Cursor is an AI-powered code editor that brings ChatGPT-like capabilities directly into your coding environment. Understanding what it can do, how to use its features effectively, and when it's most valuable can dramatically improve your development workflow.
This guide covers Cursor's features, shortcuts, best practices, and proven prompt techniques for maximum productivity.
What is Cursor?
Cursor is a code editor built on VS Code with AI capabilities integrated:
- AI-Powered Editing: Edit code using natural language commands
- Codebase Chat: Ask questions about your entire codebase
- Context Awareness: Understands your project structure and dependencies
- File Generation: Create entire files from descriptions
- VS Code Compatible: Works with VS Code extensions and settings
VS Code
- Code editor
- Requires AI extensions
- Limited AI context
- Code completion only
Cursor
- AI-powered editor
- AI built-in natively
- Full codebase context
- Edit, chat, generate
Key Features: How, What, When
Inline Code Editing (Cmd/Ctrl+K)
What:
Edit code directly in your editor using natural language
How:
Select code, press Cmd/Ctrl+K, describe what you want, and Cursor edits it
When:
Refactoring, fixing bugs, adding features, or modifying existing code
Example:
Select a function, press Cmd+K, type: "Add error handling and input validation"
✨ Best Prompt:
Add comprehensive error handling to this function: - Validate all inputs - Handle edge cases - Return meaningful error messages - Log errors appropriately [selected code]
Chat About Code (Cmd/Ctrl+L)
What:
Open a chat panel to ask questions about your codebase
How:
Press Cmd/Ctrl+L, ask questions, reference files with @filename
When:
Understanding code, debugging, getting explanations, or exploring codebase
Example:
Press Cmd+L, ask: "How does the authentication system work? @auth.ts"
✨ Best Prompt:
Explain how this authentication system works: 1. What is the overall flow? 2. What are the key components? 3. How are tokens generated and validated? 4. What security measures are in place? @auth.ts @token.ts
Composer Mode (Cmd/Ctrl+I)
What:
Generate entire files or large code blocks from scratch
How:
Press Cmd/Ctrl+I, describe what you want to build, and Cursor generates it
When:
Creating new files, building features from scratch, or generating boilerplate
Example:
Press Cmd+I, type: "Create a REST API endpoint for user registration with validation"
✨ Best Prompt:
Create a REST API endpoint for user registration: - Use Express.js - Validate email and password - Hash password with bcrypt - Return JWT token on success - Handle errors appropriately - Include TypeScript types - Add input validation middleware
Codebase Understanding
What:
Cursor understands your entire codebase context
How:
Use @filename to reference files, and Cursor uses project-wide context
When:
Working with large codebases, understanding dependencies, or making cross-file changes
Example:
Ask: "Refactor this to use the pattern from @utils.ts"
✨ Best Prompt:
Refactor this component to follow the same pattern as @Component.tsx: - Use the same state management approach - Follow the same prop structure - Use the same styling pattern - Maintain consistency with the existing codebase [current code]
Essential Shortcuts
Edit code using natural language
Chat about your codebase
Generate new code from scratch
Include file context in prompts
Accept inline code completions
Reject AI suggestions
Best Prompt Templates for Cursor
Refactoring Code
Refactor this code to: 1. Improve readability (clear variable names, comments) 2. Follow SOLID principles 3. Add proper error handling 4. Optimize performance 5. Add type safety Explain each change and why it improves the code. [code]
Debugging
I'm getting this error: [error message] Here's the relevant code: [code] Please: 1. Identify the root cause 2. Explain why it's happening 3. Provide a fix 4. Suggest how to prevent it in the future
Writing Tests
Write comprehensive unit tests for this function using Jest: - Test happy path - Test edge cases (null, empty, boundary values) - Test error scenarios - Mock external dependencies - Aim for 100% coverage [function code]
Understanding Code
Explain this code in detail: 1. What does it do? 2. How does it work step by step? 3. What are the key concepts used? 4. Are there any potential issues? 5. How could it be improved? [code]
Optimization
Optimize this code for: 1. Performance (reduce time/space complexity) 2. Memory usage 3. Readability 4. Maintainability Provide before/after comparison and explain improvements. [code]
When to Use Cursor
✅ Perfect For
- Refactoring large codebases
- Understanding unfamiliar code
- Writing new features
- Debugging complex issues
- Codebase-wide changes
- Learning new frameworks
- Generating boilerplate
💡 Pro Tips
- Use @filename to reference files
- Provide context about your project
- Ask for explanations, not just code
- Iterate on AI suggestions
- Review all generated code
- Combine with manual coding
Best Practices
1. Start Specific, Then Iterate
Begin with a clear, specific request. If the result isn't perfect, refine your prompt or ask for modifications. Cursor maintains context, so you can build on previous responses.
2. Use File References
Reference related files with @filename to give Cursor full context. This helps it understand patterns, dependencies, and maintain consistency with your codebase.
3. Ask for Explanations
Don't just accept code - ask Cursor to explain what it generated, why it works, and how to maintain it. This helps you learn and catch potential issues.
4. Review Before Committing
Always review Cursor-generated code for correctness, security, performance, and alignment with your standards. Test thoroughly before using in production.
Validate Cursor-Generated Code
When Cursor generates JSON, APIs, or data structures, use our tools to validate, format, and ensure correctness before using in production.