diff --git a/.vscode/settings.json b/.vscode/settings.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50f57ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.vscode/settings.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+    "Lua.diagnostics.globals": [
+        "vim"
+    ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cf0ce55..0d9d04a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ It supports the following multiplexers/terminal, referred to as backends hereaft
 
 - tmux
 - wezterm
+- zellij
 - toggleterm
 
 ## Installation
@@ -78,23 +79,32 @@ vim.g.command = {--[[ options go here ]]}
 The backend is the multiplexer or terminal to use. It's controlled by the `backend` key in the options table.
 If the `backend` key is unset, as it is by default, heuristics are used to pick one of the supported backends.
 
-* If `$TMUX` is set, tmux is used.
+The backend is selected using the following table of fallbacks, checked in order from top to bottom. The first condition that matches determines which backend will be used:
 
-* Else if `wezterm(?.exe)` exists in `$PATH`, wezterm is used.
+| Condition                                         | Backend    |
+| ------------------------------------------------- | ---------- |
+| `$TMUX` is set                                    | tmux       |
+| `$ZELLIJ` or `$ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME` is set        | zellij     |
+| `$TERM` is `wezterm`                              | wezterm    |
+| toggleterm's module can be `require()`'ed         | toggleterm |
 
-* Else if toggleterm's module can be `require()`'ed, toggleterm is used.
+This order ensures that the most specific environment (e.g., tmux or zellij) is prioritized.  
+**If none of these heuristics succeed, you must explicitly set a backend using the `backend` key in your configuration. Otherwise, an error will be raised and no backend will be used.**
 
 ```lua
     --- @alias backend_used
     --- | 'tmux'
     --- | 'wezterm'
+    --- | 'zellij'
     --- | 'toggleterm'
     backend = nil
 ```
 
-#### tmux & wezterm
+#### tmux, wezterm, and zellij
 
-The tmux and wezterm backends both have 2 built in pane directions, right of the editor pane, and below the editor pane.
+The tmux and wezterm backends each have 2 built in pane directions, right of the editor pane, and below the editor pane.
+
+The zellij backend has those two directions plus a third that sends commands to a floating pane (creating one if none exists).
 
 #### ToggleTerm
 
@@ -137,6 +147,7 @@ vim.g.command = {
     --- @alias backend_used
     --- | 'tmux'
     --- | 'wezterm'
+    --- | 'zellij'
     --- | 'toggleterm'
     backend = nil
 
@@ -174,10 +185,10 @@ vim.g.command = {
     - [x] tmux
     - [x] ToggleTerm
     - [x] wezterm
+    - [x] zellij
     - [ ] default nvim terminal
     - [ ] kitty
     - [ ] some other backend
-    - [ ] zellij
 - [x] clean up types
     - [x] types for all opts, use lua-ls enums
     - [x] move to utils ?
diff --git a/doc/command.nvim.txt b/doc/command.nvim.txt
index b62a2ab..d5101a4 100644
--- a/doc/command.nvim.txt
+++ b/doc/command.nvim.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-*command.nvim.txt*       For Neovim >= 0.9.0      Last change: 2025 October 20
+*command.nvim.txt*        For Neovim >= 0.9.0       Last change: 2026 March 25
 
 ==============================================================================
 Table of Contents                             *command.nvim-table-of-contents*
@@ -36,11 +36,12 @@ if you want to make it executable.
     - |command.nvim-defaults|
 - |command.nvim-todo|
 
-It supports the following multiplexers/terminal, refered to as backends
+It supports the following multiplexers/terminal, referred to as backends
 hereafter:
 
 - tmux
 - wezterm
+- zellij
 - toggleterm
 
 
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ CONFIGURATION                                 *command.nvim-toc-configuration*
 Configurations is done by setting the `vim.g.command` table.
 
 >lua
-    vim.g.command = {--[[ options go here ]]} )
+    vim.g.command = {--[[ options go here ]]}
 <
 
 
@@ -101,26 +102,32 @@ BACKENDS ~
 
 The backend is the multiplexer or terminal to use. It’s controlled by the
 `backend` key in the options table. If the `backend` key is unset, as it is by
-default, heuristics are used to pick on of the supported backends.
+default, heuristics are used to pick one of the supported backends.
 
 - If `$TMUX` is set, tmux is used.
-- Else if `wezterm(?.exe)` exists in `$PATH`, wezterm is used.
+- Else if `$ZELLIJ` or `$ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME` is set (Neovim is running inside
+    Zellij), zellij is used.
+- Else if `$TERM` is `wezterm`, wezterm is used.
 - Else if toggleterm’s module can be `require()`’ed, toggleterm is used.
 
 >lua
         --- @alias backend_used
         --- | 'tmux'
         --- | 'wezterm'
+        --- | 'zellij'
         --- | 'toggleterm'
         backend = nil
 <
 
 
-TMUX & WEZTERM
+TMUX, WEZTERM, AND ZELLIJ
 
-The tmux and wezterm backends both have 2 built in pane directions, right of
+The tmux and wezterm backends each have 2 built in pane directions, right of
 the editor pane, and below the editor pane.
 
+The zellij backend has those two directions plus a third that sends commands to
+a floating pane (creating one if none exists).
+
 
 TOGGLETERM
 
@@ -133,8 +140,8 @@ RULES ~
 When using `Command File` to run a file, instead of simply running the file you
 might want to run a specific shell command. Using Rules you can, they are
 key-value pairs of lua patterns and functions. The lua pattern is compared
-against the current filename, if it maches the function is run to get the shell
-command and run it.
+against the current filename, if it matches the function is run to get the
+shell command and run it.
 
 >lua
     opts = {
@@ -168,8 +175,9 @@ The defaults options are as follows:
         --- @alias backend_used
         --- | 'tmux'
         --- | 'wezterm'
+        --- | 'zellij'
         --- | 'toggleterm'
-        use = nil
+        backend = nil
     
         --- defines rules to overwrite the command to run when using the "run current file" behavior
         --- keys are lua patterns (see :help lua-pattern)
@@ -206,10 +214,10 @@ TODO                                                   *command.nvim-toc-todo*
     - tmux
     - ToggleTerm
     - wezterm
+    - zellij
     - default nvim terminal
     - kitty
     - some other backend
-    - zellij
 - clean up types
     - types for all opts, use lua-ls enums
     - move to utils ?
@@ -228,7 +236,7 @@ TODO                                                   *command.nvim-toc-todo*
 
 SIMILAR PLUGINS                             *command.nvim-toc-similar-plugins*
 
-- yeet.nvim <https://github.com/samharju/yeet.nvim>, very similar, would not have _originaly_ made this had I known yeet.nvim existed :^P
+- yeet.nvim <https://github.com/samharju/yeet.nvim>, very similar, would not have _originally_ made this had I known yeet.nvim existed :^P
 
 ==============================================================================
 3. Links                                                  *command.nvim-links*
diff --git a/lua/command/command-types.lua b/lua/command/command-types.lua
index 3538da2..d005cfb 100644
--- a/lua/command/command-types.lua
+++ b/lua/command/command-types.lua
@@ -2,12 +2,16 @@
 --- | 'wezterm'
 --- | 'tmux'
 --- | 'toggleterm'
+--- | 'zellij'
 --- | 'auto' -- pick automatically by examining environment vars
 
 --- @alias rule table<string, fun(string?):string>
 
 --- @class direction
 --- @field name string
+--- @field new string|nil
+--- @field old string|nil
+--- @field split string|nil
 
 --- @class backend
 --- @field run fun(string)
diff --git a/lua/command/init.lua b/lua/command/init.lua
index b57af78..2590cf6 100644
--- a/lua/command/init.lua
+++ b/lua/command/init.lua
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ M.CommandDirection = 1
 
 M.ChangeDirection = function()
 	if not M.backend.directions then
-		notify('Changing directions is not supported using backend: ' .. vim.g.command.use, 'error')
+		notify('Changing directions is not supported using backend: ' .. vim.g.command.backend, 'error')
 		return
 	end
 	M.CommandDirection = (M.CommandDirection % #M.backend.directions + 1)
diff --git a/lua/command/zellij.lua b/lua/command/zellij.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a643bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/command/zellij.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,305 @@
+local system = require('command.utils').system
+local notify = require('command.utils').notify
+
+--- @type direction[]
+local directions = {
+	{
+		name = 'pane on right side',
+		new = 'right',
+		split = 'right',
+	},
+	{
+		name = 'pane below editor',
+		new = 'down',
+		split = 'down',
+	},
+	{
+		name = 'floating pane',
+		new = 'floating',
+	},
+}
+
+---@param p table
+---@return string|nil
+local function terminal_pane_id(p)
+	if p.is_plugin then
+		return nil
+	end
+	return 'terminal_' .. p.id
+end
+
+---@param a table
+---@param b table
+---@return boolean
+local function overlaps_vertical(a, b)
+	local ay2 = a.pane_y + a.pane_rows
+	local by2 = b.pane_y + b.pane_rows
+	return math.max(a.pane_y, b.pane_y) < math.min(ay2, by2)
+end
+
+---@param a table
+---@param b table
+---@return boolean
+local function overlaps_horizontal(a, b)
+	local ax2 = a.pane_x + a.pane_columns
+	local bx2 = b.pane_x + b.pane_columns
+	return math.max(a.pane_x, b.pane_x) < math.min(ax2, bx2)
+end
+
+---@param focused table
+---@param panes table[]
+---@return table|nil
+local function find_right_neighbor(focused, panes)
+	local right_edge = focused.pane_x + focused.pane_columns
+	local best
+	local best_dist
+	for _, p in ipairs(panes) do
+		if not p.is_plugin and p.id ~= focused.id then
+			if p.pane_x >= right_edge and overlaps_vertical(focused, p) then
+				local dist = p.pane_x - right_edge
+				if not best or dist < best_dist then
+					best = p
+					best_dist = dist
+				end
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	return best
+end
+
+---@param focused table
+---@param panes table[]
+---@return table|nil
+local function find_down_neighbor(focused, panes)
+	local bottom_edge = focused.pane_y + focused.pane_rows
+	local best
+	local best_dist
+	for _, p in ipairs(panes) do
+		if not p.is_plugin and p.id ~= focused.id then
+			if p.pane_y >= bottom_edge and overlaps_horizontal(focused, p) then
+				local dist = p.pane_y - bottom_edge
+				if not best or dist < best_dist then
+					best = p
+					best_dist = dist
+				end
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	return best
+end
+
+---@param panes table[]
+---@return table|nil
+local function find_focused_terminal(panes)
+	for _, p in ipairs(panes) do
+		if p.is_focused and not p.is_plugin then
+			return p
+		end
+	end
+	local zid = vim.env.ZELLIJ_PANE_ID
+	if zid then
+		local num = zid:match 'terminal_(%d+)' or zid:match '^(%d+)$'
+		if num then
+			for _, p in ipairs(panes) do
+				if not p.is_plugin and tostring(p.id) == num then
+					return p
+				end
+			end
+		end
+	end
+	return nil
+end
+
+--- Prefer focused floating terminal, else any floating terminal pane.
+---@param panes table[]
+---@return table|nil
+local function find_floating_terminal(panes)
+	for _, p in ipairs(panes) do
+		if not p.is_plugin and p.is_floating and p.is_focused then
+			return p
+		end
+	end
+	for _, p in ipairs(panes) do
+		if not p.is_plugin and p.is_floating then
+			return p
+		end
+	end
+	return nil
+end
+
+---@return table[]|nil, string?
+local function list_panes()
+	local out, err = system { 'zellij', 'action', 'list-panes', '--json', '--geometry', '--state' }
+	if err then
+		return nil, err
+	end
+	local ok, decoded = pcall(vim.json.decode, out)
+	if not ok or type(decoded) ~= 'table' then
+		return nil, 'failed to parse list-panes JSON'
+	end
+	return decoded, nil
+end
+
+---@param panes table[]
+---@return table<number, boolean>
+local function terminal_ids_set(panes)
+	local set = {}
+	for _, p in ipairs(panes) do
+		if not p.is_plugin then
+			set[p.id] = true
+		end
+	end
+	return set
+end
+
+---@param dir string
+---@return table|nil, string?
+local function split_pane(dir)
+	local before, err = list_panes()
+	if err then
+		return nil, err
+	end
+	if not before then
+		return nil, 'list-panes returned no data'
+	end
+	local before_ids = terminal_ids_set(before)
+	local _, split_err = system { 'zellij', 'action', 'new-pane', '--direction', dir }
+	if split_err then
+		return nil, split_err
+	end
+	local after, err2 = list_panes()
+	if err2 then
+		return nil, err2
+	end
+	if not after then
+		return nil, 'list-panes returned no data after split'
+	end
+	for _, p in ipairs(after) do
+		if not p.is_plugin and not before_ids[p.id] then
+			return p, nil
+		end
+	end
+	return nil, 'could not find new pane after split'
+end
+
+---@return table|nil, string?
+local function new_floating_pane()
+	local before, err = list_panes()
+	if err then
+		return nil, err
+	end
+	if not before then
+		return nil, 'list-panes returned no data'
+	end
+	local before_ids = terminal_ids_set(before)
+	local _, split_err = system { 'zellij', 'action', 'new-pane', '--floating' }
+	if split_err then
+		return nil, split_err
+	end
+	local after, err2 = list_panes()
+	if err2 then
+		return nil, err2
+	end
+	if not after then
+		return nil, 'list-panes returned no data after new floating pane'
+	end
+	for _, p in ipairs(after) do
+		if not p.is_plugin and not before_ids[p.id] then
+			return p, nil
+		end
+	end
+	return nil, 'could not find new floating pane'
+end
+
+---@param cmd string
+---@param pane_id string
+---@return string?
+local function write_chars(cmd, pane_id)
+	local _, err = system { 'zellij', 'action', 'write-chars', cmd .. '\n', '--pane-id', pane_id }
+	return err
+end
+
+---@param cmd string
+local function zellij_run(cmd)
+	local panes, err = list_panes()
+	if err then
+		notify(err, 'error')
+		return
+	end
+	if not panes then
+		notify('list-panes returned no data', 'error')
+		return
+	end
+
+	local direction = directions[require('command').CommandDirection]
+	if not direction or not direction.new then
+		notify('invalid pane direction', 'error')
+		return
+	end
+
+	local target
+
+	if direction.new == 'floating' then
+		target = find_floating_terminal(panes)
+		if not target then
+			local fpane, ferr = new_floating_pane()
+			if ferr then
+				notify(ferr, 'error')
+				return
+			end
+			if not fpane then
+				notify('could not create floating pane', 'error')
+				return
+			end
+			target = fpane
+		end
+	else
+		if not direction.split then
+			notify('invalid pane direction', 'error')
+			return
+		end
+		local focused = find_focused_terminal(panes)
+		if not focused then
+			notify('could not find focused terminal pane in Zellij', 'error')
+			return
+		end
+		local neighbor
+		if direction.new == 'right' then
+			neighbor = find_right_neighbor(focused, panes)
+		elseif direction.new == 'down' then
+			neighbor = find_down_neighbor(focused, panes)
+		end
+		target = neighbor
+		if not target then
+			local new_pane, split_err = split_pane(direction.split)
+			if split_err then
+				notify(split_err, 'error')
+				return
+			end
+			if not new_pane then
+				notify('split did not create a new pane', 'error')
+				return
+			end
+			target = new_pane
+		end
+	end
+
+	local pane_id = terminal_pane_id(target)
+	if not pane_id then
+		notify('target pane has no terminal id', 'error')
+		return
+	end
+
+	local werr = write_chars(cmd, pane_id)
+	if werr then
+		notify(werr, 'error')
+	end
+end
+
+--- @type backend
+local M = {
+	run = zellij_run,
+	directions = directions,
+}
+
+return M
diff --git a/plugin/command.lua b/plugin/command.lua
index 29d531b..95dcbe7 100644
--- a/plugin/command.lua
+++ b/plugin/command.lua
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ local opts = vim.tbl_deep_extend('force', default_opts, vim.g.command or {})
 if not opts.backend then
 	if vim.env.TMUX then
 		opts.backend = 'tmux'
+	elseif vim.env.ZELLIJ or vim.env.ZELLIJ_SESSION_NAME then
+		opts.backend = 'zellij'
 	elseif vim.env.TERM == 'wezterm' then
 		opts.backend = 'wezterm'
 	elseif pcall(require, 'toggleterm') then