What the Keyboard Shortcut Reference covers
The Keyboard Shortcut Reference at /developer-tools/validators/keyboard-shortcut-reference is a single-page, searchable database of over 70 keyboard shortcuts organized into six categories. Instead of searching through scattered documentation for Windows key combos, macOS conventions, browser shortcuts, and VS Code bindings, you filter by category or search by key name or description and find what you need instantly.
Each shortcut is displayed with a styled keyboard element showing the exact key combination. The reference includes 12 Windows shortcuts, 12 macOS shortcuts, 14 browser shortcuts, 16 VS Code shortcuts, 12 terminal shortcuts, and 9 general text-editing shortcuts. This covers the vast majority of what a developer or power user needs day to day.
The six categories at a glance
Windows: system-level shortcuts like Task Manager, window snapping, virtual desktop switching, and clipboard history.
macOS: Mission Control, Spotlight, screenshot tools, Force Quit, and Finder shortcuts.
Browser: tab management, address bar focus, developer tools, hard refresh, and zoom.
VS Code: command palette, multi-cursor, line operations, file navigation, and integrated terminal toggle.
Terminal: word deletion, line navigation, process control (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Z), and history search.
Text editing: select word, select line, delete line, move to start/end, and toggle case.
Cross-platform notation: Ctrl/Cmd
Many shortcuts differ only in the modifier key between Windows and macOS. On Windows and Linux, the modifier is `Ctrl`. On macOS, it is `Cmd` (the Command key, also known as the Apple key or the clover key). Rather than listing every shortcut twice, the reference uses the `Ctrl/Cmd` notation to indicate that either key works depending on your operating system. For example, `Ctrl/Cmd + C` means `Ctrl + C` on Windows and `Cmd + C` on macOS.
This convention breaks down for shortcuts that use different key combinations entirely (for instance, closing a window is `Alt + F4` on Windows but `Cmd + W` on macOS). In those cases, the reference lists both versions separately.
VS Code shortcuts that save the most time
VS Code has hundreds of keybindings, but a small subset delivers disproportionate productivity gains. The command palette (`Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + P`) gives you access to every command without memorizing its shortcut. Multi-cursor editing (`Ctrl/Cmd + D` to select next occurrence, `Alt + Click` to add cursor) lets you rename variables or edit repeated patterns across multiple lines simultaneously. The integrated terminal toggle (`Ctrl/Cmd + `` ` ``) eliminates context switching between your editor and a separate terminal window.
Line operations like `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + K` (delete line), `Alt + Up/Down` (move line), and `Ctrl/Cmd + /` (toggle comment) are used constantly during coding sessions. Learning these five shortcuts alone can measurably increase your editing speed.
Browser shortcuts for developers
Browser shortcuts are essential for web development workflows. `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + I` opens DevTools. `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + R` performs a hard refresh, bypassing the cache, which is critical when debugging CSS or JavaScript changes. `Ctrl/Cmd + L` focuses the address bar for quickly entering a URL or searching. `Ctrl/Cmd + T` opens a new tab, and `Ctrl/Cmd + W` closes the current one.
Lesser-known but equally useful: `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + J` opens the console panel directly, and `F12` toggles DevTools on Windows. These shortcuts reduce the friction of the inspect-refresh-debug cycle that dominates front-end development.
Terminal shortcuts every developer should know
Terminal shortcuts work across bash, zsh, and most other shells. `Ctrl + A` moves the cursor to the start of the line, and `Ctrl + E` moves it to the end. `Ctrl + W` deletes the word before the cursor, and `Ctrl + U` deletes the entire line before the cursor. `Ctrl + R` opens reverse search, letting you find a previous command by typing part of it.
Process control shortcuts are equally important: `Ctrl + C` sends SIGINT to interrupt the foreground process, and `Ctrl + Z` sends SIGTSTP to suspend it. `bg` and `fg` resume the process in the background or foreground respectively. These shortcuts are universal across Unix-like systems.
Searching and filtering the reference
Use the category buttons at the top to filter shortcuts by platform (Windows, macOS, browser, VS Code, terminal, editing).
Type in the search box to filter by key name (e.g., `Ctrl`) or description (e.g., `copy` or `delete`).
The filtered results update instantly as you type.
The reference is bundled with the page as static data. No network requests are made, so it works offline and loads instantly. For other developer references, see /blog/http-status for status codes, /blog/regex-tester for regex patterns, /blog/cron-parser for cron expressions, and /blog/url-encode-decode for encoding.
Privacy: bundled data, no network calls
Visit /about to learn more about EasyDevTools's privacy-first approach.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How many shortcuts are included?
A: Over 70 across six categories: Windows (12), macOS (12), Browser (14), VS Code (16), Terminal (12), and Editing (9).
Q: Why the Ctrl/Cmd notation?
A: Most cross-platform apps use Ctrl on Windows/Linux and Cmd on macOS. Showing both makes the reference work for everyone.
Q: Can I add my own shortcuts?
A: Not currently. The list is curated. For app-specific shortcuts, consult the application's documentation.
Q: Is the data fetched from a server?
A: No. The shortcut table is bundled with the page as static data.
