IntelliJ IDEA · Evaluate an expression
Debug
Windows · Linux
Alt+F8Mac
Option+F8Works out any expression you type in the frame where the program is paused. It is not a read-only window: write an assignment and you really do change the state of the running program.
- Group
- Debug
- Keys held
- 2
IntelliJ IDEA ships a different default keymap per platform, and two of them on macOS — "macOS" and "macOS System Shortcuts" — so when nothing works, look at Keymap in Settings first; whichever you pick then serves PyCharm, WebStorm, GoLand and Android Studio unchanged.
Reading the key names
- Keys joined by + are pressed together: Ctrl+Shift+P means hold Ctrl and Shift, then P.
- On a Mac, Cmd is ⌘, Option is ⌥ (labelled Alt on some keyboards), Control is ⌃ and Shift is ⇧.
- Windows Ctrl usually becomes Cmd on a Mac, but not always — this reference lists both combinations separately.
- With a Korean, Japanese or Chinese input method active, shortcuts built on letter keys may not fire. Switch to Latin input and try again.
- When a combination does nothing, another program has often claimed it as a global shortcut first.
Common questions
Q. What is the shortcut for Evaluate an expression in IntelliJ IDEA?
Works out any expression you type in the frame where the program is paused. It is not a read-only window: write an assignment and you really do change the state of the running program. It is Alt+F8 on Windows and Option+F8 on a Mac.
Q. Is it the same on Windows and Mac?
No — Alt+F8 on Windows, Option+F8 on a Mac.
Q. How many keys is that?
2 pressed together. The combination sits under Debug in IntelliJ IDEA.