Postfix Completion

Postfix code completion lets you add template code around an expression you’ve just typed. A template expands when you type its abbreviation (postfix) after a dot and press the expansion key (Tab by default) or when you select the abbreviation in the code completion popup. For example, the .if postfix applied to an expression wraps it with an if statement.

IntelliJ IDEA is shipped with a set of predefined postfix templates and lets you define your own custom ones, refer to Create custom postfix templates.

Custom templates can be copied, updated, and removed. For predefined templates you can only change their postfixes, for example to replace a long key with a shorter one, or to expand the list of expression types where a template can be applied.

On this page, enable and disable postfix templates , create new ones, and choose keyboard keys to expand them.

Item	Description
Enable postfix completion	Select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA transform expressions with postfixes into other expressions by expanding postfix-specific templates. When the checkbox is selected, choose the postfixes to apply transformations to by selecting the checkboxes next to the desired postfixes in the list below. When this checkbox is cleared, no template expansion is applied.
Expand templates with	From this list, choose the keyboard key that will invoke template expansion. The available options are: `Tab`, `Enter`, or the Spacebar.
List of available postfix templates	To enable or disable a template, select or clear the checkbox next to it. When you select a template, the right-hand pane shows its description and illustrates how it works by displaying the expression before and after the selected template is applied. Custom templates can be copied, updated, and removed. For predefined templates you can only change their postfixes, for example to replace a long key with a shorter one, or to expand the list of expression types where a template can be applied. To add a custom template, click and create a new template in the dialog that opens. To remove a template, select it in the list and click . Note that you can remove only user-defined templates, for predefined ones the icon is not available. To edit a template, select it and click . To copy a template, select it in the list and click .

Item

Description

Enable postfix completion

Select this checkbox to have IntelliJ IDEA transform expressions with postfixes into other expressions by expanding postfix-specific templates. When the checkbox is selected, choose the postfixes to apply transformations to by selecting the checkboxes next to the desired postfixes in the list below.
When this checkbox is cleared, no template expansion is applied.

Expand templates with

From this list, choose the keyboard key that will invoke template expansion. The available options are: Tab, Enter, or the Spacebar.

List of available postfix templates

To enable or disable a template, select or clear the checkbox next to it. When you select a template, the right-hand pane shows its description and illustrates how it works by displaying the expression before and after the selected template is applied.

To add a custom template, click and create a new template in the dialog that opens.
To remove a template, select it in the list and click . Note that you can remove only user-defined templates, for predefined ones the icon is not available.
To edit a template, select it and click .
To copy a template, select it in the list and click .

Last modified: 11 February 2024