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GitHub Copilot Chat cheat sheet

Use this cheat sheet to quickly reference the most common commands and options for using GitHub Copilot Chat.

This version of this article is for Copilot in Visual Studio. For other versions of this article, click the tabs above.

About GitHub Copilot enhancements

You can enhance your experience of Copilot Chat with a variety of commands and options. Finding the right command or option for the task you are working on can help you achieve your goals more efficiently. This cheat sheet provides a quick reference to the most common commands and options for using Copilot Chat.

For information about how to get started with Copilot Chat in Visual Studio, see Asking GitHub Copilot questions in your IDE.

Slash commands

Use slash commands to avoid writing complex prompts for common scenarios. To use a slash command, type / in the chat prompt box, followed by the command name.

Available slash commands may vary, depending on your environment and the context of your chat. To view a list of currently available slash commands, type / in the chat prompt box of your current environment. Below is a list of some of the most common slash commands for using Copilot Chat.

CommandDescription
/docAdd documentation comment for this symbol.
/explainExplain how the code in your active editor works.
/fixPropose a fix for problems in the selected code.
/helpQuick reference and basics of using GitHub Copilot.
/optimizeAnalyze and improve running time of the selected code.
/testsGenerate unit tests for the selected code.

References

By default, Copilot Chat will reference the file that you have open or the code that you have selected. You can also use # followed by a file name, file name and line numbers, or solution to reference a specific file, lines, or solution.

ExampleDescription
Where are the tests in #MyFile.cs?References a specific file
How are these files related #MyFile.cs #MyFile2.csReferences multiple files
Explain this function #MyFile.cs: 66-72?References specific lines in a file
Is there a delete method in this #solution?References the current file