emacs init: isearch by Arrow Keys

By Xah Lee. Date: . Last updated: .

Here's convenient keys for isearch.

put this in your Emacs Init File:

(when (>= emacs-major-version 29)
  ;; set arrow keys in isearch.
  ;; left/right is backward/forward.
  ;; up/down is search history.
  ;; This way, searching forward/backward is just one single key press, no key combination.
  (keymap-set isearch-mode-map "<up>" #'isearch-ring-retreat)
  (keymap-set isearch-mode-map "<down>" #'isearch-ring-advance)

  (keymap-set isearch-mode-map "<left>" #'isearch-repeat-backward)
  (keymap-set isearch-mode-map "<right>" #'isearch-repeat-forward)

  (keymap-set minibuffer-local-isearch-map "<left>" #'isearch-reverse-exit-minibuffer)
  (keymap-set minibuffer-local-isearch-map "<right>" #'isearch-forward-exit-minibuffer))