Skip to main content

Global vs Local Snippets

VS Code has two kinds of snippet files: <language>.json and <filename>.code-snippets.

File Creation Commands​

SnippetStudio can create these files using the three-dot menu of the Locations Manager sidebar view, or by using the command pallete.

Create Global Language Snippets File​

  • Command: snippetstudio.file.createGlobalLang
  • Creates a snippet file matching the language of the currently open editor.

Create Global Mixed Snippets File​

  • Command: snippetstudio.file.createGlobalSnippets
  • Creates a mixed-language global .code-snippets snippets.

Create Local Project Snippets File​

  • Command: snippetstudio.file.createProjectSnippets
  • Creates a project-level .code-snippets snippets.

Folder Location​

Global Snippets exist deep in the VS Code configuration of your computer

Operating SystemSnippets Folder Location
Linux~/.config/Code/User/snippets
macOS~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/snippets
WindowsC:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\snippets

Operating systems listed in the order of how cool they are.

Local Snippets exist in the .vscode folder of any directory.

Globals are expandable system-wide and locals are expandable only while coding in the directory they were created in.

Filetype Differences​

Global or Local .code-snippets snippets can be scoped to multiple languages. If the scope property is left blank, it is visible to any language.

See a list of recognized languages to use in the scope field.