RefactorEx

RefactorEx is a powerful editor extension that simplifies and accelerates code refactoring for Elixir projects. It introduces intuitive code actions to help you refactor Elixir code efficiently and confidently.

With RefactorEx, you can perform common refactorings like extracting functions, renaming variables, and more — all within a few clicks.

You can check all supported editors in our installation guide.

Example

Available refactorings

Scope	Refactoring	Target	Command
`alias`	Expand aliases	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`alias`	Extract alias	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`alias`	Inline alias	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`alias`	Merge aliases	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`alias`	Sort nested aliases	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)

`case`	Convert from with	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`case`	Convert to with	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)

`constant`	Extract constant	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`constant`	Inline constant	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`constant`	Rename constant	at symbol	rename (`F2`)

`function`	Expand anonymous function	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`function`	Extract anonymous function	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`function`	Extract function	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`function`	Collapse anonymous function	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`function`	Inline function	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`function`	Rename function	at symbol	rename (`F2`)
`function`	Use keyword syntax	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`function`	Use regular syntax	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)

`guard`	Extract guard	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`guard`	Inline guard	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`guard`	Rename guard	at symbol	rename (`F2`)

`if else`	Use keyword syntax	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`if else`	Use regular syntax	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)

`pipeline`	Introduce IO.inspect	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`pipeline`	Introduce pipe	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`pipeline`	Remove IO.inspect	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`pipeline`	Remove pipe	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)

`variable`	Extract variable	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`variable`	Inline variable	selection	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)
`variable`	Rename variable	at symbol	rename (`F2`)
`variable`	Underscore not used	line	refactor (`ctrl`+`.`)

How to use each refactoring

Alias: expand aliases


Description	Expand nested `aliases` to their full names
Target	Selection of nested `alias`, group of nested `aliases` or `alias` with nesting
Inverse of	Merge aliases
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Alias: extract alias


Description	Extract the module full name into an `alias` and use it
Target	Selection of module full name
Inverse of	Inline alias
Example

▲ top

Alias: inline alias


Description	Replace the `alias` usage by the module full name
Target	Selection of `alias` usage
Inverse of	Extract alias
Notes	1. `alias` must be declared on the same module 2. `alias` declaration will not be removed
Example

▲ top

Alias: merge aliases


Description	Merge the group of `aliases` into a nested alias
Target	Selection of two or more mergeable `aliases`
Inverse of	Expand aliases
Example

▲ top

Alias: sort nested aliases


Description	Sort all nested `aliases` alphabetically
Target	Line of `alias` with unsorted nested `aliases`
Example

▲ top

Case: convert from with


Description	Convert `with` statement to `case` statement
Target	Line of `with` statement
Inverse of	Convert to with
Notes	`with` statement cannot have multiple clauses
Example

▲ top

Case: convert to with


Description	Convert `case` statement to `with` statement
Target	Line of `case` statement
Inverse of	Convert from with
Notes	`case` statement cannot have an assignment in the expression
Example

▲ top

Constant: extract constant


Description	Extract a piece of code into a `constant`
Target	Selection of any code without `variables`
Inverse of	Inline constant
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Constant: inline constant


Description	Replace a `constant` usage by its value
Target	Selection of `constant`
Inverse of	Extract constant
Notes	1. `constant` must be declared on the same module 2. `constant` declaration will not be removed
Example

▲ top

Constant: rename constant


Description	Replace the name of `constant` in all its usages
Target	Cursor at `constant` definition or usage
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Function: collapse anonymous function


Description	Collapse a `fn` function into a `&` function
Target	Selection of `fn` function
Inverse of	Expand anonymous function
Example

▲ top

Function: expand anonymous function


Description	Expand a `&` function into a `fn` function
Target	Selection of `&` function
Inverse of	Collapse anonymous function
Example

▲ top

Function: extract anonymous function


Description	Extract a `&` or `fn` function into a `function`
Target	Selection of `&` or `fn` function
Inverse of	Inline function
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Function: extract function


Description	Extract a piece of code into a `function`
Target	Selection of any code
Inverse of	Inline function
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Function: inline function


Description	Replace a `function` call by its body
Target	Selection of `function` call
Inverse of	Extract anonymous function, Extract function
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Notes	1. `function` must be defined on the same module 2. `function` definition will not be removed
Example

▲ top

Function: rename function


Description	Replace the name of `function` in all its calls
Target	Cursor at `function` definition or usage
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Notes	⚠️ Renaming a public `function` only affects the current file
Example

▲ top

Function: use keyword syntax


Description	Rewrite the `function` using keyword syntax
Target	Line of `function` definition using regular syntax
Inverse of	Use regular syntax
Notes	`function` body must have a single statement
Example

▲ top

Function: use regular syntax


Description	Rewrite the `function` using regular syntax
Target	Line of `function` definition using keyword syntax
Inverse of	Use keyword syntax
Example

▲ top

Guard: extract guard


Description	Extract a `when` statement into a `guard`
Target	Selection of `when` statement or part of one
Inverse of	Inline guard
Example

▲ top

Guard: inline guard


Description	Replace a `guard` call by its `when` statement
Target	Selection of `guard` call
Inverse of	Extract guard
Notes	1. `guard` must be defined on the same module 2. `guard` definition will not be removed
Example

▲ top

Guard: rename guard


Description	Replace the name of `guard` in all its calls
Target	Cursor at `guard` definition or usage
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Notes	⚠️ Renaming a public `guard` only affects the current file
Example

▲ top

If else: use keyword syntax


Description	Rewrite the `if else` using keyword syntax
Target	Line of `if` using regular syntax
Inverse of	Use regular syntax
Notes	Clauses must have a single statement
Example

▲ top

If else: use regular syntax


Description	Rewrite the `if else` using regular syntax
Target	Line of `if` using keyword syntax
Inverse of	Use keyword syntax
Example

▲ top

Pipeline: introduce IO.inspect


Description	Pipe a piece of code into an `IO.inspect`
Target	Selection of any code
Inverse of	Remove IO.inspect
Example

▲ top

Pipeline: introduce pipe


Description	Pipe the first arg into `function` call or `case` condition
Target	Line of `function` call or `case` condition
Inverse of	Remove pipe
Example

▲ top

Pipeline: remove IO.inspect


Description	Remove `IO.inspect` call
Target	Line of `IO.inspect` call
Inverse of	Introduce IO.inspect
Example

▲ top

Pipeline: remove pipe


Description	Remove `\\|>` from `function` call or `case` condition
Target	Line of pipe (`\\|>`)
Inverse of	Introduce pipe
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Variable: extract variable


Description	Extract a piece of code into a `variable`
Target	Selection of any code
Inverse of	Inline variable
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Variable: inline variable


Description	Replace all usages of `variable` by its value
Target	Selection of `variable` assignment
Inverse of	Extract variable
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Variable: rename variable


Description	Replace the name of `variable` in all its usages
Target	Cursor at `variable` definition
Read more	Catalog of Elixir refactorings
Example

▲ top

Variable: underscore not used


Description	Place a `_` in front of `variables` defined but not used
Target	Line of unused `variable`
Example

▲ top

RefactorEx

gp-pereira

RefactorEx

Available refactorings

How to use each refactoring

Alias: expand aliases

Alias: extract alias

Alias: inline alias

Alias: merge aliases

Alias: sort nested aliases

Case: convert from with

Case: convert to with

Constant: extract constant

Constant: inline constant

Constant: rename constant

Function: collapse anonymous function

Function: expand anonymous function

Function: extract anonymous function

Function: extract function

Function: inline function

Function: rename function

Function: use keyword syntax

Function: use regular syntax

Guard: extract guard

Guard: inline guard

Guard: rename guard

If else: use keyword syntax

If else: use regular syntax

Pipeline: introduce IO.inspect

Pipeline: introduce pipe

Pipeline: remove IO.inspect

Pipeline: remove pipe

Variable: extract variable

Variable: inline variable

Variable: rename variable

Variable: underscore not used