IntelliJ IDEA 2019.1 Help

Debug Tool Window. Watches

In the Watches pane you can evaluate any number of variables or expressions in the context of the current stack frame. The values are updated with each step through the application, and become visible every time the application is suspended.

While the Evaluate Expression command from the context menu of the Variables pane enables you to see one expression at a time, the Watches pane shows multiple expressions that persist from one debug session to another, until you remove them.

You can create watches in this pane, in the Variables pane and even in the editor.

Watch expressions are always evaluated in the context of a stack frame that is currently inspected in the Frames pane. If an expression cannot be evaluated, it is displayed with a question mark.

To hide or open the Watches pane

By default, the Watches pane is hidden and the watches are shown in the Variables pane.

  • To have the Watches pane displayed separately and view the configured watches in it, release the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar of the Variables pane. By default, the button is pressed.

  • To hide the Watches pane and view the watches in the Variables pane, press the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar of the Watches pane.

Toolbar

Item

Shortcut

Description

icons general add svg Insert

Click this button to create a new watch.

icons general remove svgDelete

Click this button to remove the selected watch from the list.

icons actions previousOccurence svgicons actions nextOccurence svgAlt+UpAlt+Down

Use these buttons to change the order of watches.

icons actions copy svgCtrl+D

Use this button to create a copy of the selected watch.

Show watches in Variables tab

Show watches in Variables tab

Use this toggle button to have the Watches pane hidden or shown. By default, the button is pressed and displayed on the toolbar of the Variables pane. Consequently, the Watches pane is hidden and the watches are shown in the Variables pane.
  • To have the Watches pane displayed separately and view the configured watches in it, release the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button. The Watches pane appears with the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar.

  • To hide the Watches pane and view the watches in the Variables pane, press the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar of the Watches pane. The toggle button returns to the default location on the toolbar of the Variables pane.

Item

Shortcut

Description

New Watch

Insert

Choose this command to create a new watch. A text field opens, where you can enter new watch expression.

Remove Watch

Delete

Choose this command to delete the currently selected watch expression from the list.

Edit

F2

Choose this command to change the selected watch expression.

Remove All Watches

Choose this command to delete all watch expressions from the list.

Inspect

Available for fields, local variables and reference expressions. Choose this command to open the Inspect window for the node, which allows you to perform the same operations as those available in the stack frame, with the only difference that the root node is the one you have selected. You can recursively call the new Inspect windows from within each other. Each window is not modal and immediately reflects all changes in its subtree.

Mark Object

F11

Choose this command to add a label to an object.

Set Value

This command is available from the context menu of a field or local variables, added to a watch and being currently in scope. Choose this command to assign the desired value to such variable.

Choose this command to display the list of objects referring to the current watch.

Jump to Source

F4

This command opens the source code of the selected variable or field in the editor and places the caret on a proper line.

Jump to Type Source

Shift+F4

Use this command

to navigate to the definition of the class of the selected variable or field.

View as

Use this command to select the layout of the values. For the numeric values, you can toggle between the decimal and hexadecimal formats. The objects are usually represented by their class name and instance identifier, but you can optionally show them in string format.

  • Auto: Available for items where different layout is possible. With this layout IntelliJ IDEA looks through all available renderers searching for the first suitable layout for the current item. If none is found, the default layout is applied.

  • Hex: This layout is available for numeric variables. If checked, the variable is shown in hexadecimal format.

  • Primitive: This layout is available for primitive type variables. It shows the value appropriate for the primitive type.

  • toString(): This layout is available for all reference types where toString() is overridden except for arrays, and shows the node's toString() value in the tree.

  • Array: Available for arrays.

  • Object: Default layout. Available for all non-primitive type nodes.

  • Map: Show as a map.

  • Collection: Show as a collection.

  • User-defined renderer: Available for renderers created by the user in the Debugger | Type Renderers or in the Customize Data Views dialogs. The corresponding renderer name is shown in the menu.

Copy Value

Ctrl+C

Copies the selected node value to the clipboard.

Copy Name

Copies the selected node name to the clipboard.

Last modified: 20 June 2019

See Also