Peek at a definition or open its source file?

01Match the view to your question

VS Code distinguishes opening a definition from inspecting it in a Peek view. While reading a function, you may only need the input or type of a helper, rather than a separate editing session.

Keep a small clarification near the current code when that is enough. Move to the full source file for deeper investigation. Neither view is always faster; the useful choice is the one that keeps the information you need available.

02Follow one symbol and return

1. Choose a simple function in a project you can safely inspect. Ask a specific question about a referenced symbol, such as what input it expects.
2. Open the definition view, answer that question and return to the original line. If the answer raises a larger issue, deliberately continue in the full source file. Keep track of the question that started the investigation so a chain of definitions does not replace your original reading task.

03Check language and project support

Definition results depend on language tooling and the project’s state. A symbol may be unresolved, generated, external or represented by several possible locations.

If a definition is missing or unexpected, inspect that context rather than repeatedly pressing the same keys. Use navigation history when appropriate and keep the original file identifiable. These documented features support a reading workflow, but they do not guarantee identical results for every language, extension or repository.