Learn Fzf - Shell Integration (CTRL-T, CTRL-R, ALT-C)

#Introduction

So far you have been calling fzf explicitly: typing cat daftar.txt | fzf, selecting, then passing the result on. Episode 7 removes that manual step with shell integration — fzf merges with your shell, appears via a keybinding, and makes use of data sources that already exist: the filesystem, command history, and directories. The foundation is one line: eval "$(fzf --bash)".

This is a paradigm shift, not just an added feature. After this episode, you will never again press the up arrow repeatedly to search for an old command, or type a long path to open a file. fzf becomes part of the way you type.

#Concept: A Widget On Top of Your Shell

Shell integration makes fzf act as a widget that lives inside your shell — like a smart autocomplete you can summon at any time. fzf generates a shell-specific integration script, and you evaluate it once in your config file. This script registers three core keybindings:

Think of CTRL-R as a time machine for commands: instead of scrolling through history with the up arrow, you type a keyword and filter thousands of history lines in an instant. Likewise CTRL-T — the shell's Spotlight for the files around you.

#Installing Shell Integration

fzf provides a flag for each shell. The pattern is always the same: ask fzf to print a script, then load the result.

eval "$(fzf --bash)"

source <(fzf --zsh)

fzf --fish | source

fzf --nushell | save -f ~/.config/nushell/autoload/_fzf_integration.nu

Put the integration line in your shell config file — ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, or ~/.config/fish/config.fish — after the definitions of FZF_* variables (which we cover in episode 8), so those values are read when the integration script loads. After that, open a new terminal and try CTRL-R once; you will see fzf floating over your command history.

#CTRL-T: Selecting Files & Directories

CTRL-T is the most used keybinding. When pressed, fzf shows files (and directories) under the working directory, and the resulting path is inserted into the command line you are typing. A real flow example:

nvim <tekan CTRL-T>

You type nvim then press CTRL-T — a file list appears, you pick one with fuzzy search, and the command line becomes nvim path/ke/file. No path typos, no Tab fighting with built-in autocomplete.

The default list source is fzf's built-in command (directory walking), but you can replace it with FZF_CTRL_T_COMMAND. This is useful for filtering file types, for example Markdown only:

export FZF_CTRL_T_COMMAND="find . -name '*.md' -type f"

#CTRL-R: Searching Command History

CTRL-R replaces the shell's built-in history search, which is usually linear (up arrow) or prefix-based (classic bash Ctrl-R). With fzf, history becomes a fuzzily filterable list: type docker build, and every history line containing both appears, pick the best one.

Because history is a fixed data source, there is no FZF_CTRL_R_COMMAND — but you can tune its behavior with FZF_CTRL_R_OPTS:

export FZF_CTRL_R_OPTS="--scheme=history --sort"

--scheme=history optimizes score assessment for time-ordered data (items appearing later in history are rewarded more), and --sort ensures results are ordered by relevance, not by order of appearance. The details of --scheme will be covered in the episode about search optimization.

#ALT-C: Changing Directories

ALT-C performs a fuzzy cd: it shows a list of directories, and as soon as one is selected, the shell moves there. Imagine reaching ~/proyek/belajar-fzf/episode-7 from anywhere by typing just a few letters — no path copying, no repeated cd ...

Like CTRL-T, its data source can be customized with FZF_ALT_C_COMMAND, and its behavior with FZF_ALT_C_OPTS:

export FZF_ALT_C_COMMAND="find . -type d -not -path '*/node_modules/*' -not -path '*/.git/*'"
export FZF_ALT_C_OPTS="--preview 'ls -la'"

The example above filters out node_modules and .git directories so the cd list stays clean, and shows the contents of the highlighted directory in the preview — so you don't have to guess what's inside.

#Disabling the Integration

There are two levels of "turning off": disabling the entire integration, or disabling a specific keybinding.

To turn everything off, simply don't load the integration line in your config — delete or comment out the eval/source line. All fzf keybindings disappear, and the shell returns to normal.

To turn off just one keybinding (for example, CTRL-T conflicting with your habits):

These lines can be placed in your config after the integration is loaded. The widget names in fish: fzf-file-widget for CTRL-T, fzf-history-widget for CTRL-R, and fzf-cd-widget for ALT-C.

#Closing

Episode 7 installed fzf into your shell: per-shell integration (bash, zsh, fish, nushell), three core keybindings (CTRL-T for files/directories, CTRL-R for history, ALT-C for cd), customization via FZF_CTRL_T_COMMAND, FZF_CTRL_R_OPTS, and FZF_ALT_C_*, and how to disable them partially or entirely.

The key takeaways:

• Integration is installed with a single eval/source line in your shell config.
• CTRL-T selects files, CTRL-R searches history, ALT-C changes directories.
• Automatic preview for CTRL-T/ALT-C has been active since fzf 0.48.
• Each keybinding's data source and options can be overridden with FZF_* variables.

In episode 8, we will bring all those FZF_* variables to the surface: environment variables & default options — FZF_DEFAULT_COMMAND, FZF_DEFAULT_OPTS, and the best configuration patterns to keep all your fzf settings consistent in one place. See you in episode 8!