Multi-Language Editor for Java and Dynamic Languages

An IDE is much more than a text editor: The NetBeans editor indents lines, matches words and brackets, and highlights source code syntactically and semantically. The editor supports several languages including Java, C/C++, XML, HTML, PHP, Groovy, Javadoc, JavaScript, and JSP. It can be extended to support other languages.
Code Assistance in the Editor

Live Parsing

The IDE parses the source code live while you type. This way the editor is able to immediately mark errors and highlight occurences. Tooltips and editor glyphs unobtrusively display compiler hints, quick fixes, warnings, and language documentation.

Refactoring

The IDE's refactoring actions allow you to restructure code without breaking it. For example, when you rename an identifier or move a class to another package, don't use Search and Replace, the IDE can identify and update all occurences instantly. The Inspect and Transform tool enables you to run various inspections and transformations on the whole project/code base.

Smart Code Completion

The editor provides automatic code completion in several languages, including Java, C/C++, PHP, Groovy, XML, HTML, JSP, JavaScript and Javadoc. While you type, it lists possible completions: The most obvious and common options are listed at the top, but you can always choose from the full set of options at the bottom. Typing the first letters of a CamelCase word triggers code completion.

Go to File, Go to Type, Go to Symbol

Navigate to any file, type, or symbol with one quick keyboard shortcut, and jump directly to a declaration with a single click. In the Go To dialogs you can type in file or type names using camel case and even wild cards, and do a case sensitive search over all open projects.

Insert Code

The editor can generate common code snippets for you in Java or other languages. A dialog is provided to give you complete control over which methods are created and which class attributes they access. The IDE assists you when overriding methods and generating dynamic code blocks such as loops, try-catch-blocks, Javadoc comments, and accessors. You can even remove trailing whitespace from lines automatically.

Navigation

Use the Navigator's Members and Hierarchy Inspectors to navigate within files fast. The error stripe gives you an immediate overview of all highlighted lines in a file: With a single click, you jump to errors, hints, annotations, or search results.

Rectangular Block Selection 

Press the Toggle Rectangular Selection icon in the editor toolbar, next drag a mouse or use the cursor keys while Shift is pressed, to create a selection in code. Delete, cut, copy, paste the selection, or type characters to be replicated to all the lines.

Inspect Hierarchy and Members

Inspect the members and hierarchy of any Java class in a convenient popup window that displays base classes, derived classes, and interfaces. Use filters to control the level of detail that is displayed.

Fully Configurable User Interface

All windows can be individually positioned and split vertically or horizontally. Set up custom keyboard shortcuts or click configurable toolbar icons to access tools for compiling, refactoring, profiling, debugging and unit testing. Code completion behavior, documentation pop-ups, keyboard shortcuts, editor fonts and colors can be fully customized. Export and import NetBeans Options to make back-ups of your settings, or to share them in a team.

File History

You can always use a file's Local History to view recent modifications and revert changes, even if the file is not handled by a version control system.