SOP-011: @ Mentions

Document Control

Field	Value
SOP ID	SOP-011
Version	1.0
Status	Active
Last Updated	2024-12

Purpose

This SOP covers using @ mentions to provide context to Cursor AI, including files, folders, code, and documentation.

Scope

• @Files & Folders
• @Code
• @Docs
• Built-in commands

Prerequisites

• Cursor installed and configured
• Chat or Inline Edit open

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Procedure

@ Mentions Overview

Mention Type	Purpose
@Files & Folders	Reference entire files or directories
@Code	Reference specific code sections
@Docs	Use external documentation
/Commands	Built-in and custom slash commands

Usage: Type @ in chat or inline edit prompt. Use arrow keys to select, Enter to confirm.

Step 1: Reference Files

Usage: Type @ → Select "Files & Folders" → Search for file

Methods:

1. Type @filename → Select from suggestions
2. Type @Files & Folders → Search
3. Drag file from sidebar into chat

Example: "Update @UserService.ts to add password reset functionality"

Large File Handling: Large files are automatically condensed to fit context limits. See file condensation for details.

Step 2: Reference Folders

Usage: Type @ → Select "Folders" → Navigate to folder

What Agent Receives:

• Folder path
• Overview of contents
• File structure

Navigate Deeper: Type / after selecting folder to see subfolders

Example: "Create a new component in @src/components/ similar to Button"

Step 3: Reference Specific Code

Usage: Type @ → Select "Code" → Search for symbol

More Precise Than @Files:

• Reference specific functions
• Reference specific classes
• Reference specific code blocks

Examples:

• "Refactor @calculateTotal to handle discounts"
• "Add validation to @UserSchema"

Step 4: Use Documentation

Usage: Type @Docs → Select from available docs or add new

Built-in Docs: React, Vue, Angular, Node.js, Python, Go, and popular frameworks

Add Custom Docs:

1. Type @Docs
2. Select "Add new doc"
3. Paste documentation URL
4. Cursor indexes all pages

Example: "Using @Docs:react-query, implement data fetching"

Managing Docs:

• Go to Cursor Settings → Indexing & Docs
• View, edit, or remove documentation
• Toggle "Share with team" for team visibility

Step 5: Combine Mentions

Use multiple @ mentions for comprehensive context:

Example Prompts:

"Update @UserController.ts to use the patterns from @BaseController.ts
and follow @Docs:express best practices"

"Create a component in @src/components/ that looks like @Button.tsx
but for form inputs"

"Fix the bug in @OrderService.ts by checking how @PaymentService.ts
handles errors"

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Context Management

How Context is Applied

Context Assembly (in priority order):

1. Explicit @ mentions (highest priority)
2. Related files (auto-detected)
3. Recent changes
4. Applied rules

Context Condensation:

• Large files summarized
• Folders show structure overview
• Prioritize most relevant sections

Result: Final Context → AI Model

View Applied Context

Hover over the context gauge in the prompt input to see:

• Files in context
• Applied rules
• Token usage

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Quick Reference

Mention	Purpose	Example
@filename	Reference file	@UserService.ts
@folder/	Reference folder	@src/components/
@Code	Reference symbol	@calculateTotal
@Docs	Use documentation	@Docs:react
/command	Run command	/summarize

---

Built-in Commands

Command	Description
/summarize	Compress context window

Custom Commands: Create .cursor/commands/[name].md for project-specific commands.

---

Keyboard Shortcuts for Context

Action	Shortcut
Add selection to Chat	Cmd+Shift+L / Ctrl+Shift+L
Add selection to new chat	Cmd+L / Ctrl+L
Add selection to Edit	Cmd+Shift+K / Ctrl+Shift+K
Paste as context	Cmd+V (with code in clipboard)
Paste as text	Cmd+Shift+V

---

Verification Checklist

• [ ] @Files shows file picker
• [ ] @Folders shows folder browser
• [ ] @Code shows symbol search
• [ ] @Docs shows documentation options
• [ ] Can add new documentation
• [ ] Combined mentions work in prompts
• [ ] Context gauge shows applied context

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
File not found in @	Check file is in workspace
Docs not indexing	Check URL is accessible
Too much context	Use @Code for specific symbols
Context not applying	Check @ mention is complete
Folder too large	Reference specific subfolders

See Also

• SOP-009: Codebase Indexing
• SOP-010: Project Rules
• Keyboard Shortcuts