How Replit code suggestions work

As you type code in the Replit editor, AI-powered suggestions appear automatically as grayed-out text after your cursor. These suggestions predict what you are about to write based on your current file, the context of your project, and the language you are using. Suggestions can be a single line or multiple lines. They appear within 1-2 seconds of pausing your typing. You do not need to activate anything; suggestions are enabled by default on all plans.

When a suggestion appears, you have three options. Press Tab to accept the entire suggestion and insert it into your code. Press Escape to dismiss the suggestion and continue typing manually. On some setups, you can also press the right arrow key to accept one word at a time instead of the entire suggestion. If you keep typing and the suggestion no longer matches what you are writing, it automatically disappears and a new suggestion may appear based on your updated context.

Replit Assistant is a separate AI feature from inline suggestions. It is a chat interface where you can ask questions about your code, request explanations, or ask for code snippets. Open the Assistant from the AI panel or chat area in the workspace. Type your question in natural language. Use @file syntax to reference specific files for context. For example, '@src/App.jsx How do I add a loading spinner to this component?' gives the Assistant focused context to provide a relevant answer. Assistant consumes roughly 5 times fewer credits than Agent.

You can adjust how AI code suggestions behave in your Replit workspace. Open Settings (click the gear icon or navigate through the account menu). Look for AI or Code Intelligence settings. You can toggle inline suggestions on or off, adjust the suggestion delay, and configure which file types receive AI assistance. If suggestions are distracting or you prefer a specific section to be written manually, you can temporarily disable them and re-enable when needed.

The quality of AI suggestions improves dramatically when your code is well-structured and commented. Write descriptive function names, add JSDoc or docstring comments before functions, and use clear variable names. The AI reads your current file and surrounding context to generate suggestions. A well-commented file with clear patterns produces much better suggestions than uncommented spaghetti code. You can also write a comment describing what you want, and the AI will often generate the complete implementation.

1// Example: Writing a comment to guide AI suggestions
2
3/**
4 * Validates an email address format using regex
5 * @param {string} email - The email address to validate
6 * @returns {boolean} True if the email format is valid
7 */
8// Start typing the function and AI will suggest the implementation:
9function validateEmail(email) {
10  // AI typically suggests something like:
11  // const regex = /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/;
12  // return regex.test(email);
13}

For changes that span multiple files or require installing packages, use Replit Agent instead of relying on inline suggestions. Agent operates autonomously: it creates files, modifies existing code, installs dependencies, and tests its work. Open the Agent chat and describe what you want in natural language. Use Lite mode for small, focused changes (under $0.25/task) and Autonomous mode for larger features. Agent creates checkpoints at each step, so you can roll back if the result is not what you expected.