diff --git a/docs/manual/hacking.md b/docs/manual/hacking.md
index 6ff01fc62..a91364b88 100644
--- a/docs/manual/hacking.md
+++ b/docs/manual/hacking.md
@@ -27,4 +27,5 @@ hacking/guidelines.md
 hacking/testing.md
 hacking/keybinds.md
 hacking/additional-plugins.md
+hacking/default-value-priority.md
 ```
diff --git a/docs/manual/hacking/default-value-priority.md b/docs/manual/hacking/default-value-priority.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8240314c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/manual/hacking/default-value-priority.md
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+# Default value priority in `listOf` and `attrsOf` options {#sec-listOf-attrsOf-priority}
+
+When defining options of type `listOf` and `attrsOf`, you should pay close
+attention to how the default value is defined.
+
+## Default values that should be extended {#ch-extended-defaults}
+
+In most cases, you want user configuration to "extend" your default value, in
+this case, your "default" value should be defined using normal priority, i.e. in
+a `config` block:
+
+```nix
+{lib, ...}: let
+  inherit (lib.types) listOf str;
+  inherit (lib.options) literalExpression;
+in {
+  options = {
+    vim.telescope.setupOpts.file_ignore_patterns = mkOption {
+      type = listOf str;
+      # provide a useful defaultText so users are aware of defaults
+      defaultText = literalExpression ''
+        ["node_modules" "%.git/" "dist/" "build/" "target/" "result/"];
+      '';
+    };
+  };
+}
+```
+
+This way, when users specify:
+
+```nix
+config.vim.telescope.setupOpts.file_ignore_patterns = [".vscode/"];
+```
+
+The final value is
+`["node_modules" "%.git/" "dist/" "build/" "target/" "result/" ".vscode/"]`.
+
+::: {.note}
+
+Users can still get rid of the default value by assigning a `mkForce` value to
+the option:
+
+```nix
+{lib, ...}: {
+  config.vim.telescope.setupOpts.file_ignore_patterns = lib.mkForce [];
+}
+```
+
+:::
+
+## Default values that should be overridden {#ch-overridden-defaults}
+
+In some cases, it makes sense to let any user value "override" your default, in
+these cases, you should assign default values using default priority, i.e. using
+the `default` key of `mkOption`:
+
+```nix
+{lib, ...}: let
+  inherit (lib.types) listOf str;
+  inherit (lib.options) mkOption;
+in {
+  vim.telescope.setupOpts.pickers.find_files.find_command = mkOption {
+    description = "cmd to use for finding files";
+    type = listOf str;
+    default = ["${pkgs.fd}/bin/fd" "--type=file"];
+  }
+}
+```
+
+This way, when users specify:
+
+```nix
+{
+  config.vim.telescope.setupOpts.pickers.find_files.find_command = [
+    "fd"
+    "--type=file"
+    "--some-other-option"
+  ];
+}
+```
+
+The final value of the option is `["fd" "--type=file" "--some-other-option"]`.
+
+Users can still choose to "extend" our default value by using `mkDefault`,
+possibly with `mkAfter`/`mkBefore`:
+
+```nix
+{lib, ...}: {
+  config.vim.telescope.setupOpts.pickers.find_files.find_command =
+    lib.mkDefault (lib.mkBefore ["--max-depth=10"]);
+}
+```