PyCharm Code Navigation

Code Navigation Shortcuts

Mastering shortcuts allows you to move through code quickly and break free from the mouse.

Below are the most commonly used navigation shortcuts in daily development.

Core Navigation Shortcuts

Function Windows/Linux macOS Description
Jump to Definition Ctrl+B Cmd+B Jump to the definition of a variable, function, or class
Find Usages Alt+F7 Alt+F7 Find all places where the current symbol is referenced in the project
Global Search Double-press Shift Double-press Shift Search for files, classes, symbols, actions, and everything else
Recent Files Ctrl+E Cmd+E Open a list of recently edited files
Back to Previous Location Ctrl+Alt+Left Cmd+[ Return to the previous cursor position
Forward to Next Location Ctrl+Alt+Right Cmd+] Move to the next cursor position
Go to Line Ctrl+G Cmd+L Enter a line number to jump directly
Find File Ctrl+Shift+N Cmd+Shift+O Search for and open files by file name
File Structure Ctrl+F12 Cmd+F12 Display the list of classes and methods in the current file

Double-press Shift for Global Search

Double-press Shiftis the most powerful search feature in PyCharm.

It can search files, class names, symbols, IDE actions, and everything else, and can handle almost any navigation need.

Usage:

  • Quickly press the Shift key twice to open the Search Everywhere dialog
  • Enter a keyword to see all matching results
  • Press Tab to switch between different search categories (All, Classes, Files, Symbols, Actions)

Double-pressing Shift is the shortcut beginners should learn first; once you are familiar with it, you can say goodbye to the tedious process of searching layer by layer in the project file tree.

Ctrl+B Jump to Definition

Place the cursor on a variable, function, or class name, then pressCtrl+Bto jump to its definition.

While holding down the Ctrl key, hovering the mouse over code also shows a clickable link effect.

Example: In the code below, place the cursor onmy_funcand press Ctrl+B to jump to the function definition.

Example

# Define a simple function
def my_func():
    """
This is an example function from the Example tutorial
    """
    print("EXAMPLE - Learning PyCharm Quick Navigation")

# Call the function - Place the cursor on my_func, press Ctrl+B to jump to the definition
my_func()

Alt+F7 Find Usages

Place the cursor on the symbol you want to find, then pressAlt+F7to view all places in the project where the symbol is referenced.

The search results are shown in the Find tool window at the bottom; click an item to jump to the corresponding location.

Code Formatting

Maintaining consistent code style is an important foundation for team collaboration.

PyCharm provides automatic code formatting; with one click you can make your code neat and uniform.

Formatting with Shortcuts

UseCtrl+Alt+L(Windows/Linux) orCmd+Option+L(macOS) to format the current file.

You can select part of the code and press the shortcut to format only the selected part.

Formatting Rule Configuration

Formatting rules can be configured inSettings > Editor > Code Style > Pythonto configure.

Configurable items include:

  • Indent size (default 4 spaces)
  • Tab or space indentation (spaces recommended)
  • Maximum characters per line (default 120)
  • Number of blank lines
  • Import statement sorting rules

Before and After Formatting Comparison

Before formatting (uneven indentation, messy blank lines):

Example

# Messy code before formatting
def messy_function(x,y):
      result=x+y
    if result>10:
        print("Result is greater than 10")
          print("This line's indentation is incorrect")

name="example"
print("Test",name)

After formatting (uniform indentation, standard blank lines):

Example

# Neat code after formatting
def messy_function(x, y):
    result = x + y
    if result > 10:
        print("Result is greater than 10")
        print("This line's indentation is incorrect")


name = "example"
print("Test", name)

Press Ctrl+Alt+L to format the code before committing code; this is a good programming habit.

TODO Comments

TODO comments are a habit of marking special comments to record work that remains to be done.

Adding TODO Comments

In Python code, use# TODOto add todo comments.

Example

# User management module

class UserManager:
    """User manager"""

    def __init__(self, db_name="example_users"):
        self.db_name = db_name

    # TODO: Implement user login functionality
    def login(self, username, password):
        pass

    # TODO: Add input validation logic
    # TODO: Consider using bcrypt to encrypt passwords
    def register(self, username, password):
        """Register a new user"""
        # Currently a simplified implementation, just prints a message
        print(f"Register user: {username}")

    # FIXME: This line of code may fail in special cases and needs to be fixed
    def delete_user(self, user_id):
        """Delete user"""
        print(f"Delete user ID: {user_id}")

    # NOTE: The following method depends on an external API and requires network access
    def sync_data(self):
        """Sync data"""
        pass

TODO Label Types

PyCharm recognizes the following special comment labels by default:

Label Purpose
TODO Marks work that needs to be done
FIXME Marks issues that need to be fixed
NOTE Adds important notes

Viewing the TODO List

In the tool window area, click theTODOlabel to open the TODO tool window.

This window displays all TODO, FIXME, and NOTE comments in the project in one place and supports filtering by scope.

You can set the filter scope:

  • Current File: shows only the TODO comments in the current file
  • Scope Based: filters by a custom scope
  • All Places: shows all TODO comments in the project

Double-click a TODO item to jump to the corresponding line of code.

Making good use of TODO comments can make the development process more organized and ensure no pending items are overlooked.

Bookmark Feature

The bookmark feature allows you to mark important locations in your code for quick navigation.

Adding Bookmarks

Place the cursor on the line of code you want to mark, then pressF11to add an anonymous bookmark.

After successful addition, a checkmark will appear on the left side of that line.

pressCtrl+F11You can add numeric/letter bookmarks; in the popup, choose 0-9 or A-Z as the bookmark number.

Example

# Project configuration file
# Add a bookmark here for quick access to key configuration

DATABASE_CONFIG = {
    "host": "localhost",  # Press F11 to add a bookmark
    "port": 5432,         # Press Ctrl+F11 and select number 1 to add a numbered bookmark
    "name": "example_db",
    "user": "admin",
}

# Key constant definitions; you can add a bookmark here
MAX_CONNECTIONS = 100     # Press Ctrl+F11 and select number 2 to add a numbered bookmark
TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 30

Viewing and Managing Bookmarks

pressShift+F11Open the bookmark list window to view all added bookmarks.

In the bookmark list window:

  • Double-click a bookmark entry to jump to the corresponding location.
  • Right-click to delete or rename a bookmark.
  • Supports checkbox category filtering (anonymous bookmarks and numbered bookmarks).

Numbered bookmarks can also be accessed viaCtrl+Number keysto jump directly without opening the bookmark list.

In large projects, bookmarks are a great tool for tracking multiple important code locations. It is recommended to develop the habit of using them.

Additional Editing Tips

In addition to the above features, the following editing tips can also improve daily development efficiency.

Multi-cursor Editing

Hold downAltthe key and click multiple positions with the mouse to edit multiple lines of code simultaneously.

You can also useCtrl+Shift+Alt+Clickto place cursors at any position.

Moving Code Blocks

After selecting a code block, pressCtrl+Shift+Up/Downto move the entire code block up or down.

No need to cut and paste; a single line of code or an entire method can be quickly repositioned.

Duplicating an Entire Line

Place the cursor on a line (no need to select it), then pressCtrl+Dto copy the entire line.

This is a very frequently used shortcut. It is recommended to start using it immediately.

Deleting an Entire Line

Place the cursor on a line, then pressCtrl+Yto delete the entire line.

Compared to selecting first and then pressing Delete, this operation is much faster.

Shortcut Quick Reference Summary

The following table summarizes all shortcut keys covered in this chapter. It is recommended to print or save it for quick reference at any time.

Operation Windows/Linux macOS
Jump to definition Ctrl+B Cmd+B
Find references Alt+F7 Alt+F7
Global search Double-press Shift Double-press Shift
Recent files Ctrl+E Cmd+E
Back/Forward Ctrl+Alt+Left/Right Cmd+[/]
Jump to line Ctrl+G Cmd+L
Find file Ctrl+Shift+N Cmd+Shift+O
File structure Ctrl+F12 Cmd+F12
Code formatting Ctrl+Alt+L Cmd+Option+L
Add bookmark F11 F11
Numbered bookmark Ctrl+F11 Cmd+F11
Bookmark list Shift+F11 Shift+F11
Copy entire line Ctrl+D Cmd+D
Delete entire line Ctrl+Y Cmd+Delete

You don't need to memorize all these shortcuts at once. It is recommended to start with Double-press Shift and practice two or three each day.

After continuous use for a few weeks, you will find that your coding efficiency has seen a qualitative improvement.

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