referencer.nvim

referencer.nvim is a lightweight, asynchronous Neovim plugin written in Lua that uses the built-in LSP to show the number of references to functions, methods, types, or other symbols directly in the buffer using virtual text.

This is especially useful for quickly understanding code usage without manually invoking LSP commands.

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Preview

0612.mp4

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Features

• ✨ Asynchronous: non-blocking usage count queries using built-in LSP.
• 👁️ Displays number of references next to functions, methods, structs, etc.
• ⚖️ Fully configurable highlight groups and colors.
• 💪 Works with any LSP that supports textDocument/references and textDocument/documentSymbol.
• ⚖️ On-demand or auto-triggered via LspAttach event.

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Installation

With lazy.nvim:

{
    "romus204/referencer.nvim",
    config = function()
        require("referencer").setup()
    end
}

With packer.nvim:

use {
    "romus204/referencer.nvim",
    config = function()
        require("referencer").setup()
    end
}

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Default configuration

require("referencer").setup({
    enable = false,                      -- enable after LSP attach
    format = "  %d reference(s)",       -- format string for reference count
    show_no_reference = true,            -- show if refs count = 0
    kinds = { 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 23, } -- LSP SymbolKinds to show references for
    hl_group = "Comment",                -- default highlight group
    color = nil,                         -- optional custom color (overrides hl_group)
    virt_text_pos = "eol",               -- virtual text position (eol | overlay | right_align)
    pattern = nil,                       -- pattern for LspAttach autocmd to auto-enable
    lsp_servers = {}                     -- list of servers for which this plugin will be active. nil or {} is ALL LSP clients

})

Configuration example

require("referencer").setup({
    enable = true,
    format = "  %d ref",
    show_no_reference = true,
    kinds = { 12, 6, 5, 23, 8 },
    hl_group = "Comment",
    color = "#FFA500",
    virt_text_pos = "eol",
    pattern = {"*.go", "*.py"},
    lsp_servers = {'gopls', 'pyright'}

})

kinds

A list of LSP SymbolKind numeric values. Some common kinds:

File = 1;
Module = 2;
Namespace = 3;
Package = 4;
Class = 5;
Method = 6;
Property = 7;
Field = 8;
Constructor = 9;
Enum = 10;
Interface = 11;
Function = 12;
Variable = 13;
Constant = 14;
String = 15;
Number = 16;
Boolean = 17;
Array = 18;
Object = 19;
Key = 20;
Null = 21;
EnumMember = 22;
Struct = 23;
Event = 24;
Operator = 25;
TypeParameter = 26;

Full list: LSP Specification - SymbolKind

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Commands

Command	Description
:ReferencerToggle	Toggle reference display on/off
:ReferencerUpdate	Force refresh reference information in current buffer