---
name: fzf-fuzzy-finder-24c20d8b40e7
description: Command-line fuzzy finder for interactive filtering and selection - integrates with shell, vim, and other tools.
homepage: https://github.com/junegunn/fzf
metadata: {"clawdbot":{"emoji":"🔮","requires":{"bins":["fzf"]},"install":[{"id":"brew","kind":"brew","formula":"fzf","bins":["fzf"],"label":"Install fzf (brew)"},{"id":"apt","kind":"apt","package":"fzf","bins":["fzf"],"label":"Install fzf (apt)"}]}}
---

# fzf - Fuzzy Finder

Interactive command-line fuzzy finder with powerful integration capabilities.

## Basic Usage

### Simple filtering
```bash
# Pipe list to fzf
ls | fzf

# Select file
find . -type f | fzf

# Multi-select (Tab to select, Shift+Tab to deselect)
ls | fzf -m

# Preview files while selecting
ls | fzf --preview 'cat {}'

# With bat for syntax highlighting
ls | fzf --preview 'bat --color=always {}'
```

### Shell integration
```bash
# After installing, add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc:
# source /path/to/fzf/shell/completion.bash
# source /path/to/fzf/shell/key-bindings.bash

# Key bindings:
# Ctrl+R - Command history
# Ctrl+T - File search
# Alt+C  - Directory navigation

# Use in command line
vim **<TAB>      # File completion
cd **<TAB>       # Directory completion
kill -9 **<TAB>  # Process completion
```

## Common Patterns

### File selection
```bash
# Open file in vim
vim $(fzf)

# Edit with preview
vim $(fzf --preview 'bat --color=always --line-range :500 {}')

# Select and copy
fzf | xargs -I {} cp {} /destination/

# Delete selected files
fzf -m | xargs rm
```

### Directory navigation
```bash
# CD to selected directory
cd $(find . -type d | fzf)

# Alias for quick nav
alias cdf='cd $(find . -type d | fzf)'

# Or use Alt+C keybinding
```

### Git integration
```bash
# Checkout branch
git branch | fzf | xargs git checkout

# Show commit
git log --oneline | fzf | awk '{print $1}' | xargs git show

# Add files interactively
git status -s | fzf -m | awk '{print $2}' | xargs git add

# Fuzzy git log browser
alias gll='git log --oneline | fzf --preview "git show {1}"'
```

### Process management
```bash
# Kill process
ps aux | fzf | awk '{print $2}' | xargs kill

# Kill multiple processes
ps aux | fzf -m | awk '{print $2}' | xargs kill -9
```

## Advanced Features

### Preview window
```bash
# Preview on the right
fzf --preview 'cat {}'

# Preview position and size
fzf --preview 'cat {}' --preview-window=right:50%

# Preview with bat
fzf --preview 'bat --color=always --style=numbers --line-range=:500 {}'

# Toggle preview with Ctrl+/
fzf --preview 'cat {}' --bind 'ctrl-/:toggle-preview'

# Preview directory contents
find . -type d | fzf --preview 'ls -la {}'
```

### Custom key bindings
```bash
# Execute action on selection
fzf --bind 'enter:execute(vim {})'

# Multiple bindings
fzf --bind 'ctrl-e:execute(vim {})' \
    --bind 'ctrl-o:execute(open {})'

# Reload on key press
fzf --bind 'ctrl-r:reload(find . -type f)'

# Accept non-matching input
fzf --print0 --bind 'enter:print-query'
```

### Filtering options
```bash
# Case-insensitive (default)
fzf -i

# Case-sensitive
fzf +i

# Exact match
fzf -e

# Inverse match (exclude)
fzf --query='!pattern'

# OR operator
fzf --query='py$ | js$'  # .py or .js files

# AND operator
fzf --query='test .py'  # Contains both 'test' and '.py'
```

## Integration Examples

### With ripgrep
```bash
# Search content and open in vim
rg --line-number . | fzf | awk -F: '{print "+"$2, $1}' | xargs vim

# Search and preview matches
rg --line-number . | fzf --delimiter : \
  --preview 'bat --color=always {1} --highlight-line {2}' \
  --preview-window +{2}-/2
```

### With fd
```bash
# Find and preview files
fd --type f | fzf --preview 'bat --color=always {}'

# Find files modified today
fd --changed-within 1d | fzf --preview 'bat {}'
```

### With docker
```bash
# Select and enter container
docker ps | fzf | awk '{print $1}' | xargs -I {} docker exec -it {} bash

# Remove selected images
docker images | fzf -m | awk '{print $3}' | xargs docker rmi

# View logs
docker ps | fzf | awk '{print $1}' | xargs docker logs -f
```

### With kubectl
```bash
# Select pod
kubectl get pods | fzf | awk '{print $1}' | xargs kubectl describe pod

# Get logs
kubectl get pods | fzf | awk '{print $1}' | xargs kubectl logs -f

# Delete pods
kubectl get pods | fzf -m | awk '{print $1}' | xargs kubectl delete pod
```

## Useful Aliases

Add to your shell config:

```bash
# Fuzzy file search and open in vim
alias fv='vim $(fzf --preview "bat --color=always --style=numbers {}")'

# Fuzzy directory change
alias fcd='cd $(find . -type d | fzf)'

# Fuzzy git checkout
alias gco='git branch | fzf | xargs git checkout'

# Fuzzy process kill
alias fkill='ps aux | fzf | awk "{print \$2}" | xargs kill -9'

# Fuzzy history search (Ctrl+R is built-in)
alias fh='history | fzf | awk "{print \$2}" | xargs -I {} sh -c "{}"'

# Find and edit
alias fe='fd --type f | fzf --preview "bat --color=always --style=numbers {}" | xargs -r $EDITOR'
```

## Configuration

### Environment variables
```bash
# Default options
export FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS='
  --height 40%
  --layout=reverse
  --border
  --inline-info
  --preview "bat --style=numbers --color=always --line-range :500 {}"
'

# Use fd instead of find
export FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND='fd --type f --hidden --follow --exclude .git'

# For Ctrl+T
export FZF_CTRL_T_COMMAND="$FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND"

# For Alt+C
export FZF_ALT_C_COMMAND='fd --type d --hidden --follow --exclude .git'
```

### Color scheme
```bash
export FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS='
  --color=bg+:#313244,bg:#1e1e2e,spinner:#f5e0dc,hl:#f38ba8
  --color=fg:#cdd6f4,header:#f38ba8,info:#cba6f7,pointer:#f5e0dc
  --color=marker:#f5e0dc,fg+:#cdd6f4,prompt:#cba6f7,hl+:#f38ba8
'
```

## Advanced Workflows

### Project file browser
```bash
# Smart file browser with preview
fzf \
  --preview 'bat --color=always --style=numbers --line-range=:500 {}' \
  --preview-window='right:60%:wrap' \
  --bind 'enter:execute(vim {})' \
  --bind 'ctrl-y:execute-silent(echo {} | pbcopy)+abort' \
  --header 'Enter: edit | Ctrl+Y: copy path'
```

### Multi-purpose search
```bash
# Search in files and navigate to line
rg --line-number --no-heading . | \
  fzf --delimiter=: \
      --preview 'bat --color=always --style=numbers --highlight-line {2} {1}' \
      --preview-window='+{2}-/2' \
      --bind 'enter:execute(vim {1} +{2})'
```

### Docker container manager
```bash
#!/bin/bash
# docker-fzf.sh
container=$(docker ps --format "table {{.Names}}\t{{.Status}}\t{{.Image}}" | fzf --header-lines=1 | awk '{print $1}')
if [ -n "$container" ]; then
    docker exec -it "$container" bash
fi
```

## Tips

- Use `--preview` for visual context
- Combine with `bat`, `rg`, `fd` for powerful workflows
- Press `?` in fzf to see keybindings
- Use `Tab` for multi-select
- `Ctrl+/` to toggle preview (if bound)
- `Ctrl+K` / `Ctrl+J` to navigate
- Start query with `'` for exact match
- Start with `!` to exclude
- Use `|` for OR, space for AND
- Set `FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS` for persistent config

## Performance

```bash
# For large file lists, use fd or rg
export FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND='fd --type f'

# Limit depth for faster results
export FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND='fd --type f --max-depth 5'

# Use parallel preview
fzf --preview 'bat {}' --preview-window 'hidden'
```

## Documentation

GitHub: https://github.com/junegunn/fzf
Wiki: https://github.com/junegunn/fzf/wiki
Examples: https://github.com/junegunn/fzf/wiki/examples


---
Source attribution: modbender
Original project: https://github.com/modbender/skill-library-mcp/blob/d9c8fe903b5b4e82237dbe8d0df8567783022e18/data/fzf-fuzzy-finder/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2025 skill-library-mcp contributors

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: modbender
Original project: https://github.com/modbender/skill-library-mcp/blob/d9c8fe903b5b4e82237dbe8d0df8567783022e18/data/fzf-fuzzy-finder/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Content & Media, Data & Analytics, Development & Engineering, Product Management
Roles: Backend Developer, Data Analyst, DevOps / SRE, Product Manager, Technical Writer
Specialties: Backend, Cross Platform, DevOps
Tools: Fzf
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: aed9e179419dd05b7df31da1b36f9af41dd5d906cfc8e025c1e212dc287c71d0