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Hline uses vim-style keybindings for navigation and supports two input modes: normal mode and search mode. Each mode has its own set of keybindings.

Normal mode

Normal mode is the default mode when you launch hline. This is where you navigate, select, and copy commands.
j / Down
key
Move cursor down one line
k / Up
key
Move cursor up one line
Ctrl+d / PageDown
key
Move down half a page (half the viewport height)
Ctrl+u / PageUp
key
Move up half a page (half the viewport height)
g
key
Jump to the top of the list
G
key
Jump to the bottom of the list

Selection

Space
key
Toggle selection for the current entry
a
key
Select all currently shown entries (respects active filters)
c
key
Clear all selections
y
key
Copy the current entry, or all selected entries if any are selected
/
key
Enter search mode to filter commands

Sorting

s
key
Cycle through sort modes: Recency → Alpha → Length → Recency
S
key
Toggle sort direction (ascending/descending)

Help and quit

?
key
Toggle the help screen
q
key
Quit hline

Search mode

When you press / in normal mode, you enter search mode. The search query appears at the bottom of the screen, and results update as you type.

Text editing

any character
key
Insert character into the search query (modifiers like Ctrl and Alt are ignored)
Backspace
key
Delete the last character from the search query
Ctrl+w / Ctrl+Backspace
key
Delete the last word from the search query (removes trailing whitespace first, then the word)
Ctrl+u
key
Clear the entire search query
Esc / Enter
key
Exit search mode and return to normal mode (keeps the current filter active)

Context-aware behavior

Some keys behave differently depending on the mode:
  • Ctrl+u moves up half a page in normal mode, but clears the search query in search mode
  • ? toggles the help screen in normal mode; when help is visible, press ? or Esc to close it

Help screen override

When the help screen is visible, most keys are ignored except:
  • ? - Close the help screen
  • Esc - Close the help screen
This prevents accidental navigation or selection changes while viewing help.

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