Introduction
Cursor has rapidly evolved into one of the most popular AI-assisted IDEs among developers who want to accelerate their workflow without leaving their code editor. Built on top of VS Code, Cursor integrates large language models directly into the development environment, offering features like autocomplete, inline chat, and a command mode for bulk operations. However, the true power of Cursor lies not just in the tool itself, but in how you prompt it. A well-crafted prompt can turn a generic suggestion into a precise, context-aware solution that saves hours of manual work.
In this article, we’ll share 15 battle-tested prompts for Cursor that we actually use in daily development. These prompts are organized by feature — autocomplete, chat, and command mode — with real usage examples. Whether you’re a seasoned Cursor user or just starting out, this collection will help you get the most out of AI-assisted coding.
Autocomplete Prompts
Cursor’s autocomplete feature works like GitHub Copilot but with deeper context awareness. The key to great autocomplete results is to provide a clear, unambiguous starting point. Here are five prompts that consistently produce high-quality completions.
1. Boilerplate Generation
Example prompt:
// Generate a standard React component with TypeScript props
interface ButtonProps {
label: string;
onClick: () => void;
variant?: 'primary' | 'secondary';
disabled?: boolean;
}
Cursor will autocomplete the entire component implementation, including JSX structure and state management. This works because the interface gives the AI enough context to infer the component’s shape.
2. Test Cases
Example prompt:
// Write unit tests for the function below using Vitest
function parseUserData(raw: unknown): User {
if (typeof raw !== 'object' || raw === null) throw new Error('Invalid input');
// ...existing parsing logic
}
By prefixing with a clear instruction, you guide Cursor to generate test cases covering edge cases like null inputs, missing fields, or type mismatches.
3. Documentation Comments
Example prompt:
/// @description: This function calculates the total price with tax
/// @param: items - array of product objects
/// @returns: number
Cursor autocomplete will expand this into a full JSDoc or TSDoc comment, describing parameters, return types, and examples.
4. Error Handling
Example prompt:
// Handle potential errors when fetching data from an external API
try {
const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/data');
// ...
}
After this snippet, Cursor often suggests a comprehensive catch block with logging, user-friendly error messages, and fallback logic.
5. State Management Patterns
Example prompt:
const [user, setUser] = useState<User | null>(null);
// useEffect to fetch user on mount
Cursor will complete the effect with proper cleanup, dependency array, and loading/error states.
Chat Prompts
The chat feature in Cursor allows you to ask questions about your codebase, refactor code, or generate new functions without leaving the IDE. Chat prompts are more conversational and can leverage the entire project context.
6. Explain Code
Example prompt:
Explain how the authentication middleware works in this project. Include the flow from request to response.
Cursor will analyze your codebase and provide a detailed breakdown, referencing specific files and functions.
7. Refactor for Performance
Example prompt:
Refactor this function to reduce time complexity from O(n²) to O(n log n). Here’s the current implementation:
// ...
This prompt works best when you paste a specific function into the chat. Cursor will suggest optimized algorithms and data structures.
8. Generate API Client
Example prompt:
Generate a TypeScript client for the following OpenAPI spec:
[Paste YAML/JSON spec here]
Cursor can produce a fully typed client with methods for each endpoint, error handling, and authentication.
9. Code Review
Example prompt:
Review this pull request diff for potential bugs, security issues, and style violations:
[Paste diff]
While not a replacement for human review, this prompt catches common issues like SQL injection vulnerabilities or missing input validation.
10. Debugging Assistance
Example prompt:
I'm getting a TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'id') at line 42. Here's the context:
// ...
Cursor will trace through the code to identify where the undefined value originates and suggest fixes.
Command Mode Prompts
Command mode in Cursor lets you execute multi-file operations, refactor across the entire project, or generate scaffolding. These prompts are typically more structured and include constraints.
11. Rename Variable Across Files
Example prompt:
/rename oldVariable newVariable in project
Cursor will find all occurrences and update them, respecting scope and preventing name collisions.
12. Add Logging to All Functions
Example prompt:
Add console.log at the start of every function in the 'services' directory that logs the function name and arguments.
This is useful for debugging or adding telemetry without manual work.
13. Convert Class Components to Hooks
Example prompt:
Convert all React class components in the 'components' folder to functional components with hooks.
Cursor will rewrite lifecycle methods into useEffect, setState into useState, and handle refs properly.
14. Generate CRUD Operations
Example prompt:
Create a complete CRUD service for a 'Product' model with fields: id, name, price, description. Use Prisma and Express.
Cursor will generate the Prisma schema, service functions, and route handlers in separate files.
15. Format and Lint Entire Project
Example prompt:
Run prettier and eslint on all files in the 'src' directory and fix auto-fixable issues.
While this can be done via CLI, Cursor’s command mode integrates it into your workflow without leaving the editor.
Conclusion
Mastering prompts for Cursor transforms it from a simple autocomplete tool into a powerful AI-assisted development partner. The key is to be specific about what you want, provide enough context, and iterate based on results. Start with these 15 prompts, adapt them to your own projects, and you’ll find yourself spending less time on boilerplate and more time on architecture and logic. As AI-assisted development continues to evolve, the ability to craft effective prompts will become an essential skill for every developer.
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