diff --git a/action.go b/action.go
index 5d3b7f61..721053f6 100644
--- a/action.go
+++ b/action.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package carapace
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"regexp"
 	"runtime"
@@ -462,6 +463,42 @@ func (a Action) Unless(condition func(c Context) bool) Action {
 	})
 }
 
+// Uid TODO experimental
+func (a Action) Uid(scheme, host string, opts ...string) Action {
+	return ActionCallback(func(c Context) Action {
+		if length := len(opts); length%2 != 0 {
+			return ActionMessage("invalid amount of arguments [Uid]: %v", length)
+		}
+
+		invoked := a.Invoke(c)
+		for index, v := range invoked.action.rawValues {
+			uid := url.URL{
+				Scheme: scheme,
+				Host:   host,
+				Path:   v.Value,
+			}
+			if len(opts) > 0 {
+				values := uid.Query()
+				for i := 0; i < len(opts); i += 2 {
+					if opts[i+1] != "" { // implicitly skip empty values
+						values.Set(opts[i], opts[i+1])
+					}
+				}
+				uid.RawQuery = values.Encode()
+			}
+			invoked.action.rawValues[index].Uid = uid.String()
+		}
+		return invoked.ToA()
+	})
+}
+
+// UidF TODO experimental
+func (a Action) UidF(f func(s string) (*url.URL, error)) Action {
+	return ActionCallback(func(c Context) Action {
+		return a.Invoke(c).UidF(f).ToA()
+	})
+}
+
 // Usage sets the usage.
 func (a Action) Usage(usage string, args ...interface{}) Action {
 	return a.UsageF(func() string {
diff --git a/action_test.go b/action_test.go
index 6cb43049..6c9c24cc 100644
--- a/action_test.go
+++ b/action_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/assert"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/common"
+	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/uid"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/pkg/style"
 )
 
@@ -122,7 +123,14 @@ func TestActionDirectories(t *testing.T) {
 			"internal/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"pkg/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"third_party/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
-		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}),
+		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}).UidF(uid.Map(
+			"example/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example/",
+			"example-nonposix/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example-nonposix/",
+			"docs/", "file://"+wd("")+"/docs/",
+			"internal/", "file://"+wd("")+"/internal/",
+			"pkg/", "file://"+wd("")+"/pkg/",
+			"third_party/", "file://"+wd("")+"/third_party/",
+		)),
 		ActionDirectories().Invoke(Context{Value: ""}).Filter("vendor/"),
 	)
 
@@ -134,7 +142,14 @@ func TestActionDirectories(t *testing.T) {
 			"internal/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"pkg/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"third_party/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
-		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("./"),
+		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("./").UidF(uid.Map(
+			"./example/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example/",
+			"./example-nonposix/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example-nonposix/",
+			"./docs/", "file://"+wd("")+"/docs/",
+			"./internal/", "file://"+wd("")+"/internal/",
+			"./pkg/", "file://"+wd("")+"/pkg/",
+			"./third_party/", "file://"+wd("")+"/third_party/",
+		)),
 		ActionDirectories().Invoke(Context{Value: "./"}).Filter("./vendor/"),
 	)
 
@@ -142,14 +157,19 @@ func TestActionDirectories(t *testing.T) {
 		ActionStyledValues(
 			"_test/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"cmd/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
-		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("example/"),
+		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("example/").UidF(uid.Map(
+			"example/_test/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example/_test/",
+			"example/cmd/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example/cmd/",
+		)),
 		ActionDirectories().Invoke(Context{Value: "example/"}),
 	)
 
 	assertEqual(t,
 		ActionStyledValues(
 			"cmd/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
-		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("example/"),
+		).NoSpace('/').Tag("directories").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("example/").UidF(uid.Map(
+			"example/cmd/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example/cmd/",
+		)),
 		ActionDirectories().Invoke(Context{Value: "example/cm"}),
 	)
 }
@@ -164,7 +184,15 @@ func TestActionFiles(t *testing.T) {
 			"internal/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"pkg/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"third_party/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
-		).NoSpace('/').Tag("files").Invoke(Context{}),
+		).NoSpace('/').Tag("files").Invoke(Context{}).UidF(uid.Map(
+			"README.md", "file://"+wd("")+"/README.md",
+			"example/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example/",
+			"example-nonposix/", "file://"+wd("")+"/example-nonposix/",
+			"docs/", "file://"+wd("")+"/docs/",
+			"internal/", "file://"+wd("")+"/internal/",
+			"pkg/", "file://"+wd("")+"/pkg/",
+			"third_party/", "file://"+wd("")+"/third_party/",
+		)),
 		ActionFiles(".md").Invoke(Context{Value: ""}).Filter("vendor/"),
 	)
 
@@ -175,7 +203,13 @@ func TestActionFiles(t *testing.T) {
 			"cmd/", style.Of(style.Blue, style.Bold),
 			"main.go", style.Default,
 			"main_test.go", style.Default,
-		).NoSpace('/').Tag("files").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("example/"),
+		).NoSpace('/').Tag("files").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("example/").UidF(uid.Map(
+			"example/README.md", "file://"+wd("example")+"/README.md",
+			"example/_test/", "file://"+wd("example")+"/_test/",
+			"example/cmd/", "file://"+wd("example")+"/cmd/",
+			"example/main.go", "file://"+wd("example")+"/main.go",
+			"example/main_test.go", "file://"+wd("example")+"/main_test.go",
+		)),
 		ActionFiles().Invoke(Context{Value: "example/"}).Filter("example/example"),
 	)
 }
@@ -197,7 +231,10 @@ func TestActionFilesChdir(t *testing.T) {
 		ActionStyledValues(
 			"action.go", style.Default,
 			"snippet.go", style.Default,
-		).NoSpace('/').Tag("files").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("elvish/"),
+		).NoSpace('/').Tag("files").Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("elvish/").UidF(uid.Map(
+			"elvish/action.go", "file://"+wd("internal/shell")+"/elvish/action.go",
+			"elvish/snippet.go", "file://"+wd("internal/shell")+"/elvish/snippet.go",
+		)),
 		ActionFiles().Chdir("internal/shell").Invoke(Context{Value: "elvish/"}),
 	)
 
diff --git a/defaultActions.go b/defaultActions.go
index e5925e90..86d40aa0 100644
--- a/defaultActions.go
+++ b/defaultActions.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"strings"
@@ -14,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/env"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/export"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/man"
+	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/uid"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/pkg/match"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/pkg/style"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/third_party/github.com/acarl005/stripansi"
@@ -132,18 +134,34 @@ func ActionExecute(cmd *cobra.Command) Action {
 
 // ActionDirectories completes directories.
 func ActionDirectories() Action {
-	return actionPath([]string{""}, true).
-		MultiParts("/").
-		StyleF(style.ForPath).
-		Tag("directories")
+	return ActionCallback(func(c Context) Action {
+		return actionPath([]string{""}, true).
+			MultiParts("/").
+			StyleF(style.ForPath).
+			UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) { // TODO duplicated from ActionFiles
+				abs, err := c.Abs(s)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				}
+				return url.Parse("file://" + abs)
+			})
+	}).Tag("directories")
 }
 
 // ActionFiles completes files with optional suffix filtering.
 func ActionFiles(suffix ...string) Action {
-	return actionPath(suffix, false).
-		MultiParts("/").
-		StyleF(style.ForPath).
-		Tag("files")
+	return ActionCallback(func(c Context) Action {
+		return actionPath(suffix, false).
+			MultiParts("/").
+			StyleF(style.ForPath).
+			UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) {
+				abs, err := c.Abs(s)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				}
+				return url.Parse("file://" + abs)
+			})
+	}).Tag("files")
 }
 
 // ActionValues completes arbitrary keywords (values).
@@ -438,7 +456,10 @@ func ActionExecutables(dirs ...string) Action {
 		for i := len(dirs) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
 			batch = append(batch, actionDirectoryExecutables(dirs[i], c.Value, manDescriptions))
 		}
-		return batch.ToA()
+		return batch.ToA().
+			UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) {
+				return &url.URL{Scheme: "cmd", Host: s}, nil
+			})
 	}).Tag("executables")
 }
 
@@ -458,7 +479,9 @@ func actionDirectoryExecutables(dir string, prefix string, manDescriptions map[s
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			return ActionStyledValuesDescribed(vals...)
+			return ActionStyledValuesDescribed(vals...).UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) {
+				return url.Parse(fmt.Sprintf("file://%v/%v", dir, s)) // TODO trim slash suffix from dir | backslash path possible? (windows)
+			})
 		}
 		return ActionValues()
 	})
@@ -524,7 +547,20 @@ func ActionCommands(cmd *cobra.Command) Action {
 				}
 			}
 		}
-		return batch.ToA()
+		return batch.ToA().UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) {
+			uid := uid.Command(cmd)
+			if subCommand, _, err := cmd.Find([]string{s}); err == nil {
+				s = subCommand.Name() // alias -> actual name
+			}
+
+			switch uid.Path {
+			case "":
+				uid.Path = s
+			default:
+				uid.Path = uid.Path + "/" + s
+			}
+			return uid, nil
+		})
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/defaultActions_test.go b/defaultActions_test.go
index be760165..4e6f663a 100644
--- a/defaultActions_test.go
+++ b/defaultActions_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/uid"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
@@ -33,13 +34,27 @@ func TestActionImport(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestActionFlags(t *testing.T) {
-	cmd := &cobra.Command{}
+	cmd := &cobra.Command{Use: "actionFlags"}
 	cmd.Flags().BoolP("alpha", "a", false, "")
 	cmd.Flags().BoolP("beta", "b", false, "")
 
 	cmd.Flag("alpha").Changed = true
 	a := actionFlags(cmd).Invoke(Context{Value: "-a"})
-	assertEqual(t, ActionValuesDescribed("b", "", "h", "help for this command").Tag("shorthand flags").NoSpace('b', 'h').Invoke(Context{}).Prefix("-a"), a)
+	assertEqual(
+		t,
+		ActionValuesDescribed(
+			"b", "",
+			"h", "help for actionFlags",
+		).Tag("shorthand flags").
+			NoSpace('b', 'h').
+			Invoke(Context{}).
+			Prefix("-a").
+			UidF(uid.Map(
+				"-ab", "cmd://actionFlags?flag=beta",
+				"-ah", "cmd://actionFlags?flag=help",
+			)),
+		a,
+	)
 }
 
 func TestActionExecCommandEnv(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internal/common/value.go b/internal/common/value.go
index 6a804d4c..501f048a 100644
--- a/internal/common/value.go
+++ b/internal/common/value.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ type RawValue struct {
 	Description string `json:"description,omitempty"`
 	Style       string `json:"style,omitempty"`
 	Tag         string `json:"tag,omitempty"`
+	Uid         string `json:"uid,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // TrimmedDescription returns the trimmed description.
diff --git a/internal/env/env.go b/internal/env/env.go
index 75f1b5ab..8a2748f7 100644
--- a/internal/env/env.go
+++ b/internal/env/env.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	CARAPACE_COVERDIR      = "CARAPACE_COVERDIR"      // coverage directory for sandbox tests
+	CARAPACE_EXPERIMENTAL  = "CARAPACE_EXPERIMENTAL"  // enable experimental features
 	CARAPACE_HIDDEN        = "CARAPACE_HIDDEN"        // show hidden commands/flags
 	CARAPACE_LENIENT       = "CARAPACE_LENIENT"       // allow unknown flags
 	CARAPACE_LOG           = "CARAPACE_LOG"           // enable logging
@@ -25,6 +26,10 @@ func ColorDisabled() bool {
 	return os.Getenv(NO_COLOR) != "" || os.Getenv(CLICOLOR) == "0"
 }
 
+func Experimental() bool {
+	return os.Getenv(CARAPACE_EXPERIMENTAL) != ""
+}
+
 func Lenient() bool {
 	return os.Getenv(CARAPACE_LENIENT) != ""
 }
diff --git a/internal/log/log.go b/internal/log/log.go
index 394b0bfd..f97142e8 100644
--- a/internal/log/log.go
+++ b/internal/log/log.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package log
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
+	"io"
 	"log"
 	"os"
 
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/pkg/ps"
 )
 
-var LOG = log.New(ioutil.Discard, "", log.Flags())
+var LOG = log.New(io.Discard, "", log.Flags())
 
 func init() {
 	if !env.Log() {
diff --git a/internal/shell/shell.go b/internal/shell/shell.go
index f3b53863..6859432a 100644
--- a/internal/shell/shell.go
+++ b/internal/shell/shell.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package shell
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os/exec"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
@@ -90,6 +91,14 @@ func Value(shell string, value string, meta common.Meta, values common.RawValues
 		}
 
 		sort.Sort(common.ByDisplay(filtered))
+		if env.Experimental() {
+			if _, err := exec.LookPath("tabdance"); err == nil {
+				return f(value, meta, filtered)
+			}
+		}
+		for index := range filtered {
+			filtered[index].Uid = ""
+		}
 		return f(value, meta, filtered)
 	}
 	return ""
diff --git a/internal/uid/uid.go b/internal/uid/uid.go
index 98b76427..04a98acb 100644
--- a/internal/uid/uid.go
+++ b/internal/uid/uid.go
@@ -2,31 +2,43 @@
 package uid
 
 import (
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
+	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/pflagfork"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 )
 
 // Command creates a uid for given command.
-func Command(cmd *cobra.Command) string {
-	names := make([]string, 0)
-	current := cmd
-	for {
-		names = append(names, current.Name())
-		current = current.Parent()
-		if current == nil {
-			break
-		}
+func Command(cmd *cobra.Command) *url.URL {
+	path := []string{cmd.Name()}
+	for parent := cmd.Parent(); parent != nil; parent = parent.Parent() {
+		path = append(path, parent.Name())
+	}
+	reverse(path) // TODO slices.Reverse
+	return &url.URL{
+		Scheme: "cmd",
+		Host:   path[0],
+		Path:   strings.Join(path[1:], "/"),
 	}
+}
 
-	reverse := make([]string, len(names))
-	for i, entry := range names {
-		reverse[len(names)-i-1] = entry
+// reverse reverses the elements of the slice in place.
+func reverse(s []string) {
+	for i, j := 0, len(s)-1; i < j; i, j = i+1, j-1 {
+		s[i], s[j] = s[j], s[i]
 	}
+}
 
-	return "_" + strings.Join(reverse, "__")
+// Flag creates a uid for given flag.
+func Flag(cmd *cobra.Command, flag *pflagfork.Flag) *url.URL {
+	uid := Command(cmd)
+	values := uid.Query()
+	values.Set("flag", flag.Name)
+	uid.RawQuery = values.Encode()
+	return uid
 }
 
 // Executable returns the name of the executable.
@@ -39,3 +51,20 @@ func Executable() string {
 		return filepath.Base(executable)
 	}
 }
+
+// Map maps values to uids to simplify testing.
+//
+//	Map(
+//	    "go.mod", "file://path/to/go.mod",
+//	    "go.sum", "file://path/to/go.sum",
+//	)
+func Map(uids ...string) func(s string) (*url.URL, error) {
+	return func(s string) (*url.URL, error) {
+		for i := 0; i < len(uids); i += 2 {
+			if uids[i] == s {
+				return url.Parse(uids[i+1])
+			}
+		}
+		return &url.URL{}, nil
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/uid/uid_test.go b/internal/uid/uid_test.go
index 03eabd55..c92d3876 100644
--- a/internal/uid/uid_test.go
+++ b/internal/uid/uid_test.go
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ func TestUidCommand(t *testing.T) {
 	root.AddCommand(sub1)
 	sub1.AddCommand(sub2)
 
-	assert.Equal(t, "_root", Command(root))
-	assert.Equal(t, "_root__sub1", Command(sub1))
-	assert.Equal(t, "_root__sub1__sub2", Command(sub2))
+	assert.Equal(t, "cmd://root", Command(root).String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "cmd://root/sub1", Command(sub1).String())
+	assert.Equal(t, "cmd://root/sub1/sub2", Command(sub2).String())
 }
 
 func TestExecutable(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/internalActions.go b/internalActions.go
index 5469db55..03a38ff1 100644
--- a/internalActions.go
+++ b/internalActions.go
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 package carapace
 
 import (
-	"io/ioutil"
+	"net/url"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/env"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/pflagfork"
+	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/uid"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/pkg/style"
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ func actionPath(fileSuffixes []string, dirOnly bool) Action {
 		}
 
 		actualFolder := filepath.ToSlash(filepath.Dir(abs))
-		files, err := ioutil.ReadDir(actualFolder)
+		files, err := os.ReadDir(actualFolder)
 		if err != nil {
 			return ActionMessage(err.Error())
 		}
@@ -46,7 +47,10 @@ func actionPath(fileSuffixes []string, dirOnly bool) Action {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			resolvedFile := file
+			resolvedFile, err := file.Info()
+			if err != nil {
+				return ActionMessage(err.Error())
+			}
 			if resolved, err := filepath.EvalSymlinks(actualFolder + file.Name()); err == nil {
 				if stat, err := os.Stat(resolved); err == nil {
 					resolvedFile = stat
@@ -103,7 +107,8 @@ func actionFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) Action {
 							return // abort shorthand flag series if a previous one is not bool or count and requires an argument (no default value)
 						}
 					}
-					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed(f.Shorthand, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("shorthand flags"))
+					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed(f.Shorthand, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("shorthand flags").
+						UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) { return uid.Flag(cmd, f), nil }))
 					if f.IsOptarg() {
 						nospace = append(nospace, []rune(f.Shorthand)[0])
 					}
@@ -111,13 +116,16 @@ func actionFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) Action {
 			} else {
 				switch f.Mode() {
 				case pflagfork.NameAsShorthand:
-					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed("-"+f.Name, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("longhand flags"))
+					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed("-"+f.Name, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("longhand flags").
+						UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) { return uid.Flag(cmd, f), nil }))
 				case pflagfork.Default:
-					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed("--"+f.Name, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("longhand flags"))
+					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed("--"+f.Name, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("longhand flags").
+						UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) { return uid.Flag(cmd, f), nil }))
 				}
 
 				if f.Shorthand != "" && f.ShorthandDeprecated == "" {
-					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed("-"+f.Shorthand, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("shorthand flags"))
+					batch = append(batch, ActionStyledValuesDescribed("-"+f.Shorthand, f.Usage, f.Style()).Tag("shorthand flags").
+						UidF(func(s string) (*url.URL, error) { return uid.Flag(cmd, f), nil }))
 				}
 			}
 		})
diff --git a/invokedAction.go b/invokedAction.go
index 7e55baee..52ff8e8b 100644
--- a/invokedAction.go
+++ b/invokedAction.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package carapace
 
 import (
+	"net/url"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/carapace-sh/carapace/internal/common"
@@ -70,6 +71,18 @@ func (ia InvokedAction) Suffix(suffix string) InvokedAction {
 	return ia
 }
 
+// UidF TODO experimental
+func (ia InvokedAction) UidF(f func(s string) (*url.URL, error)) InvokedAction {
+	for index, v := range ia.action.rawValues {
+		url, err := f(v.Value)
+		if err != nil {
+			return ActionMessage(err.Error()).Invoke(Context{})
+		}
+		ia.action.rawValues[index].Uid = url.String()
+	}
+	return ia
+}
+
 // ToA casts an InvokedAction to Action.
 func (ia InvokedAction) ToA() Action {
 	return ia.action
@@ -113,6 +126,7 @@ func (ia InvokedAction) ToMultiPartsA(dividers ...string) Action {
 							Description: val.Description,
 							Style:       val.Style,
 							Tag:         val.Tag,
+							Uid:         val.Uid,
 						}
 					} else {
 						uniqueVals[v] = common.RawValue{
@@ -121,6 +135,7 @@ func (ia InvokedAction) ToMultiPartsA(dividers ...string) Action {
 							Description: "",
 							Style:       "",
 							Tag:         val.Tag,
+							Uid:         val.Uid,
 						}
 					}
 				}