickly switch between open tabs with tab_switcher::Toggle. Tabs are sorted by recent use—keep holding Ctrl and press Tab to cycle through them.

Learn more about the Tab Switcher →

Quick Reference

Task	Keybinding
Command Palette	command_palette::Toggle
Open file	file_finder::Toggle
Project search	pane::DeploySearch
Text search picker	project_search::OpenTextFinder
Go to definition	editor::GoToDefinition
Find references	editor::FindAllReferences
Symbol in file	outline::Toggle
Symbol in project	project_symbols::Toggle
Outline Panel	outline_panel::ToggleFocus
Tab Switcher	tab_switcher::Toggle
Project Panel	project_panel::ToggleFocus