Pillar guide
Cursor Basics: Learn the Cursor AI Code Editor from Zero
Cursor is an AI-first code editor built on VS Code that adds three things: inline autocomplete (Tab), an AI chat that can read your codebase, and an agent that edits files and runs commands for you. Learning Cursor well is mostly learning when to use each surface and how to give it the right context.
What is Cursor?
Cursor is a fork of VS Code with AI woven into the editing loop. Your extensions, keybindings, and themes carry over, but Cursor adds AI autocomplete, a codebase-aware chat, and an autonomous agent that can edit across files and run your terminal.
The mental shift from a normal editor: you spend less time typing every character and more time directing — describing intent, reviewing diffs, and steering the agent. The skill that matters is judgment and context, not keystrokes.
What are the core ways to use Cursor?
Multi-line, edit-aware suggestions as you type. Accept with Tab.
Ask questions about your codebase. Read-only — it explains, it doesn't edit.
Describe a task; it edits files and runs commands, then shows diffs to approve.
Select code and request a focused, in-place change.
Knowing which surface fits the task is the single biggest beginner unlock — covered in depth in the mental-model guide below.
How do I give Cursor the right context?
- @-mentions — pull specific @Files, @Folders, @Docs, or @Web results into the prompt.
- Rules —
.cursor/rules/*.mdcfiles teach Cursor your conventions persistently. - Tight scope — fewer open tabs and a focused selection beat dumping the whole repo.
Most "the AI is dumb" moments are missing context, not a weak model. Point Cursor at the exact files and state the constraint, and quality jumps.
In this guide
What's the difference between Ask, Agent, and Composer in Cursor? A clear decision model for which interaction surface to use for each kind of task.
Step-by-step: download and install Cursor on macOS, Windows, or Linux, import your VS Code setup, and sign in — so you're coding in a few minutes.
The Cursor shortcuts worth memorizing — Tab to accept, inline edit, open chat, start the agent, and add context — with the difference between each AI surface.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cursor just VS Code with AI?
It's a fork of VS Code, so it feels familiar and supports most extensions — but the AI autocomplete, codebase-aware chat, and agent are built into the core editing loop, not bolted on as an extension.
Do I need to know how to code to use Cursor?
You can build small things with little coding knowledge, but you'll get far better, safer results if you can read and review the code it writes. Cursor amplifies judgment; it doesn't replace it.
What models does Cursor use?
Cursor routes to leading frontier models (Claude, GPT, and Gemini families) plus its own fast models, and lets you pick per request. Available models change often — check Cursor's docs for the current list.
Sources & last verified
Cursor ships frequently. Facts verified against primary sources on June 15, 2026.