Custom keybindings in ~/.config/nvim/init.lua let you personalize Neovim. Use vim.keymap.set() to define them.

vim.keymap.set(mode, lhs, rhs, options)

• mode — 'n' (normal), 'i' (insert), 'v' (visual), 'c' (command), '' (all modes)
• lhs — keys you press (left-hand side)
• rhs — command/keys executed (right-hand side)
• options — table of flags

-- Normal mode
vim.keymap.set('n', '<Space>w', ':w<CR>')        -- save
vim.keymap.set('n', '<Space>q', ':q<CR>')        -- quit
vim.keymap.set('n', '<Space>e', ':Explore<CR>')  -- file browser
 
-- Insert mode
vim.keymap.set('i', 'jk', '<Esc>')               -- exit insert with jk
vim.keymap.set('i', '<C-s>', '<Esc>:w<CR>')      -- save from insert
 
-- Visual mode
vim.keymap.set('v', '<', '<gv')                  -- indent and stay selected
vim.keymap.set('v', '>', '>gv')

<CR> is Enter, <Esc> is Escape, <C-x> is Ctrl+x, <M-x> is Alt+x, <S-x> is Shift+x.

vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>x', ':Some Command<CR>', {
    noremap = true,    -- don't expand recursively
    silent = true,     -- no "command executed" message
    buffer = 0,        -- local to buffer 0 (current)
})

noremap = true is important: prevents the mapped key from being expanded again if it's mapped to another key.

silent = true suppresses the status message (cleaner UI).

Remap leader to something accessible:

vim.g.mapleader = ' '           -- leader is Space
vim.g.maplocalleader = ','      -- local leader is Comma

Then build a namespace for personal commands:

-- File operations
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>w', ':w<CR>')
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>q', ':q<CR>')
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>e', ':Explore<CR>')
 
-- Navigation
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>j', ':bn<CR>')      -- next buffer
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>k', ':bp<CR>')      -- prev buffer
 
-- LSP (if configured)
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>d', vim.lsp.buf.definition)
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>h', vim.lsp.buf.hover)

<leader> is expanded at runtime to your leader key (Space in this case).

For complex operations, create ex commands:

vim.api.nvim_create_user_command('JsonFormat', ':silent %!jq .', {})

Then map to it:

vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>j', ':JsonFormat<CR>')

Common special keys: <C-...> (Ctrl), <M-...> (Alt/Meta), <S-...> (Shift), <CR> (Enter), <Tab>, <Esc>, <BS> (backspace).

Multi-key chords are harder (require plugins like which-key for readability), but simple sequences work:

-- This would require :set timeoutlen=300 or similar
vim.keymap.set('n', 'gf', vim.lsp.buf.definition)  -- go-to definition

:map shows normal and visual maps, :imap shows insert maps, :verbose map <key> shows where a key is mapped.

Avoid shadowing important keys (:, /, ?, Esc). Start with leader-based bindings to stay safe.

-- ~/.config/nvim/init.lua
vim.g.mapleader = ' '
 
-- Options
vim.opt.number = true
vim.opt.expandtab = true
vim.opt.shiftwidth = 4
 
-- Keybindings
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>w', ':w<CR>', { silent = true })
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>q', ':q<CR>', { silent = true })
vim.keymap.set('i', 'jk', '<Esc>')

Keybindings are personal — tailor them to your workflow. Start simple, add as needed.