barbar.nvim

Tabs, as understood by any other editor.

barbar.nvim is a tabline plugin with re-orderable, auto-sizing, clickable tabs, icons, nice highlighting, sort-by commands and a magic jump-to-buffer mode. Plus the tab names are made unique when two filenames match.

In jump-to-buffer mode, tabs display a target letter instead of their icon. Jump to any buffer by simply typing their target letter. Even better, the target letter stays constant for the lifetime of the buffer, so if you're working with a set of files you can even type the letter ahead from memory.

Install

Using lazy.nvim

require('lazy').setup {
  {'romgrk/barbar.nvim',
    dependencies = 'nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons',
    init = function() vim.g.barbar_auto_setup = false end,
    opts = {
      -- lazy.nvim will automatically call setup for you. put your options here, anything missing will use the default:
      -- animation = true,
      -- insert_at_start = true,
      -- …etc.
    },
    version = '^1.0.0', -- optional: only update when a new 1.x version is released
  },
}

Using packer.nvim

use 'nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons'
use {'romgrk/barbar.nvim', requires = 'nvim-web-devicons'}

Using vim-plug

Plug 'nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons'
Plug 'romgrk/barbar.nvim'

You can skip the dependency on 'nvim-tree/nvim-web-devicons' if you disable icons. If you want the icons, don't forget to install nerd fonts.

Requirements

Neovim 0.7

Features

Re-order tabs

Auto-sizing tabs, fill the space when available

Jump-to-buffer mode

Type a letter to jump to a buffer. Letters stay constant for the lifetime of the buffer. By default, letters are assigned based on buffer name, eg README.md will get letter r. You can change this so that letters are assigned based on usability: home row (asdfjkl;gh) first, then other rows.

Sort tabs automatically

:BufferOrderByDirectory, :BufferOrderByLanguage, :BufferOrderByWindowNumber, :BufferOrderByBufferNumber

Clickable & closable tabs

Left-click to go, middle-click or close button to close. Don't forget to set mouse+=a.

Unique names when filenames match

Pinned buffers

bbye.vim for closing buffers

A modified version of bbye.vim is included in this plugin to close buffers without messing with your window layout and more. Available as BufferClose and bufferline#bbye#delete(buf).

Scrollable tabs, to always show the current buffer

Offset bufferline when showing sidebars

Usage

Mappings & commands

Vim script

No default mappings are provided, here is an example. It is recommended to use the BufferClose command to close buffers instead of bdelete because it will not mess your window layout.

" Move to previous/next
nnoremap <silent>    <A-,> <Cmd>BufferPrevious<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-.> <Cmd>BufferNext<CR>

" Re-order to previous/next
nnoremap <silent>    <A-<> <Cmd>BufferMovePrevious<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A->> <Cmd>BufferMoveNext<CR>

" Goto buffer in position...
nnoremap <silent>    <A-1> <Cmd>BufferGoto 1<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-2> <Cmd>BufferGoto 2<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-3> <Cmd>BufferGoto 3<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-4> <Cmd>BufferGoto 4<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-5> <Cmd>BufferGoto 5<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-6> <Cmd>BufferGoto 6<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-7> <Cmd>BufferGoto 7<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-8> <Cmd>BufferGoto 8<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-9> <Cmd>BufferGoto 9<CR>
nnoremap <silent>    <A-0> <Cmd>BufferLast<CR>

" Pin/unpin buffer
nnoremap <silent>    <A-p> <Cmd>BufferPin<CR>

" Close buffer
nnoremap <silent>    <A-c> <Cmd>BufferClose<CR>
" Restore buffer
nnoremap <silent>    <A-s-c> <Cmd>BufferRestore<CR>

" Wipeout buffer
"                          :BufferWipeout
" Close commands
"                          :BufferCloseAllButCurrent
"                          :BufferCloseAllButVisible
"                          :BufferCloseAllButPinned
"                          :BufferCloseAllButCurrentOrPinned
"                          :BufferCloseBuffersLeft
"                          :BufferCloseBuffersRight

" Magic buffer-picking mode
nnoremap <silent> <C-p>    <Cmd>BufferPick<CR>
nnoremap <silent> <C-p>    <Cmd>BufferPickDelete<CR>

" Sort automatically by...
nnoremap <silent> <Space>bb <Cmd>BufferOrderByBufferNumber<CR>
nnoremap <silent> <Space>bd <Cmd>BufferOrderByDirectory<CR>
nnoremap <silent> <Space>bl <Cmd>BufferOrderByLanguage<CR>
nnoremap <silent> <Space>bw <Cmd>BufferOrderByWindowNumber<CR>

" Other:
" :BarbarEnable - enables barbar (enabled by default)
" :BarbarDisable - very bad command, should never be used

Lua

local map = vim.api.nvim_set_keymap
local opts = { noremap = true, silent = true }

-- Move to previous/next
map('n', '<A-,>', '<Cmd>BufferPrevious<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-.>', '<Cmd>BufferNext<CR>', opts)
-- Re-order to previous/next
map('n', '<A-<>', '<Cmd>BufferMovePrevious<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A->>', '<Cmd>BufferMoveNext<CR>', opts)
-- Goto buffer in position...
map('n', '<A-1>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 1<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-2>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 2<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-3>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 3<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-4>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 4<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-5>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 5<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-6>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 6<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-7>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 7<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-8>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 8<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-9>', '<Cmd>BufferGoto 9<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<A-0>', '<Cmd>BufferLast<CR>', opts)
-- Pin/unpin buffer
map('n', '<A-p>', '<Cmd>BufferPin<CR>', opts)
-- Close buffer
map('n', '<A-c>', '<Cmd>BufferClose<CR>', opts)
-- Wipeout buffer
--                 :BufferWipeout
-- Close commands
--                 :BufferCloseAllButCurrent
--                 :BufferCloseAllButPinned
--                 :BufferCloseAllButCurrentOrPinned
--                 :BufferCloseBuffersLeft
--                 :BufferCloseBuffersRight
-- Magic buffer-picking mode
map('n', '<C-p>', '<Cmd>BufferPick<CR>', opts)
-- Sort automatically by...
map('n', '<Space>bb', '<Cmd>BufferOrderByBufferNumber<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<Space>bd', '<Cmd>BufferOrderByDirectory<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<Space>bl', '<Cmd>BufferOrderByLanguage<CR>', opts)
map('n', '<Space>bw', '<Cmd>BufferOrderByWindowNumber<CR>', opts)

-- Other:
-- :BarbarEnable - enables barbar (enabled by default)
-- :BarbarDisable - very bad command, should never be used

Options

Note

If you're using Vim Script, just wrap setup like this:
let g:barbar_auto_setup = v:false " disable auto-setup
lua << EOF
  require'barbar'.setup {…}
EOF

vim.g.barbar_auto_setup = false -- disable auto-setup
require'barbar'.setup {
  -- WARN: do not copy everything below into your config!
  --       It is just an example of what configuration options there are.
  --       The defaults are suitable for most people.

  -- Enable/disable animations
  animation = true,

  -- Enable/disable auto-hiding the tab bar when there is a single buffer
  auto_hide = false,

  -- Enable/disable current/total tabpages indicator (top right corner)
  tabpages = true,

  -- Enables/disable clickable tabs
  --  - left-click: go to buffer
  --  - middle-click: delete buffer
  clickable = true,

  -- Excludes buffers from the tabline
  exclude_ft = {'javascript'},
  exclude_name = {'package.json'},

  -- A buffer to this direction will be focused (if it exists) when closing the current buffer.
  -- Valid options are 'left' (the default) and 'right'
  focus_on_close = 'left',

  -- Hide inactive buffers and file extensions. Other options are `alternate`, `current`, and `visible`.
  hide = {extensions = true, inactive = true},

  -- Disable highlighting alternate buffers
  highlight_alternate = false,

  -- Disable highlighting file icons in inactive buffers
  highlight_inactive_file_icons = false,

  -- Enable highlighting visible buffers
  highlight_visible = true,

  icons = {
    -- Configure the base icons on the bufferline.
    buffer_index = false,
    buffer_number = false,
    button = '',
    -- Enables / disables diagnostic symbols
    diagnostics = {
      [vim.diagnostic.severity.ERROR] = {enabled = true, icon = 'ﬀ'},
      [vim.diagnostic.severity.WARN] = {enabled = false},
      [vim.diagnostic.severity.INFO] = {enabled = false},
      [vim.diagnostic.severity.HINT] = {enabled = true},
    },
    filetype = {
      -- Sets the icon's highlight group.
      -- If false, will use nvim-web-devicons colors
      custom_colors = false,

      -- Requires `nvim-web-devicons` if `true`
      enabled = true,
    },
    separator = {left = '▎', right = ''},

    -- Configure the icons on the bufferline when modified or pinned.
    -- Supports all the base icon options.
    modified = {button = '●'},
    pinned = {button = '車', filename = true, separator = {right = ''}},

    -- Configure the icons on the bufferline based on the visibility of a buffer.
    -- Supports all the base icon options, plus `modified` and `pinned`.
    alternate = {filetype = {enabled = false}},
    current = {buffer_index = true},
    inactive = {button = '×'},
    visible = {modified = {buffer_number = false}},
  },

  -- If true, new buffers will be inserted at the start/end of the list.
  -- Default is to insert after current buffer.
  insert_at_end = false,
  insert_at_start = false,

  -- Sets the maximum padding width with which to surround each tab
  maximum_padding = 1,

  -- Sets the minimum padding width with which to surround each tab
  minimum_padding = 1,

  -- Sets the maximum buffer name length.
  maximum_length = 30,

  -- If set, the letters for each buffer in buffer-pick mode will be
  -- assigned based on their name. Otherwise or in case all letters are
  -- already assigned, the behavior is to assign letters in order of
  -- usability (see order below)
  semantic_letters = true,

  -- Set the filetypes which barbar will offset itself for
  sidebar_filetypes = {
    -- Use the default values: {event = 'BufWinLeave', text = nil}
    NvimTree = true,
    -- Or, specify the text used for the offset:
    undotree = {text = 'undotree'},
    -- Or, specify the event which the sidebar executes when leaving:
    ['neo-tree'] = {event = 'BufWipeout'},
    -- Or, specify both
    Outline = {event = 'BufWinLeave', text = 'symbols-outline'},
  },

  -- New buffer letters are assigned in this order. This order is
  -- optimal for the qwerty keyboard layout but might need adjustment
  -- for other layouts.
  letters = 'asdfjkl;ghnmxcvbziowerutyqpASDFJKLGHNMXCVBZIOWERUTYQP',

  -- Sets the name of unnamed buffers. By default format is "[Buffer X]"
  -- where X is the buffer number. But only a static string is accepted here.
  no_name_title = nil,
}

Highlighting

Highlight groups are created in this way: Buffer<STATUS><PART>.

`<STATUS>`	Meaning
`Alternate`	The `:h alternate-file`.
`Current`	The current buffer.
`Inactive`	`:h hidden-buffer`s and `:h inactive-buffer`s.
`Visible`	`:h active-buffer`s which are not alternate or current.

`<PART>`	Meaning
`ERROR`	Diagnostic errors.
`HINT`	Diagnostic hints.
`Icon`	The filetype icon (when `icons.filetype == {custom_colors = true, enabled = true}`).
`Index`	The buffer's position in the tabline.
`Number`	The `:h bufnr()`.
`INFO`	Diagnostic info.
`Mod`	When the buffer is modified.
`Sign`	The separator between buffers.
`Target`	The letter in buffer-pick mode.
`WARN`	Diagnostic warnings.

e.g. the current buffer's highlight when modified is BufferCurrentMod

You can also use the doom-one.vim colorscheme that defines those groups and is also very pleasant as you could see in the demos above.

Integrations

Sessions

barbar.nvim can restore the order that your buffers were in, as well as whether a buffer was pinned. To do this, sessionoptions must contain globals, and the User SessionSavePre event must be executed before :mksession.

mini.nvim

Here is a persistence.nvim config which can be used:

vim.opt.sessionoptions:append 'globals'
require'mini.sessions'.setup {
  hooks = {
    pre = {
      write = function() vim.api.nvim_exec_autocmds('User', {pattern = 'SessionSavePre'}) end,
    },
  },
}

persistence.nvim

Here is a persistence.nvim config which can be used:

require'persistence'.setup {
  options = {--[[<other options>,]] 'globals'},
  pre_save = function() vim.api.nvim_exec_autocmds('User', {pattern = 'SessionSavePre'}) end,
}

Custom

You can add this snippet to your config to take advantage of our session integration:

vim.opt.sessionoptions:append 'globals'
vim.api.nvim_create_user_command(
  'Mksession',
  function(attr)
    vim.api.nvim_exec_autocmds('User', {pattern = 'SessionSavePre'})

    -- Neovim 0.8+
    vim.cmd.mksession {bang = attr.bang, args = attr.fargs}

    -- Neovim 0.7
    vim.api.nvim_command('mksession ' .. (attr.bang and '!' or '') .. attr.args)
  end,
  {bang = true, complete = 'file', desc = 'Save barbar with :mksession', nargs = '?'}
)

Known Issues

Lightline

Barbar doesn't show up because lightline changes the tabline setting. Add:

let g:lightline={ 'enable': {'statusline': 1, 'tabline': 0} }

Netrw

netrw has a lot of bugs which make it hard to support. It may work partially, but we will not make changes to barbar.nvim to work-around netrw-specific bugs (e.g. #82).

You can use any other file explorer instead.

About

Barbar is called barbar because it's a bar, but it's also more than a bar: a "barbar".

It is pronounced like "Jar Jar" in "Jar Jar Binks", but with Bs.

No, barbar has nothing to do with barbarians.

License

barbar.nvim: Distributed under the terms of the JSON license. bbye.vim: Distributed under the terms of the GNU Affero license.

meseck / barbar.nvim

barbar.nvim

Table of content

Install

Using lazy.nvim

Using packer.nvim

Using vim-plug

Requirements

Features

Re-order tabs

Auto-sizing tabs, fill the space when available

Jump-to-buffer mode

Sort tabs automatically

Clickable & closable tabs

Unique names when filenames match

Pinned buffers

bbye.vim for closing buffers

Scrollable tabs, to always show the current buffer

Offset bufferline when showing sidebars

Usage

Mappings & commands

Vim script

Lua

Options

Highlighting

Integrations

Sessions

mini.nvim

persistence.nvim

Custom

Known Issues

Lightline

Netrw

About

License

About

Languages