# Generate custom code constructs using live templates

IntelliJ IDEA provides a multitude of predefined [live
templates](using-live-templates.html) for many common code constructs. You can also define custom templates to cover use cases specific to your workflow.

Procedure: Insert a live template

1. Place the caret at the place where you want the template to expand.

2. Type the template abbreviation and press the invocation key (usually `Tab` (Windows), `⇥` (macOS), `⇥` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⇥` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Tab` (XWin), `Tab` (GNOME), `Tab` (KDE), `Tab` (Emacs), `Tab` (Sublime Text), `⇥` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Tab` (NetBeans), `Tab` (Visual Studio), `⇥` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Tab` (Eclipse), `⇥` (Eclipse (macOS)) by default). Alternatively, on the `Code` menu, click `Insert Live Template` `Ctrl+J` (Windows), `⌘ J` (macOS), `⌘ J` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ J` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+J` (XWin), `Ctrl+J` (GNOME), `Ctrl+J` (KDE), `Ctrl+J` (Emacs), `Ctrl+J` (Sublime Text), `Ctrl+J` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+J` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+K, X` (Visual Studio), `⌘ E, L` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+Shift+J` (Eclipse), `Ctrl+J` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open the [suggestion list](auto-completing-code.html#completion_tips) and select the necessary template.

3. If the selected template requires user input, the corresponding field is highlighted. Type the necessary value and press `Enter` (Windows), `⏎` (macOS), `⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Enter` (XWin), `Enter` (GNOME), `Enter` (KDE), `Enter` (Emacs), `Enter` (Sublime Text), `⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Enter` (NetBeans), `Enter` (Visual Studio), `⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Enter` (Eclipse), `⏎` (Eclipse (macOS)) or `Tab` (Windows), `⇥` (macOS), `⇥` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⇥` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Tab` (XWin), `Tab` (GNOME), `Tab` (KDE), `Tab` (Emacs), `Tab` (Sublime Text), `⇥` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Tab` (NetBeans), `Tab` (Visual Studio), `⇥` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Tab` (Eclipse), `⇥` (Eclipse (macOS)) to complete input and move to the next input field. After completing all input fields, the caret moves to the end of the construct (or to the `$END$` marker if the marker is defined in the template code), and the editor returns to the regular mode of operation.

You can also wrap fragments of code using [surround
templates](using-live-templates.html).

Procedure: Surround a block of code with a live template

1. Select a piece of code to be surrounded.

2. On the `Code` menu, click `Surround With` `Ctrl+Alt+J` (Windows), `⌘ ⌥ J` (macOS), `⌘ ⌥ J` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ ⌥ J` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+J` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+J` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+J` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+J` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+J` (Sublime Text), `⌘ ⌥ J` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+J` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+E, U` (Visual Studio), `⌘ E, U` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+J` (Eclipse), `⌘ ⌥ J` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open the [suggestion list](auto-completing-code.html#completion_tips) and select the necessary template.