Navigating directories efficiently in the terminal is essential for
productivity. While cd has been the standard for decades, there are smarter
and faster alternatives.

Meet the y → z workflow—a powerful way to jump between directories and
manage files effortlessly.

What is y → z

The letters y and z don’t have an inherent meaning, but their alphabetical
order mirrors c and d—making them easy to remember as a cd alternative.

This workflow leverages:

• zoxide – A smarter cd replacement that remembers frequently visited directories.
• yazi – A blazing-fast terminal file manager with zoxide integration.
• fzf – A fuzzy finder that enhances interactive navigation.

The Power of z (zoxide)

zoxide enhances terminal navigation by remembering frequently visited
directories. The z command allows you to quickly jump to a known directory
based on name matching. For even more flexibility, zi integrates zoxide
with fzf, enabling an interactive fuzzy search through your directory
history, letting you select a destination effortlessly.

Basic Commands

z project    # Jump to a frequently visited "project" directory 
zi           # Use fzf to interactively search recent directories 

The Power of y (yazi)

yazi is a powerful
terminal-based file manager designed for fast and efficient navigation. One of
its standout features is its seamless integration with zoxide. While using
yazi, you can press z to instantly jump to any frequently visited directory
tracked by zoxide. This allows you to combine fuzzy directory switching with
visual file management, creating a smooth and efficient workflow for handling
files and navigating your system.

Basic Commands

y            # Open yazi 

Once inside yazi, press z to instantly jump to a directory tracked by
zoxide.

However, when a full TUI file explorer isn't necessary, you might prefer using
zi directly. Instead of opening yazi, the zi command allows you to
instantly select and jump to a directory using fuzzy search—making it the
fastest option for quick directory switching.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a faster way to move around your file system, the y →
z workflow is a game-changer.