5 IntelliJ Shortcuts Every Java Dev Should Know
Master these keyboard shortcuts to 10x your coding speed and impress your colleagues. ⌨️
Why Keyboard Shortcuts Matter
Every second you spend reaching for your mouse is a second you could be writing code. IntelliJ IDEA is packed with shortcuts that can dramatically speed up your workflow. Here are the 5 essential shortcuts that every Java developer should memorize.
Search Everywhere
The most powerful shortcut in IntelliJ. Find any file, class, symbol, action, or setting in your entire project with a single keystroke.
💡 Pro Tip: Press Tab to switch between 'All', 'Classes', 'Files', 'Symbols', and 'Actions' tabs for more focused results.
Generate Code
Instantly generate constructors, getters/setters, equals/hashCode, toString, and more. Never write boilerplate code manually again!
💡 Pro Tip: Works inside classes to generate methods, or in directories to create new files and classes.
Smart Refactoring
Access all refactoring options: rename, extract method/variable, inline, change signature, and more. IntelliJ handles all references automatically.
💡 Pro Tip: Use Shift + F6 for quick rename - it's the most commonly used refactoring operation.
Quick Fix / Show Intentions
The red light bulb's best friend! Shows all available quick fixes, intentions, and code actions at your cursor position.
💡 Pro Tip: This is your go-to for auto-imports, implementing interfaces, creating methods, and fixing errors.
Debug Evaluate Expression
While debugging, evaluate any expression, call methods, or inspect variables on the fly without modifying your code.
💡 Pro Tip: You can also select code in the editor and press this shortcut to evaluate that specific expression.
🎁 Bonus Quick Shortcuts
🚀 Practice Makes Perfect!
Start using these shortcuts today. It might feel slow at first, but within a week, they'll become second nature and you'll wonder how you ever coded without them.
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