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Rules

Rules help you customize how Cursor's AI interacts with your codebase. By defining specific guidelines, coding standards, and project requirements, you ensure consistent and high-quality AI assistance.

Example Rule

Here's an example of a rule file that defines coding standards for a Next.js fullstack application:

Base Rules for Next.js App

View on GitHub

💡 Pro Tip:You can use @file to reference multiple rule files, allowing you to chain multiple rules together

Project Rules

Configuration

Project rules are stored in the .cursor/rules directory, providing granular control through path-specific configurations. These rules are version-controlled, making them easy to share and maintain across your team.

Create Rule:
1Open the Command Palette with ⌘ + ⇧ + P
2Search for and select "New Cursor Rule"

Key Features

  • •Semantic Descriptions for rule application context
  • •File Pattern Matching using glob patterns
  • •Automatic Attachment for matching files
  • •Reference files using @file in rules

Common Use Cases

  • •Framework-specific rules for certain file types
  • •Special handling for auto-generated files
  • •Custom UI development patterns
  • •Code style and architecture preferences

Global Rules

Global rules can be configured under Cursor Settings > General > Rules for AI, applying across all projects. These are ideal for consistent preferences like output language and response length.

Location:Cursor Settings > General > Rules for AI

Resources

On the following websites you can find curated lists of cursor rules or tools to generate them:

Awesome Cursor Rules

A curated list of awesome cursor rules files for enhancing your Cursor AI experience.

View Repository

Cursor Directory

Extensive cursor rules bank and rules generator.

Visit Website

Cursor Rules CLI

A command-line tool to find and install the right Cursor rules for your project.

View Documentation