Another obscure readline feature is that ~/.inputrc accepts key sequences bound to arbitrary (quoted) macros, including macros that contain more key sequences.

Another obscure readline feature is that ~/.inputrc accepts key sequences bound to arbitrary (quoted) macros, including macros that contain more key sequences. # a basic macro that types "foo" bound to META+"f" "\ef": "foo" The cool part is that bash recursively checks the macro output for more key sequences. For example, I use these standard bindings: # <META>-k "\ek": shell-kill-word # <CONTROL>-y "\C-y": yank # <SHIFT>-RIGHT "\e[c": shell-forward-word # <SHIFT>-LEFT "\e[d": shell-backward-word ...which are used by these macros that use s-LEFT and s-RIGHT to move the current command-line argument one position left or right: # <SUPER>-LEFT "\e[D": "\e[d\ek\e[d^Y" # <SUPER>-RIGHT "\e[C": "\e[d\ek\e[c^Y" # ^ ^ ^ ^ # | | | > yank # | | > shell-forward-word # | > shell-kill-word # > shell-backward-word (the actual key sequences depend on the terminal. Check with C-v <KEY>)