#4934·vimium

Preserve trailing space when exiting custom search-engine completion

Author: mto-sCreated Jul 23, 2026Updated Jul 23, 2026

When a custom search engine is configured, there is currently no convenient way to use the default search/completions for a normal query that begins with its keyword.

For example, suppose you use:

maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%s

This is the current behavior (using underscores in place of spaces for clarity):

  • maps_ activates the custom maps search engine
  • a backspace will exit the custom search engine, returning you to maps (no space)
  • the CSE reactivates, as normal, with a subsequent space

By returning to the input without the trailing space, it is difficult to use the default completions or search engine for a query such as maps_of_london, since you are put in the same initial situation where continuing the query will immediately reactivate the CSE.

Expected behavior

When pressing backspace to exit a CSE, it should preserve the trailing space (leaving maps_ rather than maps in the example).

From there, the user could continue typing in a normal query or input another backspace (restoring maps) followed by a space to reactivate the CSE.

The existing behavior is already close to how Chromium-based browsers handle custom search engines. Preserving the trailing space would make it consistent and likely more intuitive. The corresponding interaction/behavior in Firefox is substantially different, clearing the entire keyword and space.