Neovim Grepping and File Search Without Plugins

khalil chermiti — Sat, 09 May 2026 18:32:16 +0000

Neovim already has powerful built-in tools for searching text and files.
You don't need Telescope or any plugin for basic workflow.

Grepping Text with `:grep`

Neovim can use any external search tool through :grep.

Check the current grep program:

:set grepprg?

Most setups will show something like:

grepprg=rg --vimgrep -uu

This means Neovim uses ripgrep (rg) for searching.

Better `grepprg` Configuration

A good default setup:

vim.opt.grepprg = "rg --vimgrep --smart-case --hidden"

What these flags do

Flag	Description
`--vimgrep`	Output format compatible with quickfix
`--smart-case`	Ignore case unless uppercase is used
`--hidden`	Search hidden files too

You can also exclude useless folders:

vim.opt.grepprg =
    "rg --vimgrep --smart-case --hidden " ..
    "--glob '!node_modules' " ..
    "--glob '!.git' " ..
    "--glob '!dist' " ..
    "--glob '!build'"

Using `:grep`

Basic usage:

:grep pattern

Example:

:grep useState

This searches inside the current working directory.

Results are added to the quickfix list.

Open it with:

:copen

Useful Quickfix Commands

Command	Description
`:copen`	Open quickfix list
`:cclose`	Close quickfix
`:cnext`	Next result
`:cprev`	Previous result
`:cfirst`	First result
`:clast`	Last result

Filtering Results

You can filter quickfix entries:

:Cfilter keyword

Example:

:Cfilter test

Only entries containing test stay visible.

Replace Across Search Results

One of the best things about quickfix:

:cdo s/old/new/g | update

Example:

:cdo s/console.log/logger.info/g | update

This updates every matched file.

Better Grep Keymap

A clean keymap:

vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>g", function()
    vim.cmd("silent grep! " .. vim.fn.input("Grep > "))
    vim.cmd("copen")
end)

Why this is better

asks for input
prevents jumping to first result
automatically opens quickfix
cleaner than command chaining

Usage:

<leader>g

Then type:

keymap

You instantly get all matches.

Searching Files with `:find`

Neovim also has built-in file search.

Basic usage:

:find filename

Out of the box it's limited, so we improve it.

Configure Search Paths

Add recursive search:

vim.opt.path:append("**")

Now :find searches inside subdirectories.

Ignore Large Folders

Without ignores, search becomes slow.

vim.opt.wildignore:append({
    "*/node_modules/*",
    "*/dist/*",
    "*/build/*",
    "*/target/*",
    "*/.git/*",
})

Better Completion

Enable menu completion:

vim.opt.wildmenu = true
vim.opt.wildmode = "longest:full,full"

Now tab completion becomes much better.

Example:

:find keymaps

Neovim autocompletes matching files.

Add File Extensions Automatically

Useful when working with specific languages:

vim.opt.suffixesadd:append({
    ".lua",
    ".ts",
    ".tsx",
    ".js",
})

Now you can do:

:find init

Instead of:

:find init.lua

Example Workflow

Search for text:

:grep TODO

Open results:

:copen

Replace text in all results:

:cdo s/TODO/DONE/g | update

Find a file:

:find config

Jump between results:

:cnext
:cprev

Full Minimal Config

-- grep
vim.opt.grepprg =
    "rg --vimgrep --smart-case --hidden " ..
    "--glob '!node_modules' " ..
    "--glob '!.git' " ..
    "--glob '!dist' " ..
    "--glob '!build'"

-- recursive file search
vim.opt.path:append("**")

-- ignored folders
vim.opt.wildignore:append({
    "*/node_modules/*",
    "*/dist/*",
    "*/build/*",
    "*/target/*",
    "*/.git/*",
})

-- better completion
vim.opt.wildmenu = true
vim.opt.wildmode = "longest:full,full"

-- auto extensions
vim.opt.suffixesadd:append({
    ".lua",
    ".ts",
    ".tsx",
    ".js",
})

-- grep keymap
vim.keymap.set("n", "<leader>g", function()
    vim.cmd("silent grep! " .. vim.fn.input("Grep > "))
    vim.cmd("copen")
end)

DEV Community: khalil chermiti

Neovim Grepping and File Search Without Plugins

Grepping Text with :grep

Better grepprg Configuration

What these flags do

Using :grep

Useful Quickfix Commands

Filtering Results

Replace Across Search Results

Better Grep Keymap

Why this is better

Searching Files with :find

Configure Search Paths

Ignore Large Folders

Better Completion

Add File Extensions Automatically

Example Workflow

Full Minimal Config

Grepping Text with `:grep`

Better `grepprg` Configuration

Using `:grep`

Searching Files with `:find`