Tab Completion
Tab is Cursor's autocomplete feature. It uses a specialized model purpose-built for speed and prediction — separate from the models used for Chat and Agents. The key behaviour: it doesn't just complete the current line. It predicts your next action based on what you've been working on, and can suggest multi-line blocks, function completions, and even the next logical edit in a different part of the file.
How It Works
Tab watches your editing pattern in real time. As you type, it surfaces a grey ghost-text suggestion. Press Tab to accept the full suggestion, or keep typing to dismiss it. The model considers:
- The current file context (surrounding code, imports, function signatures)
- Recent edits you've made in this session
- Your project's codebase index — it knows about patterns and conventions elsewhere in the repo
- Any Rules you've configured (e.g., "always use TypeScript strict mode")
The result is completions that feel like they understand your intent, not just the token you're in the middle of typing.
Predictive Next-Edit
One of Tab's more distinctive behaviours is predicting the next edit after you finish one. If you rename a variable in one place, Tab may jump to the next usage and suggest the corresponding rename. If you add a parameter to a function, it may suggest updating the call sites. This works because Tab is tracking your editing sequence, not just the cursor position.
You'll see a small indicator when a next-edit prediction is ready in a different location. Press Tab to jump to it and accept.
Accepting Partial Suggestions
Tab always suggests the full completion it thinks is right. If you only want part of it:
- Tab — accepts the entire suggestion
- Cmd+→ — accepts word-by-word
- Just keep typing — dismisses the suggestion entirely
How Tab Differs from GitHub Copilot
Cursor Tab
- • Custom model built for prediction speed
- • Reads full codebase index for context
- • Predicts next edit, not just current line
- • Respects your project Rules
- • Unlimited on paid plans (Auto mode)
GitHub Copilot
- • Uses OpenAI Codex / GPT model family
- • Context primarily from open files and recent edits
- • Strong single-function completions
- • Works as an extension in VS Code, JetBrains, etc.
- • $10/month baseline; no separate completion model
Plan Availability
On the Hobby (free) plan, Tab completions are limited. On all paid plans (Pro and above), Tab completions are unlimited when using Auto mode — they do not draw from your monthly usage credits. Only manual model selection for Chat and Agents counts against credits.
Turning It Off
If Tab suggestions feel intrusive in a particular file type, you can disable them per language or globally in Cursor settings. Most developers leave it on — the latency is low enough that ghost text appears quickly and the dismiss behaviour (just keep typing) is non-disruptive.
Checklist: Do You Understand This?
- Tab is a separate specialized model — not the same model used for Chat or Agents
- It predicts your next action, not just the current line — including edits in other parts of the file
- Press Tab to accept; Cmd+→ to accept word-by-word; keep typing to dismiss
- Unlimited on all paid plans in Auto mode — does not use monthly usage credits
- Cursor Tab has full codebase context; Copilot works primarily from open files