Smart Keys

Use this page to enable or disable specific smart keys and to define which actions you want to be invoked automatically.

Item	Description
Home moves caret to first non-whitespace character	When this checkbox is selected, on pressing `Home`, the caret is positioned at the first non-whitespace character of the current line. Pressing `Home` subsequently moves the caret from the Smart Home position to the first column and back.
End on blank line moves caret to indent position	When this checkbox is selected, on pressing `End` in an empty line, the caret is positioned with the indent, which IntelliJ IDEA assumes to be reasonable in the current code point (indentation is based on the current Code Style Settings ).
Insert pair brackets (), [], {}, <>	Select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically add a closing bracket for each typed opening bracket, respectively.
Insert pair quote	Select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically add a closing single or double quote for each typed opening single or double quote, respectively.
Reformat block on typing "}"	If this checkbox is selected, then, on typing the closing curly brace, the enclosed code block is reformatted automatically, if the formatting of this code block does not match the selected code style.
Use 'CamelHumps' words	Select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA discern separate words within CamelHump names. Words within a name should start with a capital letter or an underscore. This option impacts some editor actions, for example: Caret Move `Ctrl+Right`/ `Ctrl+Left` Caret Move with Selection (`Ctrl+Shift+Right`/ `Ctrl+Shift+Left`) Select Word at Caret `Ctrl+W` Delete to Word Start/End (`Ctrl+Backspace` and `Ctrl+Delete` respectively) Double-clicking (if Honor "CamelHumps" word settings when selecting using double click is enabled). IntelliJ IDEA also provides similar actions that work in a mode opposite to the one selected in the Use 'CamelHumps' words setting: Move Caret to Previous Word in Different "CamelHumps" mode Move Caret to Previous Word with Selection in Different "CamelHumps" mode Move Caret to Next Word in Different "CamelHumps" mode Move Caret to Next Word with Selection in Different "CamelHumps" mode Delete to Word End in Different "CamelHumps" mode Delete to Word Start in Different "CamelHumps" mode For example, If Use 'CamelHumps' words is enabled, the action Move Caret to Next Word in Different "CamelHumps" mode moves the caret to the end of word regardless of uppercase characters in this word; if Use 'CamelHumps' words is disabled, then the caret moves to the next CamelHump within this word. These actions have no default keyboard shortcuts, and are not included in the menus but you can invoke them from Go to Action `Ctrl+Shift+A`: You can bind them with the shortcuts of your choice as described in the section Configure keyboard shortcuts.
Honor "CamelHumps" word settings when selecting using double-click	Select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA invoke the CamelHumps selection when words are selected by double-clicking. This feature works only if the Use 'CamelHumps' words option is enabled.
Surround selection on typing quote or brace	If this checkbox is selected, the selected text on typing a quote, double-quote or brace, will be surrounded with these characters. If this checkbox is not selected, then the typed quotes, double-quotes or braces will replace the selection.
Add multiple carets on double `Ctrl` with arrow keys	If this checkbox is selected, then: pressing `Ctrl` plus up/down arrow keys leads to creating multiple carets. pressing `Ctrl` plus left/right arrow keys or Home/End leads to creating a selection. For more information, see the Multicursor section.
Jump outside closing bracket/quote with Tab when typing	If this checkbox is selected, pressing `Tab` when typing inside brackets/quotes will move the caret outside the closing bracket/quote. If this checkbox is not selected, pressing `Tab` will insert the `Tab` character. Note that this only works on initial typing: during subsequent editing, pressing `Tab` inside brackets/quotes will insert the `Tab` character.
Enter	Use this area to define the actions to be invoked by pressing `Enter`. Smart indent: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA add a new line and position the caret at it, with the indent that IntelliJ IDEA assumes to be reasonable in the current point of code (indentation is based on the current Code Style settings). If the checkbox is cleared, upon pressing `Enter` in a blank line, IntelliJ IDEA adds a new line and positions the caret at the current non-space character column. Insert pair '}': select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically position a closing brace `}` at the proper column when `Enter` is pressed in an empty line. In this case IntelliJ IDEA seeks backward for the nearest unclosed opening brace `{` and places the closing one at the corresponding indentation level. Insert documentation comment stub: this checkbox defines the behavior on pressing `Enter` after the opening documentation comment. This functionality works only for JavaScript, Java, Groovy, and Swift. If this checkbox is selected, IntelliJ IDEA generates a documentation comment stub. For the method comments, this stub contains the required tags (`@param` tags for each method parameter, `@return`, or `@throws` ). Refer to Javadocs and JSDoc comments for details. If this checkbox is not selected, only the closing part of the comment is generated. Note that this checkbox refers to JavaScript, Java, and other languages that have special beginning of documentation comments.
Unindent on Backspace	Use this list to define the actions to be invoked by pressing `Backspace` key. The available options are: Disabled: pressing `Backspace` returns the caret by one position at a time. To nearest indent position To proper indentation
Reformat on paste	Use this list to specify how to place pasted code blocks. The available options are: None: the pasted code is inserted at the caret location as plain text without any reformatting or indenting. Indent Block: the pasted code block is positioned at the proper indentation level, according to the current Code Style Settings, but its inner structure is not changed. Indent Each Line: each line of the pasted code block is positioned at the proper indentation level, according to the current Code Style Settings. Reformat Block: the pasted code block is reformatted according to the current Code Style Settings. This feature is applicable to lines that contain the trailing line feed characters.
JavaDoc	Use this area to configure smart keys options for JavaDoc. Automatically insert closing tag in JavaDoc: select this option if you want IntelliJ IDEA to add a closing tag for your code in the JavaDoc comments. In this case IntelliJ IDEA places the caret inside the tag. For example, if you type `<b>`, the closing tag `</b>` will be generated automatically.
Insert pair '%>' on Enter in JSP	Select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically position the opening angle bracket `<` at the proper column when entered in an empty line in JSP code. In this case IntelliJ IDEA seeks backward for the nearest unclosed angle bracket and places a closing one `>` at the corresponding indentation level.
Kotlin	Use this area to configure the smart keys options for Kotlin. Convert pasted Java code to Kotlin: select this option to convert any Java code to Kotlin on paste. IntelliJ IDEA displays the Convert Code from Java dialog. If you don't want IntelliJ IDEA to show the dialog, select the Don't show Java to Kotlin conversion dialog on paste option.

HTML/CSS

Use this page to configure the editor behavior for HTML, XML, and CSS.

Item	Description
XML/HTML	In this area, define the actions to be invoked automatically when editing XML or HTML code. Insert closing tag on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically insert a closing XML or HTML tag upon entering the corresponding opening one. Insert required attributes on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA display a template with all mandatory attributes of the typed tag. Insert required subtags on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA display a template with all mandatory subtags. Start attribute on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA display a template with the first mandatory attribute of the typed tag. Add quotes for attribute value on typing '=': select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically add quotes for the value of the attribute that you are currently typing. Auto-close tag on typing '</': select this checkbox to automatically add a closing tag after entering </. Clear this checkbox to turn off such auto-completion. Simultaneous <tag></tag> editing: When this checkbox is selected and you edit an opening tag the corresponding closing tag is automatically changed accordingly. If this checkbox is cleared, editing the opening tag does not affect the closing tag which remains unchanged. As a result, the opening and closing tags do not match and the entire construct is underlined as erroneous. The Simultaneous <tag></tag> editing checkbox controls the behaviour of IntelliJ IDEA in the following contexts: HTML files HTML injections within JavaScript code HTML with Handlebars/Mustache templates Handlebars/Mustache template files with the extension .hbs XML, XHTML files DTD files JSX files JSP files HTML injections in PHP files
CSS	In this area, define the selection of CSS identifiers/classes: Select whole CSS identifier on double-click: if this checkbox is selected, double-click a CSS identifier or class name selects the entire name up to the prefix: If this checkbox is not selected, double-click a CSS identifier or class name selects a portion of a name up to the nearest hyphens:

Item

Description

XML/HTML

In this area, define the actions to be invoked automatically when editing XML or HTML code.

Insert closing tag on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically insert a closing XML or HTML tag upon entering the corresponding opening one.
Insert required attributes on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA display a template with all mandatory attributes of the typed tag.
Insert required subtags on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA display a template with all mandatory subtags.
Start attribute on tag completion: select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA display a template with the first mandatory attribute of the typed tag.
Add quotes for attribute value on typing '=': select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA automatically add quotes for the value of the attribute that you are currently typing.
Auto-close tag on typing '</': select this checkbox to automatically add a closing tag after entering </. Clear this checkbox to turn off such auto-completion.
Simultaneous <tag></tag> editing: When this checkbox is selected and you edit an opening tag the corresponding closing tag is automatically changed accordingly.
If this checkbox is cleared, editing the opening tag does not affect the closing tag which remains unchanged. As a result, the opening and closing tags do not match and the entire construct is underlined as erroneous.
The Simultaneous <tag></tag> editing checkbox controls the behaviour of IntelliJ IDEA in the following contexts:
- HTML files
- HTML injections within JavaScript code
- HTML with Handlebars/Mustache templates
- Handlebars/Mustache template files with the extension .hbs
- XML, XHTML files
- DTD files
- JSX files
- JSP files
- HTML injections in PHP files

CSS

In this area, define the selection of CSS identifiers/classes:

Select whole CSS identifier on double-click: if this checkbox is selected, double-click a CSS identifier or class name selects the entire name up to the prefix:

If this checkbox is not selected, double-click a CSS identifier or class name selects a portion of a name up to the nearest hyphens:

JSON

Use this page to configure the editor behavior for JSON.

Item	Description
JSON	The settings in this area control automatic adding of commas, quotes, and whitespaces in JSON context in compliance with the JSON syntax.

JavaScript

Use this page to configure the editor behavior for JavaScript.

Item Description

Start template string interpolation on typing '$' Select this checkbox to insert expressions with normal strings after the $ sign. See Expression interpolation for details.

Escape text on paste in string literals

Item	Description
Start template string interpolation on typing '$'	Select this checkbox to insert expressions with normal strings after the `$` sign. See Expression interpolation for details.
Escape text on paste in string literals	By default, IntelliJ IDEA automatically inserts backslash escape symbols (`\`) when you paste text into a JavaScript string. Clear the checkbox to suppress automatic text escaping.
Convert attributes when pasting HTML to JSX files	By default, when you copy a piece of HTML code with class attributes or on-event handlers and paste it into JSX, IntelliJ IDEA automatically replaces these attributes with React-specific ones (`className`, `onClick`, `onChange`, and so on.) To copy HTML code to JSX "as is", clear the checkbox or use Paste Simple `Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V`.

By default, IntelliJ IDEA automatically inserts backslash escape symbols (\) when you paste text into a JavaScript string. Clear the checkbox to suppress automatic text escaping.

Convert attributes when pasting HTML to JSX files

By default, when you copy a piece of HTML code with class attributes or on-event handlers and paste it into JSX, IntelliJ IDEA automatically replaces these attributes with React-specific ones (className, onClick, onChange, and so on.)

To copy HTML code to JSX "as is", clear the checkbox or use Paste Simple Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V.

SQL

Use this page to configure the eiditor behavior for SQL.

Item Description

Insert string concatenation on Enter

Item	Description
Insert string concatenation on Enter	You may want to turn this option off, if the DBMS you are working with supports multiline string literals: Say, there is the following fragment for PostgreSQL `text` value `notes`: SET notes = 'Lightest element' and the cursor is in front of the word `element`. If the option is on, and you press `Enter`, the fragment will change to: SET notes = 'Lightest ' \|\| 'element' Otherwise, the fragment will change to: SET notes = 'Lightest element'
Close code blocks on Enter	When you start a code block with an opening keyword (BEGIN, LOOP, BEGIN TRY, and others) and press `Enter`, the code block closes with the corresponding closing keywords (END, END LOOP, END TRY, and others).
Qualify object on code completion	The selected option defines how the name of an object is inserted in the editor when using the code completion suggestion box. Always: the qualified object names are always used, for example `<schema_name>.<object_name>`. On collisions: the qualified object name is used only if the short name is ambiguous, for example when there is the object with the same name in more than one schema. Never: the unqualified object names are always used.

You may want to turn this option off, if the DBMS you are working with supports multiline string literals:

Say, there is the following fragment for PostgreSQL text value notes:

SET notes = 'Lightest element'

and the cursor is in front of the word element.

If the option is on, and you press Enter, the fragment will change to:

SET notes = 'Lightest ' ||
            'element'

Otherwise, the fragment will change to:

SET notes = 'Lightest
element'

Close code blocks on Enter

When you start a code block with an opening keyword (BEGIN, LOOP, BEGIN TRY, and others) and press Enter, the code block closes with the corresponding closing keywords (END, END LOOP, END TRY, and others).

Qualify object on code completion

The selected option defines how the name of an object is inserted in the editor when using the code completion suggestion box.

Always: the qualified object names are always used, for example <schema_name>.<object_name>.
On collisions: the qualified object name is used only if the short name is ambiguous, for example when there is the object with the same name in more than one schema.
Never: the unqualified object names are always used.

Yaml

Use this page to configure the editor behavior for Yaml.

Item	Description
Auto expand key sequences upon paste	With this option selected, IntelliJ IDEA properly formats key sequences when you paste them from the clipboard. For example, the `key2.anoher_key` sequence pasted from the clipboard will be displayed with the correct hierarchy.

Scala

Use this page to configure the behavior of the editor in the Scala context.

Item	Description
Insert pair quotes for multiline string	With this option selected, IntelliJ IDEA inserts closing triple quotes when you try to add a multiline string.
Wrap single expression body with closing brace after '{'	With this option selected, IntelliJ IDEA wraps the body of an expression with braces.
Upgrade simple string into interpolated after ${	With this option selected, IntelliJ IDEA recognizes the interpolated string and adds a closing brace when you insert ${ inside a simple string.

Python

Use this page to configure the behavior of the editor in the Python context.

Item	Description
Smart indent pasted lines	With this option selected (by default), IntelliJ IDEA respects the PEP8 indent when you insert a code fragment.
Insert backslash when pressing Enter inside the statement	With this option selected (by default), IntelliJ IDEA adds `\` to keep integrity of the statement when you press Enter and split it.
Insert 'self' when defining a method	With this option selected (by default), IntelliJ IDEA adds `self` to the method declaration.
Insert type placeholders in the documentation comment stub.	With this option selected, IntelliJ IDEA creates a placeholder to enter the type in the documentation comments. The placeholder is added for all docstring formats but Plain.

PHP

Use this page to define the behavior of the editor in the PHP context.

Item	Description
Enable smart function parameter completion	When this checkbox is selected, you can use the “automatic” live template that provides completion lists for the parameters passed into functions, methods, or class constructors. To invoke the magic live template, type the params keyword as the first parameter in the call of the function, method, or class: IntelliJ IDEA displays a live template where the parameters are automatically completed with the variable names defined in the function declaration. To move to the next parameter, press `Enter` or `Tab`. To move to the previous parameter, press `Shift+Tab`. The completion list contains variables from a local scope in the next order: with the same type, with a similar name, defined nearby. You can always switch to the usual completion mode by pressing `Ctrl+Space` or just typing anything which is not in the list. Variables with similar names are inserted automatically.
Select variable name without $ sign on double click	When this checkbox is selected, only the variable name that follows the `$` sign is selected on double-click or pressing `Ctrl+W`. This is helpful if you often need to copy variable names without `$`: just double-click and copy the selection. If you still need a variable name with `$` selected, position the caret before the `$` sign and double-click it or press `Ctrl+W`.
Remove PHP open/close tags while pasting in PHP context	If selected, IntelliJ IDEA will automatically remove the opening and closing `<?php ?>` tags from the pasted Java code snippets.
Escape symbols on paste in string literals	If selected, IntelliJ IDEA automatically inserts backslash escape symbols (`\`) when you paste text into a PHP string literal. For example, `'copied text'` becomes `\'copied text\'`. Clear the checkbox to suppress automatic symbols escaping.
Auto-insert '<?php' tag after typing '<?'	If selected, IntelliJ IDEA will automatically insert the `<?php` opening tag when you type the `<?` short tag. Note that short tags are deprecated in PHP 7.4, and are planned for removal in PHP 8.0. See the RFC for details.
Show additional options when searching for method usages	If selected, when you search for usages of a method, IntelliJ IDEA will prompt you to choose whether you want to find usages of a base method or method's implementations.

Ruby

Use this page to define the behavior of the editor in the Ruby context.

Item	Description
Start ruby interpolation in strings on #	Enable this option to add curly braces automatically after typing # within a double-quoted string.
Continue comments on Enter	If enabled, IntelliJ IDEA will automatically insert # on the next line after pressing `Enter`.

Last modified: 26 May 2021