fix: clear search highlighting on Normal escape

docs/editing.md

@@ -176,6 +176,8 @@ Normal `*` highlights the primary caret's word without moving any caret when it
 
 `n`/`N` and an empty `/` submission retain the whole-word setting; a nonempty `/` query returns to literal substring search. Cancelling `/` preserves both the previous query and its matching behavior.
 
+Normal-mode Escape hides search highlights without forgetting the query or matching mode. The next `*` re-highlights without moving; `n`/`N` or submitting `/` resumes navigation and restores highlighting. Escape used to cancel a prompt, selection, or pending motion keeps its existing behavior.
+
 Submitting an empty search repeats the last query. Esc cancels without moving the cursor or replacing the previous query/match. A missing match reports the query and leaves the cursor unchanged; searching without a previous query also leaves the cursor unchanged. Search never edits text or adds undo history. Buffer edits and undo/redo retain the query and recompute its visible highlights, so subsequent navigation searches the current text again.
 
 ## Commands, saving, and pasted input

src/editor.rs

@@ -1575,6 +1575,7 @@ struct ViewState {
     linewise: bool,
     search_query: String,
     search_whole_word: bool,
+    search_highlight: bool,
     search_match: Option<SearchMatch>,
     command_line: String,
     caret_reveal_revision: u64,
@@ -1594,6 +1595,7 @@ impl ViewState {
             linewise: false,
             search_query: String::new(),
             search_whole_word: false,
+            search_highlight: false,
             search_match: None,
             command_line: String::new(),
             caret_reveal_revision: 0,
@@ -1613,6 +1615,7 @@ impl ViewState {
             linewise: self.linewise,
             search_query: self.search_query.clone(),
             search_whole_word: self.search_whole_word,
+            search_highlight: self.search_highlight,
             search_match: self.search_match,
             command_line: self.command_line.clone(),
             caret_reveal_revision: self.caret_reveal_revision,
@@ -6491,7 +6494,11 @@ impl Editor {
         self.active.view.search_match
     }
     pub fn search_matches_on_row(&self, row: usize) -> impl Iterator<Item = SearchMatch> + '_ {
-        let query = self.active.view.search_query.as_str();
+        let query = if self.active.view.search_highlight {
+            self.active.view.search_query.as_str()
+        } else {
+            ""
+        };
         let line = &self.active.lines[row];
         let columns = grapheme_count(query);
         search_match_bytes(line, query, self.active.view.search_whole_word).map(move |byte| {
@@ -7934,6 +7941,8 @@ impl Editor {
             && (!self.message.is_empty() || self.diagnostic_at_cursor().is_some())
         {
             self.notification_visible = false;
+            self.active.view.search_highlight = false;
+            self.active.view.search_match = None;
             return None;
         }
         if matches!(self.active.view.mode, Mode::Normal | Mode::Visual)
@@ -8379,6 +8388,8 @@ impl Editor {
             }
             Action::Normal => {
                 if self.active.view.mode == Mode::Normal {
+                    self.active.view.search_highlight = false;
+                    self.active.view.search_match = None;
                     self.collapse_primary();
                 } else if self.active.view.mode == Mode::Insert {
                     self.finish_insert();
@@ -8452,11 +8463,15 @@ impl Editor {
             .map_or(line.len(), |(position, _)| position);
         let query = &line[start..end];
         let whole_word = kind == WordKind::Keyword;
-        let newly_active = self.active.view.search_query != query
+        let newly_active = !self.active.view.search_highlight
+            || self.active.view.search_query != query
             || self.active.view.search_whole_word != whole_word;
         if newly_active {
+            if self.active.view.search_query != query {
                 self.active.view.search_query = query.into();
+            }
             self.active.view.search_whole_word = whole_word;
+            self.active.view.search_highlight = true;
         }
         Some((
             Cursor {
@@ -8491,6 +8506,7 @@ impl Editor {
             self.set_message("No previous search");
             return;
         }
+        self.active.view.search_highlight = true;
         let query = self.active.view.search_query.as_str();
         let whole_word = self.active.view.search_whole_word;
         // ponytail: O(buffer graphemes × query bytes) scan; index matches if large buffers need it.

tests/navigation.rs

@@ -120,6 +120,36 @@ fn wait_until(session: &mut EditorSession, ready: impl Fn(&EditorSession) -> boo
     }
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn normal_escape_hides_highlights_but_retains_search_and_rearms_star() {
+    let fixture = Fixture::new();
+    let mut editor = fixture.editor("cat cat");
+    keys(&mut editor, "*");
+    assert_eq!(editor.search_matches_on_row(0).count(), 2);
+    editor.handle(Input::Escape);
+    assert_eq!(editor.search_matches_on_row(0).count(), 0);
+    assert_eq!(editor.search_match(), None);
+    assert_eq!(editor.cursor(), Cursor::default());
+    keys(&mut editor, "*");
+    assert_eq!(editor.cursor(), Cursor::default());
+    assert_eq!(editor.search_matches_on_row(0).count(), 2);
+    keys(&mut editor, "*");
+    assert_eq!(editor.cursor(), Cursor { row: 0, column: 4 });
+    editor.handle(Input::Escape);
+    keys(&mut editor, "n");
+    assert_eq!(editor.cursor(), Cursor::default());
+    assert_eq!(editor.search_matches_on_row(0).count(), 2);
+    keys(&mut editor, "/missing");
+    editor.handle(Input::Escape);
+    assert_eq!(editor.search_matches_on_row(0).count(), 2);
+    editor.handle(Input::Escape);
+    editor.handle(Input::Char('/'));
+    editor.handle(Input::Enter);
+    assert_eq!(editor.cursor(), Cursor { row: 0, column: 4 });
+    assert_eq!(editor.search_matches_on_row(0).count(), 2);
+    assert!(!editor.dirty());
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn star_search_arms_without_moving_then_navigates_and_rearms_for_a_new_word_or_mode() {
     let fixture = Fixture::new();