diff --git a/lua/utils.lua b/lua/utils.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..211c36f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/utils.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+-- keymap function which simplifies mapping keys
+M.map = function(mode, keys, cmd, opt, bufnr)
+  local options = { noremap = true, silent = true }
+  if opt then
+    options = vim.tbl_extend("force", options, opt)
+  end
+
+  -- all valid modes allowed for mappings
+  -- :h map-modes
+  local valid_modes = {
+    [""] = true,
+    ["n"] = true,
+    ["v"] = true,
+    ["s"] = true,
+    ["x"] = true,
+    ["o"] = true,
+    ["!"] = true,
+    ["i"] = true,
+    ["l"] = true,
+    ["c"] = true,
+    ["t"] = true,
+  }
+
+  -- helper function for M.map
+  -- can be given multiple modes and keys
+  -- if given a buffer number will set the key specific to that buffer
+  local function map_wrapper(mode, lhs, rhs, options, bufnr)
+    if type(lhs) == "table" then
+      for _, key in ipairs(lhs) do
+        map_wrapper(mode, key, rhs, options, bufnr)
+      end
+    else
+      if type(mode) == "table" then
+        for _, m in ipairs(mode) do
+          map_wrapper(m, lhs, rhs, options, bufnr)
+        end
+      else
+        if valid_modes[mode] and lhs and rhs then
+          if bufnr then
+            vim.api.nvim_buf_set_keymap(bufnr, mode, lhs, rhs, options)
+          else
+            vim.api.nvim_set_keymap(mode, lhs, rhs, options)
+          end
+        else
+          mode, lhs, rhs = mode or "", lhs or "", rhs or ""
+          print("Cannot set mapping [ mode = '" .. mode .. "' | key = '" .. lhs .. "' | cmd = '" .. rhs .. "' ]")
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+  map_wrapper(mode, keys, cmd, options, bufnr)
+end
+