If you type cd ~/work/projects/backend/services/auth several times a day, zoxide shortens it to z auth. It scores directories you’ve visited by frequency and recency and sends you to the most plausible one.

Install 

  brew install zoxide
  
  curl -sSfL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ajeetdsouza/zoxide/main/install.sh | sh

Hook it into your shell:

  # ~/.zshrc
eval "$(zoxide init zsh)"

# bash
eval "$(zoxide init bash)"

To replace cd outright:

  eval "$(zoxide init --cmd cd zsh)"

Usage 

  # go about your day as usual; zoxide records it
cd ~/work/projects/backend

# afterwards, a fragment is enough
z backend
z proj back      # multiple fragments, space separated (AND)

# choose from the candidates (needs fzf)
zi backend
CommandAction
z <fragment>Jump to the highest-scoring match
zi <fragment>Pick interactively from the candidates
z -Back to the previous directory
zoxide query -lPrint recorded paths by score
zoxide remove <path>Drop a path from the database

Things to know

  • The first few days do nothing. The database has to fill up. Go about your work normally for a week and most jumps become two characters.
  • When names collide, use zi and confirm rather than z. Never use z inside a script — use absolute paths there.
  • To reset, delete ~/.local/share/zoxide/db.zo.

Good combinations 

  # jump, then search
z auth && rg "TODO"

# pick candidates with an fzf preview
zi

Next

Travel is fast; now the tools for finding things once you arrive → ripgrep

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Last updated 19 Aug 2026, 00:00 UTC. history