# mode-keys

Source: https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/catalog/options/mode-keys/

> Use vi or emacs-style key bindings in copy mode.

option tmux3.2a

Use vi or emacs-style key bindings in copy mode.

* Scope

  window

* Type

  Choice

* Default

  `emacs`

* Values

  `emacs` `vi`

* Set

  [`set-option`](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/manual/set-option/) `-w mode-keys value`

* Read

  [`show-options`](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/manual/show-options/) `-w mode-keys`

## Description[#](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/catalog/options/mode-keys/#description)

Use vi or emacs-style key bindings in copy mode. The default is emacs, unless `VISUAL` or `EDITOR` contains ‘`vi`’.

## Releases[#](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/catalog/options/mode-keys/#releases)

* [tmux 3.7c](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.7c/catalog/options/mode-keys/) : present
* [tmux 3.2a](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/catalog/options/mode-keys/) : present

## Source[#](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/catalog/options/mode-keys/#source)

* Defined in

  [`options-table.c:852`](https://github.com/tmux/tmux/blob/3b929f332aafa7f1080eacc31feb11ffbb1d1841/options-table.c#L852)

* C source reference

  [`options_table`](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/reference/c-variable-options_table/)

* CLI Manual

  [Original manual entry](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/manual/full/#options-mode-keys)

## Used by[#](https://libtmux.org/en/tmux/3.2a/catalog/options/mode-keys/#used-by)

Library documentation that names this option.

* Rust

  [`options.generated.MODE_KEYS`](https://libtmux.org/en/rs/latest/reference/options-generated-mode_keys/)

* Go

  [`tmux.GlobalWindowScope.SetModeKeys`](https://libtmux.org/en/go/latest/reference/tmux-globalwindowscope-setmodekeys/), [`tmux.ModeKeys`](https://libtmux.org/en/go/latest/reference/tmux-modekeys/), [`tmux.Window.SetModeKeys`](https://libtmux.org/en/go/latest/reference/tmux-window-setmodekeys/), [`tmux.WindowOptionValues.ModeKeys`](https://libtmux.org/en/go/latest/reference/tmux-windowoptionvalues-modekeys/)