.. _cmd-fish_key_reader:

fish_key_reader - explore what characters keyboard keys send
============================================================

Synopsis
--------

.. synopsis::

    fish_key_reader [OPTIONS]

Description
-----------

:program:`fish_key_reader` is used to explain how you would bind a certain key sequence. By default, it prints the :doc:`bind <bind>` command for one key sequence read interactively over standard input.

If the character sequence matches a special key name (see ``bind --key-names``),  both ``bind CHARS ...`` and ``bind -k KEYNAME ...`` usage will be shown. In verbose mode (enabled by passing ``--verbose``), additional details about the characters received, such as the delay between chars, are written to standard error.

The following options are available:

**-c** or **--continuous**
    Begins a session where multiple key sequences can be inspected. By default the program exits after capturing a single key sequence.

**-V** or **--verbose**
    Tells fish_key_reader to output timing information and explain the sequence in more detail.

**-h** or **--help**
    Displays help about using this command.

**-v** or **--version**
    Displays the current :program:`fish` version and then exits.

Usage Notes
-----------

In verbose mode, the delay in milliseconds since the previous character was received is included in the diagnostic information written to standard error. This information may be useful to determine the optimal ``fish_escape_delay_ms`` setting or learn the amount of lag introduced by tools like ``ssh``, ``mosh`` or ``tmux``.

``fish_key_reader`` intentionally disables handling of many signals. To terminate ``fish_key_reader`` in ``--continuous`` mode do:

- press :kbd:`Control`\ +\ :kbd:`C` twice, or
- press :kbd:`Control`\ +\ :kbd:`D` twice, or
- type ``exit``, or
- type ``quit``

Example
-------

::

   > fish_key_reader
   Press a key:
   # press up-arrow
   bind \e\[A 'do something'

   > fish_key_reader --verbose
   Press a key:
   # press alt+enter
              hex:   1B  char: \c[  (or \e)
   (  0.027 ms)  hex:    D  char: \cM  (or \r)
   bind \e\r 'do something'