Navigation & Modes

piespector is modal. The same key can mean different things depending on whether you are browsing a page, editing a field, filtering results, or viewing a response.

The short version

: opens command mode
Esc exits the current interaction mode when that mode supports leaving
j / k usually move vertically
h / l usually move horizontally
e or Enter usually opens or edits the selected thing
:home, :env, :history switch tabs
:help opens the contextual help page
:q quits the app

Command mode

Use command mode for page actions, imports, exports, tab switches, and destructive operations.

Tab completes commands
Tab also completes filesystem paths for import and export
On Home, Tab also completes destination paths for mv and cp
Enter runs the command
Esc cancels command mode

Commands with spaces in names or paths can be quoted:

:rename "Books API v2"
:import "My Collections.json"
:mv "Target / Auth Folder"

See Command Mode for the full reference.

Search mode

Search is available on Home and History.

s enters search mode
Enter runs the search
Esc leaves search mode
Tab cycles through search completions

On Home, search jumps to matching requests or sidebar targets. On History, search acts as a filter over history entries.

Inline edit mode

Many fields use a one-line editor instead of a separate screen.

Type to edit the current value
Left and Right move the cursor
Home and End jump to the start or end
Backspace and Delete remove characters
Enter saves
Esc cancels

Inline editors also support:

Tab placeholder completion
copy of the current field value
paste into the current field

Raw body editor

Raw request bodies open in a dedicated text area.

Ctrl+S saves
Esc cancels
Tab completes placeholders

Response viewer

Both Home and History can open a response viewer for body content.

Esc closes the viewer
Copy uses platform-specific shortcuts
On macOS, copy is Ctrl+C
On Linux, copy is Ctrl+Shift+C
On Windows, copy is Ctrl+Shift+C or Ctrl+Insert

Where to go next

For page-specific movement, use the page guides:

Previous
Usage Overview Next
Home