# Tiling

Jay uses an i3-like tiling layout. Windows are arranged automatically in
containers that can be split horizontally or vertically. Containers can be nested
to create complex layouts.

## Grouping Containers

When you group a window, Jay wraps it in a new container with the specified
direction. Subsequent windows opened in that group are placed side by side
(horizontal group) or stacked top to bottom (vertical group).

`alt-d` -- `make-group-h`
: Group the focused window horizontally

`alt-v` -- `make-group-v`
: Group the focused window vertically

`alt-t` -- `change-group-opposite`
: Toggle the current group's direction

## Moving Focus

Move keyboard focus between windows with the directional focus actions:

`alt-h` -- `focus-left`
: Move focus left

`alt-j` -- `focus-down`
: Move focus down

`alt-k` -- `focus-up`
: Move focus up

`alt-l` -- `focus-right`
: Move focus right

Focus crosses container boundaries, so you can navigate across your entire
layout with these four keys.

## Moving Windows

Move the focused window within or between containers:

`alt-shift-h` -- `move-left`
: Move window left

`alt-shift-j` -- `move-down`
: Move window down

`alt-shift-k` -- `move-up`
: Move window up

`alt-shift-l` -- `move-right`
: Move window right

When a window reaches the edge of its container, the move action pushes it into
the adjacent container.

## Focus Parent

Press `alt-f` (`focus-parent`) to move focus from a window to its parent
container. This is useful when you want to operate on an entire group of
windows at once. For example, focusing a parent container and then using
`move-left` moves the whole group rather than a single window.

## Mono Mode

By default, a container shows all its children side by side. Mono mode changes
this so only one child is visible at a time, similar to a tabbed view.

`alt-m` -- `toggle-tab`
: Toggle between tabbed and side-by-side

You can also right-click any title in a container to toggle mono mode.

In mono mode, scroll over the title bar to cycle between windows in the
container.

## Autotiling

Autotiling makes newly tiled windows alternate split direction from the focused
tiled window by splitting the focused tile along its largest axis. On an empty
workspace, the first split uses the largest axis of the output. This starts with
horizontal splits on landscape outputs and vertical splits on portrait outputs.

```toml
[shortcuts]
alt-a = "toggle-autotile"
```

Manual grouping and split commands still use the direction you request.

## Fullscreen

Press `alt-u` (`toggle-fullscreen`) to make the focused window fill the entire
output, hiding the bar and other windows. Press it again to return to the tiled
layout.

For explicit control:

```toml
[shortcuts]
alt-shift-u = "enter-fullscreen"
alt-ctrl-u  = "exit-fullscreen"
```

## Resizing Tiles

Drag the separators between tiles with the mouse to resize them. The separator
changes the cursor to a resize indicator when hovered.

In [window management mode](mouse.md#window-management-mode), you can also
right-drag anywhere on a tile to resize it without needing to target the
separator.

## Closing Windows

Press `alt-shift-c` (`close`) to request the focused window to close. This
sends a polite close request to the application -- it is not a forceful kill.

```toml
[shortcuts]
alt-shift-c = "close"
```

## Toggling Floating

Double-click a tile's title bar to toggle it between tiled and floating. See
[Floating Windows](floating.md) for more details.

## Summary of Tiling Actions

`make-group-h`
: Wrap focused window in a horizontal group

`make-group-v`
: Wrap focused window in a vertical group

`make-group-tab`
: Wrap focused window in a tabbed group

`change-group-opposite`
: Toggle group direction

`focus-left/right/up/down`
: Move keyboard focus

`move-left/right/up/down`
: Move focused window

`focus-parent`
: Focus the parent container

`toggle-tab`
: Toggle tabbed mode

`toggle-fullscreen`
: Toggle fullscreen

`enter-fullscreen`
: Enter fullscreen

`exit-fullscreen`
: Exit fullscreen

`close`
: Request focused window to close

`toggle-floating`
: Toggle between tiled and floating