3 files changed, 34 insertions, 7 deletions

diff --git a/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi b/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi
index dc0a71511ff..112f1f4d9ed 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/maintaining.texi
@@ -1887,8 +1887,7 @@ the special XREF mode:
 @table @kbd
 @item @key{RET}
 @itemx mouse-2
-Display the reference on the current line and bury the @file{*xref*}
-buffer.
+Display the reference on the current line.
 @item n
 @itemx .
 @findex xref-next-line
@@ -1903,6 +1902,10 @@ Move to the previous reference and display it in the other window
 @findex xref-show-location-at-point
 Display the reference on the current line in the other window
 (@code{xref-show-location-at-point}).
+@item TAB
+@findex xref-quit-and-goto-xref
+Display the reference on the current line and bury the @file{*xref*}
+buffer (@code{xref-quit-and-goto-xref}).
 @findex xref-query-replace-in-results
 @item r @var{pattern} @key{RET} @var{replacement} @key{RET}
 Perform interactive query-replace on references that match
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 286d27455fe..10e9a7f00f3 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -1213,6 +1213,16 @@ New user options `term-char-mode-buffer-read-only' and
 are non-nil by default.  Customize these options to nil if you want
 the previous behavior.
 
+** Xref
+
++++
+*** When an *xref* buffer is needed, 'TAB' quits and jumps to an xref.
+
+A new command 'xref-quit-and-goto-xref', bound to 'TAB' in *xref*
+buffers, quits the window before jumping to the destination.  In many
+situations, the intended window configuration is restored, just as if
+the *xref* buffer hadn't been necessary in the first place.
+
 
 * New Modes and Packages in Emacs 26.1
 
diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/xref.el b/lisp/progmodes/xref.el
index ee23bc7a64e..db025d40aa3 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/xref.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/xref.el
@@ -492,11 +492,17 @@ and finally return the window."
       (selected-window))))
 
 (defun xref--show-location (location &optional select)
+  "Help `xref-show-xref' and `xref-goto-xref' do their job.
+Go to LOCATION and if SELECT is non-nil select its window.  If
+SELECT is `quit', also quit the *xref* window."
   (condition-case err
       (let* ((marker (xref-location-marker location))
-             (buf (marker-buffer marker)))
+             (buf (marker-buffer marker))
+             (xref-buffer (current-buffer)))
         (cond (select
-               (select-window (xref--show-pos-in-buf marker buf)))
+               (if (eq select 'quit) (quit-window nil nil))
+               (with-current-buffer xref-buffer
+                 (select-window (xref--show-pos-in-buf marker buf))))
               (t
                (save-selected-window
                  (xref--with-dedicated-window
@@ -528,12 +534,19 @@ and finally return the window."
     (back-to-indentation)
     (get-text-property (point) 'xref-item)))
 
-(defun xref-goto-xref ()
-  "Jump to the xref on the current line and select its window."
+(defun xref-goto-xref (&optional quit)
+  "Jump to the xref on the current line and select its window.
+Non-interactively, non-nil QUIT means to first quit the *xref*
+buffer."
   (interactive)
   (let ((xref (or (xref--item-at-point)
                   (user-error "No reference at point"))))
-    (xref--show-location (xref-item-location xref) t)))
+    (xref--show-location (xref-item-location xref) (if quit 'quit t))))
+
+(defun xref-quit-and-goto-xref ()
+  "Quit *xref* buffer, then jump to xref on current line."
+  (interactive)
+  (xref-goto-xref t))
 
 (defun xref-query-replace-in-results (from to)
   "Perform interactive replacement of FROM with TO in all displayed xrefs.
@@ -657,6 +670,7 @@ references displayed in the current *xref* buffer."
     (define-key map (kbd "p") #'xref-prev-line)
     (define-key map (kbd "r") #'xref-query-replace-in-results)
     (define-key map (kbd "RET") #'xref-goto-xref)
+    (define-key map (kbd "TAB")  #'xref-quit-and-goto-xref)
     (define-key map (kbd "C-o") #'xref-show-location-at-point)
     ;; suggested by Johan Claesson "to further reduce finger movement":
     (define-key map (kbd ".") #'xref-next-line)