Vertico provides a performant and minimalistic vertical completion UI based on
the default completion system. The focus of Vertico is to provide a UI which
behaves correctly under all circumstances. By reusing the built-in facilities
system, Vertico achieves full compatibility with built-in Emacs completion
commands and completion tables. Vertico only provides the completion UI but aims
to be highly flexible, extendable and modular. Additional enhancements are
available as extensions or complementary packages. The code base is small and
maintainable. The main vertico.el package is only about 600 lines of code
without white space and comments.
Next: Installation, Previous: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
annotation- and affixation-function).
group-function).
https://github.com/minad/vertico/blob/screenshots/vertico-mx.png?raw=true
Next: Key bindings, Previous: Features, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
Vertico is available from GNU ELPA. You can install it directly via ‘M-x package-install RET vertico RET’. After installation, activate the global minor mode with ‘M-x vertico-mode RET’.
Next: Configuration, Previous: Installation, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
Vertico defines its own local keymap in the minibuffer which is derived from
minibuffer-local-map. The keymap keeps most of the fundamental-mode keybindings
intact and remaps and binds only a handful of commands.
| Binding/Remapping | Vertico command |
|---|---|
beginning-of-buffer, minibuffer-beginning-of-buffer | vertico-first |
end-of-buffer | vertico-last |
scroll-down-command | vertico-scroll-down |
scroll-up-command | vertico-scroll-up |
next-line, next-line-or-history-element | vertico-next |
previous-line, previous-line-or-history-element | vertico-previous |
forward-paragraph | vertico-next-group |
backward-paragraph | vertico-previous-group |
exit-minibuffer | vertico-exit |
kill-ring-save | vertico-save |
| ‘M-RET’ | vertico-exit-input |
| ‘TAB’ | vertico-insert |
Note in particular the binding of ‘TAB’ to vertico-insert, which inserts the
currently selected candidate, and the binding of ‘RET’ and ‘M-RET’ to vertico-exit
and vertico-exit-input respectively.
vertico-exit exits with the currently selected candidate, while
vertico-exit-input exits with the minibuffer input instead. Exiting with the
current input is needed when you want to create a new buffer or a new file with
find-file or switch-to-buffer. As an alternative to pressing ‘M-RET’, move the
selection up to the input prompt by pressing the ‘up’ arrow key and then press
‘RET’.
Next: Extensions, Previous: Key bindings, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
In order to configure Vertico and other packages in your init.el, you may want
to take advantage of use-package. Here is an example configuration:
;; Enable vertico
(use-package vertico
:init
(vertico-mode)
;; Different scroll margin
;; (setq vertico-scroll-margin 0)
;; Show more candidates
;; (setq vertico-count 20)
;; Grow and shrink the Vertico minibuffer
;; (setq vertico-resize t)
;; Optionally enable cycling for `vertico-next' and `vertico-previous'.
;; (setq vertico-cycle t)
)
;; Persist history over Emacs restarts. Vertico sorts by history position.
(use-package savehist
:init
(savehist-mode))
;; A few more useful configurations...
(use-package emacs
:init
;; Add prompt indicator to `completing-read-multiple'.
;; We display [CRM<separator>], e.g., [CRM,] if the separator is a comma.
(defun crm-indicator (args)
(cons (format "[CRM%s] %s"
(replace-regexp-in-string
"\\`\\[.*?]\\*\\|\\[.*?]\\*\\'" ""
crm-separator)
(car args))
(cdr args)))
(advice-add #'completing-read-multiple :filter-args #'crm-indicator)
;; Do not allow the cursor in the minibuffer prompt
(setq minibuffer-prompt-properties
'(read-only t cursor-intangible t face minibuffer-prompt))
(add-hook 'minibuffer-setup-hook #'cursor-intangible-mode)
;; Support opening new minibuffers from inside existing minibuffers.
(setq enable-recursive-minibuffers t)
;; Emacs 28 and newer: Hide commands in M-x which do not work in the current
;; mode. Vertico commands are hidden in normal buffers. This setting is
;; useful beyond Vertico.
(setq read-extended-command-predicate #'command-completion-default-include-p))
I recommend to give Orderless completion a try, which is different from the prefix TAB completion used by the basic default completion system or in shells.
;; Optionally use the `orderless' completion style.
(use-package orderless
:init
;; Configure a custom style dispatcher (see the Consult wiki)
;; (setq orderless-style-dispatchers '(+orderless-consult-dispatch orderless-affix-dispatch)
;; orderless-component-separator #'orderless-escapable-split-on-space)
(setq completion-styles '(orderless basic)
completion-category-defaults nil
completion-category-overrides '((file (styles partial-completion)))))
The ‘basic’ completion style is specified as fallback in addition to ‘orderless’ in
order to ensure that completion commands which rely on dynamic completion
tables, e.g., completion-table-dynamic or completion-table-in-turn, work
correctly. See the Consult wiki for my advanced Orderless configuration with
style dispatchers. Additionally enable ‘partial-completion’ for file path
expansion. ‘partial-completion’ is important for file wildcard support in
‘find-file’. In order to open multiple files with a wildcard at once, you have to
submit the prompt with ‘M-RET’. Alternative first move to the prompt and then
press ‘RET’.
See also the Vertico Wiki for additional configuration tips. For more general documentation read the chapter about completion in the Emacs manual. If you want to create your own completion commands, you can find documentation about completion in the Elisp manual.
The bindings of the minibuffer-local-completion-map are not available in Vertico
by default. This means that ‘TAB’ works differently from what you may expect from
shells like Bash or the default Emacs completion system. In Vertico ‘TAB’ inserts
the currently selected candidate.
If you prefer to have the default completion commands available you can add new
bindings or even replace the Vertico bindings. For example you can use ‘M-TAB’ to
expand the prefix of candidates (TAB complete) or cycle between candidates if
completion-cycle-threshold is non-nil.
;; Option 1: Additional bindings (keymap-set vertico-map "?" #'minibuffer-completion-help) (keymap-set vertico-map "M-RET" #'minibuffer-force-complete-and-exit) (keymap-set vertico-map "M-TAB" #'minibuffer-complete) ;; Option 2: Replace `vertico-insert' to enable TAB prefix expansion. ;; (keymap-set vertico-map "TAB" #'minibuffer-complete)
The orderless completion style does not support expansion of a common candidate
prefix, as supported by shells or the basic default completion system. The
reason is that the Orderless input string is usually not a prefix. In order to
support completing prefixes, combine orderless with substring in your
‘completion-styles’ configuration.
(setq completion-styles '(substring orderless basic))
Alternatively you can use the built-in completion-styles, e.g.,
‘partial-completion’, ‘flex’ or ‘initials’. The ‘partial-completion’ style is important
if you want to open multiple files at once with find-file using wildcards. In
order to open multiple files with a wildcard at once, you have to submit the
prompt with ‘M-RET’. Alternative first move to the prompt and then press ‘RET’.
(setq completion-styles '(basic substring partial-completion flex))
Because Vertico is fully compatible with Emacs default completion system,
further customization of completion behavior can be achieved by setting the
designated Emacs variables. For example, one may wish to disable
case-sensitivity for file and buffer matching when built-in completion styles
are used instead of orderless:
(setq read-file-name-completion-ignore-case t
read-buffer-completion-ignore-case t
completion-ignore-case t)
Previous: Completion styles and TAB completion, Up: Configuration [Contents]
The tab completion command ‘completion-at-point’ command is usually bound to ‘M-TAB’
or ‘TAB’. Tab completion is also used in the minibuffer by ‘M-:’ (eval-expression).
In case you want to use Vertico to show the completion candidates of
‘completion-at-point’ and ‘completion-in-region’, you can use the function
consult-completion-in-region provided by the Consult package.
;; Use `consult-completion-in-region' if Vertico is enabled.
;; Otherwise use the default `completion--in-region' function.
(setq completion-in-region-function
(lambda (&rest args)
(apply (if vertico-mode
#'consult-completion-in-region
#'completion--in-region)
args)))
You may also want to look into my Corfu package, which provides a minimal completion system for ‘completion-in-region’ in a child frame popup. Corfu is a narrowly focused package and developed in the same spirit as Vertico. You can even use Corfu in the minibuffer.
Next: Complementary packages, Previous: Configuration, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
We maintain small extension packages to Vertico in this repository in the
subdirectory extensions/. The extensions are installed together with Vertico if
you pull the package from ELPA. The extensions are inactive by default and can
be enabled manually if desired. Furthermore it is possible to install all of the
files separately, both vertico.el and the vertico-*.el extensions. Currently the
following extensions come with the Vertico ELPA package:
See the commentary of those files for configuration details. With these extensions it is possible to adapt Vertico such that it matches your preference or behaves similar to other familiar UIs. For example, the combination ‘vertico-flat’ plus ‘vertico-directory’ resembles Ido in look and feel. For an interface similar to Helm, the extension ‘vertico-buffer’ allows you to configure freely where the completion buffer opens, instead of growing the minibuffer. Furthermore ‘vertico-buffer’ will adjust the number of displayed candidates according to the buffer height.
Configuration example for ‘vertico-directory’:
;; Configure directory extension.
(use-package vertico-directory
:after vertico
:ensure nil
;; More convenient directory navigation commands
:bind (:map vertico-map
("RET" . vertico-directory-enter)
("DEL" . vertico-directory-delete-char)
("M-DEL" . vertico-directory-delete-word))
;; Tidy shadowed file names
:hook (rfn-eshadow-update-overlay . vertico-directory-tidy))
Up: Extensions [Contents]
https://github.com/minad/vertico/blob/screenshots/vertico-ripgrep.png?raw=true
Vertico offers the ‘vertico-multiform-mode’ which allows you to configure Vertico
per command or per completion category. The ‘vertico-buffer-mode’ enables a
Helm-like buffer display, which takes more space but also displays more
candidates. This verbose display mode is useful for commands like consult-imenu
or consult-outline since the buffer display allows you to get a better overview
over the entire current buffer. But for other commands you want to keep using
the default Vertico display. vertico-multiform-mode solves this configuration
problem.
;; Enable vertico-multiform
(vertico-multiform-mode)
;; Configure the display per command.
;; Use a buffer with indices for imenu
;; and a flat (Ido-like) menu for M-x.
(setq vertico-multiform-commands
'((consult-imenu buffer indexed)
(execute-extended-command unobtrusive)))
;; Configure the display per completion category.
;; Use the grid display for files and a buffer
;; for the consult-grep commands.
(setq vertico-multiform-categories
'((file grid)
(consult-grep buffer)))
Temporary toggling between the different display modes is possible. The following commands are bound by default in the ‘vertico-multiform-map’. You can of course change these bindings if you like.
vertico-multiform-buffer
vertico-multiform-flat
vertico-multiform-grid
vertico-multiform-reverse
vertico-multiform-unobtrusive
vertico-multiform-vertical
For special configuration you can use your own functions or even lambdas to configure the completion behavior per command or per completion category. Functions must have the calling convention of a mode, i.e., take a single argument, which is either 1 to turn on the mode and -1 to turn off the mode.
;; Configure `consult-outline' as a scaled down TOC in a separate buffer
(setq vertico-multiform-commands
`((consult-outline buffer ,(lambda (_) (text-scale-set -1)))))
Furthermore you can tune buffer-local settings per command or category.
;; Change the default sorting function.
;; See `vertico-sort-function' and `vertico-sort-override-function'.
(setq vertico-multiform-commands
'((describe-symbol (vertico-sort-function . vertico-sort-alpha))))
(setq vertico-multiform-categories
'((symbol (vertico-sort-function . vertico-sort-alpha))
(file (vertico-sort-function . sort-directories-first))))
;; Sort directories before files
(defun sort-directories-first (files)
(setq files (vertico-sort-history-length-alpha files))
(nconc (seq-filter (lambda (x) (string-suffix-p "/" x)) files)
(seq-remove (lambda (x) (string-suffix-p "/" x)) files)))
Combining these features allows us to fine-tune the completion display even more
by adjusting the vertico-buffer-display-action. We can for example reuse the
current window for commands of the consult-grep category (consult-grep,
consult-git-grep and consult-ripgrep). Note that this configuration is
incompatible with Consult preview, since the previewed buffer is usually shown
in exactly this window. Nevertheless this snippet demonstrates the flexibility
of the configuration system.
;; Configure the buffer display and the buffer display action
(setq vertico-multiform-categories
'((consult-grep
buffer
(vertico-buffer-display-action . (display-buffer-same-window)))))
;; Disable preview for consult-grep commands
(consult-customize consult-ripgrep consult-git-grep consult-grep :preview-key nil)
As another example, the following code uses vertico-flat and vertico-cycle to
emulate (ido-mode 'buffer), i.e., Ido when it is enabled only for completion of
buffer names. vertico-cycle set to t is necessary here to prevent completion
candidates from disappearing when they scroll off-screen to the left.
(setq vertico-multiform-categories
'((buffer flat (vertico-cycle . t))))
Next: Child frames and Popups, Previous: Extensions, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
Vertico integrates well with complementary packages, which enrich the completion UI. These packages are fully supported:
In order to get accustomed with the package ecosystem, I recommend the following quick start approach:
emacs -Q).
embark-dwim and embark-act.
I am using the mnemonic keybindings ‘M-.’ and ‘C-.’ since these commands allow
you to act on the object at point or in the minibuffer.
consult-buffer with preview or the line-based
search consult-line.
The ecosystem is modular. You don’t have to use all of these components. Use
only the ones you like and the ones which fit well into your setup. The steps 1.
to 4. introduce no new commands over plain Emacs. Step 5. introduces the new
commands embark-act and embark-dwim. In step 6. you get the Consult commands,
some offer new functionality not present in Emacs already (e.g., consult-line)
and some are substitutes (e.g., consult-buffer for switch-to-buffer).
Next: Alternatives, Previous: Complementary packages, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
An often requested feature is the ability to display the completions in a child
frame popup. Personally I am critical of using child frames for minibuffer
completion. From my experience it introduces more problems than it solves. Most
importantly child frames hide the content of the underlying buffer. Furthermore
child frames do not play well together with changing windows and entering
recursive minibuffer sessions. On top, child frames can feel slow and sometimes
flicker. A better alternative is the vertico-buffer display which can even be
configured individually per command using vertico-multiform. On the plus side of
child frames, the completion display appears at the center of the screen, where
your eyes are focused. Please give the following packages a try and judge for
yourself.
Next: Resources, Previous: Child frames and Popups, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
There are many alternative completion UIs, each UI with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Vertico aims to be 100% compliant with all Emacs commands and achieves that with
a minimal code base, relying purely on completing-read while avoiding to invent
its own APIs. Inventing a custom API as Helm or Ivy is explicitly avoided in
order to increase flexibility and package reuse. Due to its small code base and
reuse of the Emacs built-in facilities, bugs and compatibility issues are less
likely to occur in comparison to completion UIs or monolithic completion systems.
Since Vertico only provides the UI, you may want to combine it with some of the complementary packages, to give a full-featured completion experience similar to Helm or Ivy. The idea is to have smaller independent components, which one can add and understand step by step. Each component focuses on its niche and tries to be as non-intrusive as possible. Vertico targets users interested in crafting their Emacs precisely to their liking - completion plays an integral part in how the users interacts with Emacs.
There are other interactive completion UIs, which follow a similar philosophy:
*Completions* buffer and enhances it with automatic updates and additional
keybindings, to select a candidate and move between minibuffer and completions
buffer. Since Mct uses a fully functional buffer you can use familiar buffer
commands inside the completions buffer. The main distinction to Vertico’s
approach is that *Completions* buffer displays all matching candidates. This
has the advantage that you can interact freely with the candidates and jump
around with Isearch or Avy. On the other hand it necessarily causes a
slowdown.
Next: Contributions, Previous: Alternatives, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
If you want to learn more about Vertico and minibuffer completion, check out the following resources:
Next: Debugging Vertico, Previous: Resources, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
Since this package is part of GNU ELPA contributions require a copyright assignment to the FSF.
Next: Problematic completion commands, Previous: Contributions, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
When you observe an error in the ‘vertico--exhibit’ post command hook, you should install an advice to enforce debugging. This allows you to obtain a stack trace in order to narrow down the location of the error. The reason is that post command hooks are automatically disabled (and not debugged) by Emacs. Otherwise Emacs would become unusable, given that the hooks are executed after every command.
(setq debug-on-error t)
(defun force-debug (func &rest args)
(condition-case e
(apply func args)
((debug error) (signal (car e) (cdr e)))))
(advice-add #'vertico--exhibit :around #'force-debug)
Previous: Debugging Vertico, Up: vertico.el - VERTical Interactive COmpletion [Contents]
Vertico is robust in most scenarios. However some completion commands make certain assumptions about the completion styles and the completion UI. Some of these assumptions may not hold in Vertico or other UIs and require minor workarounds.
org-refileorg-agenda-filter and org-tags-viewtmm-menubarffap-menucompletion-table-dynamicorg-refileorg-refile uses org-olpath-completing-read to complete the outline path in
steps, when org-refile-use-outline-path is non-nil.
Unfortunately the implementation of this Org completion table assumes that the
basic completion style is used. The table is incompatible with completion styles
like substring, flex or orderless. In order to fix the issue at the root, the
completion table should make use of completion boundaries similar to the
built-in file completion table. In your user configuration you can prioritize
basic before orderless.
;; Alternative 1: Use the basic completion style
(setq org-refile-use-outline-path 'file
org-outline-path-complete-in-steps t)
(advice-add #'org-olpath-completing-read :around #'vertico-enforce-basic-completion)
(defun vertico-enforce-basic-completion (&rest args)
(minibuffer-with-setup-hook
(:append
(lambda ()
(let ((map (make-sparse-keymap)))
(define-key map [tab] #'minibuffer-complete)
(use-local-map (make-composed-keymap (list map) (current-local-map))))
(setq-local completion-styles (cons 'basic completion-styles)
vertico-preselect 'prompt)))
(apply args)))
Alternatively you may want to disable the outline path completion in steps. The completion on the full path can be quicker since the input string matches directly against substrings of the full path, which is useful with Orderless. However the list of possible completions becomes much more cluttered.
;; Alternative 2: Complete full paths
(setq org-refile-use-outline-path 'file
org-outline-path-complete-in-steps nil)
Next: tmm-menubar, Previous: org-refile, Up: Problematic completion commands [Contents]
org-agenda-filter and org-tags-viewSimilar to org-refile, the commands org-agenda-filter and org-tags-view do not
make use of completion boundaries. The internal completion tables are
org-agenda-filter-completion-function and org-tags-completion-function.
Unfortunately ‘TAB’ completion (minibuffer-complete) does not work for this reason
with arbitrary completion styles like substring, flex or orderless. This affects
Vertico and also the Emacs default completion system. For example if you enter
+tag<0 TAB the input is replaced with 0:10 which is not correct. With preserved
completion boundaries, the expected result would be +tag<0:10. Completion
boundaries are used for example by file completion, where each part of the path
can be completed separately. Ideally this issue would be fixed in Org.
(advice-add #'org-make-tags-matcher :around #'vertico-enforce-basic-completion) (advice-add #'org-agenda-filter :around #'vertico-enforce-basic-completion)
Next: Submitting the empty string, Previous: ffap-menu, Up: Problematic completion commands [Contents]
completion-table-dynamicDynamic completion tables (completion-table-dynamic, completion-table-in-turn,
…) should work well with Vertico. The only requirement is that the ‘basic’
completion style is enabled. The ‘basic’ style performs prefix filtering by
passing the input to the completion table (or the dynamic completion table
function). The ‘basic’ completion style must not necessarily be configured with
highest priority, it can also come after other completion styles like ‘orderless’,
‘substring’ or ‘flex’, as is also recommended by the Orderless documentation because
of completion-table-dynamic.
(setq completion-styles '(basic))
;; (setq completion-styles '(orderless basic))
(completing-read "Dynamic: "
(completion-table-dynamic
(lambda (str)
(list (concat str "1")
(concat str "2")
(concat str "3")))))
Next: Tramp hostname and username completion, Previous: completion-table-dynamic, Up: Problematic completion commands [Contents]
The commands multi-occur, auto-insert, bbdb-create read multiple arguments from
the minibuffer with completing-read, one at a time, until you submit an empty
string. You should type ‘M-RET’ (vertico-exit-input) to finish the loop. Directly
pressing ‘RET’ (vertico-exit) does not work since the first candidate is
preselected.
The underlying issue is that completing-read always allows you to exit with the
empty string, which is called the null completion, even if the REQUIRE-MATCH
argument is non-nil. Try the following two calls to completing-read with ‘C-x C-e’:
(completing-read "Select: " '("first" "second" "third") nil 'require-match)
(completing-read "Select: " '("first" "second" "third") nil 'require-match nil nil "")
In both cases the empty string can be submitted. In the first case no explicit default value is specified and Vertico preselects the first candidate. In order to exit with the empty string, press ‘M-RET’. In the second case the explicit default value "" is specified and Vertico preselects the prompt, such that exiting with the empty string is possible by pressing ‘RET’ only.
Previous: Submitting the empty string, Up: Problematic completion commands [Contents]
NOTE: On upcoming Emacs 29.2 and Tramp 2.6.1.5 the workarounds described in this section are not necessary anymore, since the relevant completion tables have been improved.
In combination with Orderless or other non-prefix completion styles like ‘substring’ or ‘flex’, host names and user names are not made available for completion after entering ‘/ssh:’. In order to avoid this problem, the ‘basic’ completion style should be specified for the file completion category, such that ‘basic’ is tried before ‘orderless’. This can be achieved by putting ‘basic’ first in the completion style overrides for the file completion category.
(setq completion-styles '(orderless basic)
completion-category-defaults nil
completion-category-overrides '((file (styles basic partial-completion))))
If you are familiar with the ‘completion-style’ machinery, you may also define a custom completion style which activates only for remote files. The custom completion style ensures that you can always match substrings within non-remote file names, since ‘orderless’ will stay the preferred style for non-remote files.
(defun basic-remote-try-completion (string table pred point)
(and (vertico--remote-p string)
(completion-basic-try-completion string table pred point)))
(defun basic-remote-all-completions (string table pred point)
(and (vertico--remote-p string)
(completion-basic-all-completions string table pred point)))
(add-to-list
'completion-styles-alist
'(basic-remote basic-remote-try-completion basic-remote-all-completions nil))
(setq completion-styles '(orderless basic)
completion-category-defaults nil
completion-category-overrides '((file (styles basic-remote partial-completion))))