These Cursor prompts help you explain code, fix errors, build small features and write tests from the editor's side panel. Copy one, swap the [brackets] for your details, and read each change before accepting it. Cursor's own tip is to use @ mentions when you know which files matter.
Cursor is a code editor with an AI agent built into the side panel, so your prompts sit right next to the files you're working on. That changes how you write them. You can point at a file, a folder, a terminal error or a git diff with an @ mention instead of describing where things are.
Below are prompts I'd use inside the editor, grouped by what you're trying to do. Swap the [brackets] for your own details. Before you accept any edit, read the diff, and keep API keys, passwords and other secrets out of the chat box entirely. If you want to compare editors first, see my list of Cursor alternatives.
Cursor prompts that use @ mentions
Cursor's docs say to use @ when you know which files matter, and to skip it when you don't, because Agent searches for relevant files itself.
Explain a folder
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Look at @[folder] and explain what each file is for, how they connect, and which one I should open first to understand [feature].
Fix an error from the terminal
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Here's the output from @Terminal. Work out the cause, change the smallest amount of code that fixes it, and rerun the command to prove it works.
Review what I've changed
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Review my uncommitted changes with @Git. Point out bugs, missing edge cases and anything that looks unrelated to [the goal], and don't edit anything yet.
Use a previous chat
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Use @Past Chats to remind yourself what we decided about [topic], then continue by applying the same approach to @[file].
Check a page in the browser
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Open the page at @Browser, compare it with the design I've attached, list every visible difference, then fix the styles one difference at a time.
Cursor prompts for building a feature in the editor
Agent can edit files and run terminal commands, so be clear about where it should stop.
Add a small feature
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Add [feature] to @[file]. Match the existing style and naming, keep the change small, and list every file you touched when you finish.
Build from a screenshot
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I've pasted a screenshot of the layout I want for [page]. Build it using the components we already have, and tell me which ones you reused.
Wire up a form
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Create a [contact or signup] form in @[file] with sensible validation and clear error messages. Don't send data anywhere yet, just log it for now.
Talk through it first
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Before writing code for [feature], tell me your plan in short steps, which files change, and any questions you have. Wait for my go-ahead.
Match an existing pattern
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Create a new [component] that works like @[example file]. Copy its structure, props and file naming so it fits in without surprises.
Cursor prompts for debugging and cleaning up
Short, scoped requests give you diffs that are quick to review.
Find the root cause
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[Feature] stopped working after my last change. Check @[file] and nearby code, explain the most likely cause, and show the fix before applying it.
Add a log trail
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Add temporary logging to @[function] so I can see each value as it changes. Tell me exactly which lines to delete once I've found the problem.
Work with meWant AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Simplify a long function
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Break @[function] into smaller, well-named functions without changing its behaviour. Show me the before and after and what each new piece does.
Remove repeated code
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Find repeated blocks in @[folder] and suggest one shared helper. Explain the trade-offs, then wait for me to say yes before you change any file.
Tidy types and names
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Review @[file] for unclear variable names or missing types. Suggest improvements as a list first, then apply only the ones I tick off.
Cursor prompts for tests and documentation
A couple of minutes here saves a lot of puzzling later.
Generate unit tests
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Write unit tests for @[file] covering normal use, empty input and one failure case. Run them and report which pass, and don't change the code under test.
Write a plain-English summary
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Summarise what @[file] does in a short paragraph a non-developer could follow, followed by a bullet list of its inputs and outputs.
Add helpful comments
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Add short comments to the parts of @[file] that aren't obvious, explaining why they exist. Leave the code itself untouched.
Draft a changelog entry
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Based on @Git, write a short changelog entry for this change in friendly language: what's new, what's fixed, and anything users should watch for.
Cursor prompts for setting up rules and working habits
Cursor says rules guide how Agent behaves, so it's worth telling it your house style once.
Draft a rule from my habits
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Based on @[file], write a short set of rules describing our naming, folder layout and testing habits, in plain sentences Agent can follow.
Set the boundaries
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For this chat, only change files inside @[folder]. If you think something outside it needs editing, tell me instead of doing it.
Ask for options before action
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When a request has more than one reasonable approach, list the options with one line each and ask me to pick before you start.
How to get better results from Cursor prompts
- Use @ mentions for files you already know matter, and leave them off when you don't. Cursor says Agent searches for the right files itself.
- Watch the context ring next to the prompt box. Cursor summarises older conversation when the window fills up, so start a fresh chat for a new task.
- Paste a screenshot when words won't do. Cursor lets you drag in or paste images.
- If you dictate by voice, include file and function names, as Cursor suggests, and read the transcript before sending.
- Remember that checkpoints can restore files, but Cursor says they're separate from Git, so commit anything you want to keep.
Not sure an agent belongs in your workflow at all? My note on which AI agents you can try for nothing is a low-risk place to start, and AI-driven static analysis tools are a sensible second pair of eyes.
Frequently asked questions
What are Cursor prompts?
They're the instructions you type into Cursor's chat or agent panel. Good ones name the files, the goal and the limits, often using @ mentions to attach the right context.
What does the @ symbol do in Cursor?
Typing @ in the chat input lets you attach context such as files, folders, terminal output, past chats, git diffs and the built-in browser.
Do I always need to attach files with @?
No. Cursor's docs say to use @ when you know which files are relevant and to skip it otherwise, because Agent finds relevant files through its own search.
Can I undo what Agent did?
Agent creates checkpoints before significant changes, and you can restore files to one. Cursor notes they're separate from Git, so use Git for anything permanent.
Is it safe to put secrets in a Cursor prompt?
I'd say no. Keep passwords and API keys out of prompts, and read every change before you accept it.
