diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a3c424c..a1b6ef7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -272,6 +272,8 @@ default backend is `builtin`. To use an external picker, install the plugin and
 `picker.backend` to one of: `telescope`, `fzf-lua`, `snacks`.
 When using these external backends, the picker preview window shows the selected file
 content around the target location.
+Candidate labels are shown in a readable unified format:
+`<text> - <path>:<line>:<col>` (or `<path>:<line>:<col>` when text is empty).
 
 ```lua
 {
diff --git a/doc/peekstack.txt b/doc/peekstack.txt
index dce77a1..1cdeffb 100644
--- a/doc/peekstack.txt
+++ b/doc/peekstack.txt
@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@ Configure the backend with `picker.backend`:
 
 For external backends (`telescope`, `fzf-lua`, `snacks`), picker preview windows
 show file content around the selected location.
+Picker labels use a unified readable format:
+    <text> - <path>:<line>:<col>
+or, when text is empty:
+    <path>:<line>:<col>
 
 If the chosen plugin is not installed, a warning is shown and the picker will not open.
 
diff --git a/lua/peekstack/picker/fzf_lua.lua b/lua/peekstack/picker/fzf_lua.lua
index 80e5f66..9f2f562 100644
--- a/lua/peekstack/picker/fzf_lua.lua
+++ b/lua/peekstack/picker/fzf_lua.lua
@@ -18,10 +18,18 @@ function M.pick(locations, opts, cb)
     item.index = idx
   end
 
+  local user_opts = opts or {}
+  local fzf_opts = vim.tbl_extend("force", user_opts.fzf_opts or {}, {
+    ["--delimiter"] = "\t",
+    ["--with-nth"] = "2",
+    ["--nth"] = "2",
+  })
+
   ---@type table
-  local exec_opts = vim.tbl_extend("force", opts or {}, {
+  local exec_opts = vim.tbl_deep_extend("force", user_opts, {
     prompt = "Peekstack> ",
     previewer = "builtin",
+    fzf_opts = fzf_opts,
     actions = {
       ["default"] = function(selected)
         if not selected or not selected[1] then
@@ -41,7 +49,8 @@ function M.pick(locations, opts, cb)
     for _, item in ipairs(items) do
       local file = item.file or ""
       local label = item.label:gsub("[%r\n\t]", " ")
-      table.insert(lines, string.format("%s:%d:%d:%s\t%d", file, item.lnum, item.col, label, item.index))
+      local loc = string.format("%s:%d:%d", file, item.lnum, item.col)
+      table.insert(lines, string.format("%s\t%s\t%d", loc, label, item.index))
     end
     return lines
   end, exec_opts)
diff --git a/lua/peekstack/picker/snacks.lua b/lua/peekstack/picker/snacks.lua
index 61b140d..3421629 100644
--- a/lua/peekstack/picker/snacks.lua
+++ b/lua/peekstack/picker/snacks.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,35 @@ local picker_util = require("peekstack.util.picker")
 
 local M = {}
 
+---@param item table
+---@return table
+local function format_item(item)
+  local chunks = {}
+  local symbol = item.symbol
+  if type(symbol) == "string" and symbol ~= "" then
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { symbol, "SnacksPickerLabel" }
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { " - ", "SnacksPickerDelim" }
+  end
+
+  local path = item.path
+  if type(path) ~= "string" or path == "" then
+    path = item.text or ""
+  end
+  picker_util.append_path_chunks(chunks, path, "SnacksPickerDir", "SnacksPickerFile")
+
+  if type(item.display_lnum) == "number" and item.display_lnum > 0 then
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { ":", "SnacksPickerDelim" }
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { tostring(item.display_lnum), "SnacksPickerRow" }
+  end
+
+  if type(item.display_col) == "number" and item.display_col > 0 then
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { ":", "SnacksPickerDelim" }
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { tostring(item.display_col), "SnacksPickerCol" }
+  end
+
+  return chunks
+end
+
 ---Pick a location using snacks.nvim picker
 ---@param locations PeekstackLocation[]
 ---@param opts? table
@@ -20,6 +49,10 @@ function M.pick(locations, opts, cb)
     local start = loc.range and loc.range.start or {}
     table.insert(items, {
       text = item.label,
+      symbol = item.symbol,
+      path = item.path,
+      display_lnum = item.display_lnum,
+      display_col = item.display_col,
       file = item.file or loc.uri,
       pos = { item.lnum, start.character or 0 },
       peekstack_loc = loc,
@@ -29,7 +62,7 @@ function M.pick(locations, opts, cb)
   local picker_opts = vim.tbl_extend("force", opts or {}, {
     title = "Peekstack",
     items = items,
-    format = "file",
+    format = format_item,
     confirm = function(picker, item)
       if item and item.peekstack_loc then
         picker:close()
diff --git a/lua/peekstack/picker/telescope.lua b/lua/peekstack/picker/telescope.lua
index f5bdedc..03fcd0e 100644
--- a/lua/peekstack/picker/telescope.lua
+++ b/lua/peekstack/picker/telescope.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,47 @@ local picker_util = require("peekstack.util.picker")
 
 local M = {}
 
+---@param primary string
+---@param fallback string
+---@return string
+local function hl(primary, fallback)
+  if vim.fn.hlexists(primary) == 1 then
+    return primary
+  end
+  return fallback
+end
+
+---@param displayer fun(chunks: table): string
+---@param item PeekstackPickerExternalItem
+---@return string
+local function display_entry(displayer, item)
+  local chunks = {}
+  if type(item.symbol) == "string" and item.symbol ~= "" then
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { item.symbol, hl("TelescopeResultsIdentifier", "Function") }
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { " - ", hl("TelescopeResultsComment", "Comment") }
+  end
+
+  local path = item.path or item.label
+  picker_util.append_path_chunks(
+    chunks,
+    path,
+    hl("TelescopeResultsComment", "Comment"),
+    hl("TelescopeResultsIdentifier", "Directory")
+  )
+
+  if type(item.display_lnum) == "number" and item.display_lnum > 0 then
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { ":", hl("TelescopeResultsComment", "Comment") }
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { tostring(item.display_lnum), hl("TelescopeResultsNumber", "Number") }
+  end
+
+  if type(item.display_col) == "number" and item.display_col > 0 then
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { ":", hl("TelescopeResultsComment", "Comment") }
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { tostring(item.display_col), hl("TelescopeResultsNumber", "Number") }
+  end
+
+  return displayer(chunks)
+end
+
 ---Pick a location using Telescope
 ---@param locations PeekstackLocation[]
 ---@param opts? table
@@ -13,16 +54,25 @@ function M.pick(locations, opts, cb)
     return
   end
   local finders = require("telescope.finders")
+  local entry_display = require("telescope.pickers.entry_display")
   local conf = require("telescope.config").values
   local telescope_opts = opts or {}
+  local displayer = entry_display.create({
+    separator = "",
+    items = {
+      { remaining = true },
+    },
+  })
 
   local items = picker_util.build_external_items(locations, 1)
   local entries = {}
   for _, item in ipairs(items) do
     table.insert(entries, {
       value = item.value,
-      display = item.label,
-      ordinal = item.label,
+      display = function()
+        return display_entry(displayer, item)
+      end,
+      ordinal = string.format("%s %s", item.label, item.file or ""),
       filename = item.file,
       lnum = item.lnum,
       col = item.col,
diff --git a/lua/peekstack/providers/lsp.lua b/lua/peekstack/providers/lsp.lua
index 5c99512..8e22678 100644
--- a/lua/peekstack/providers/lsp.lua
+++ b/lua/peekstack/providers/lsp.lua
@@ -17,16 +17,11 @@ local function append_document_symbol(symbol, uri, provider, out)
   local start_pos = range and range.start
   local end_pos = range and range["end"]
   if start_pos and end_pos then
-    local text = symbol.name
-    if type(text) ~= "string" then
-      text = nil
-    end
-    if type(symbol.detail) == "string" and symbol.detail ~= "" then
-      if text and text ~= "" then
-        text = string.format("%s - %s", text, symbol.detail)
-      else
-        text = symbol.detail
-      end
+    local text
+    if type(symbol.name) == "string" and symbol.name ~= "" then
+      text = symbol.name
+    elseif type(symbol.detail) == "string" and symbol.detail ~= "" then
+      text = symbol.detail
     end
 
     table.insert(out, {
diff --git a/lua/peekstack/types.lua b/lua/peekstack/types.lua
index c8b5a7c..230e751 100644
--- a/lua/peekstack/types.lua
+++ b/lua/peekstack/types.lua
@@ -118,6 +118,10 @@
 ---@field file? string
 ---@field lnum integer
 ---@field col integer
+---@field symbol? string
+---@field path? string
+---@field display_lnum? integer
+---@field display_col? integer
 
 ---@class PeekstackHistoryEntry
 ---@field location PeekstackLocation
diff --git a/lua/peekstack/util/picker.lua b/lua/peekstack/util/picker.lua
index 020d28a..c92d2a9 100644
--- a/lua/peekstack/util/picker.lua
+++ b/lua/peekstack/util/picker.lua
@@ -4,6 +4,71 @@ local fs = require("peekstack.util.fs")
 
 local M = {}
 
+---@param chunks table
+---@param path string
+---@param dir_hl? string
+---@param file_hl? string
+function M.append_path_chunks(chunks, path, dir_hl, file_hl)
+  local file_group = file_hl or "Directory"
+  local dir, base = path:match("^(.*[/\\])(.+)$")
+  if dir and base then
+    if type(dir_hl) == "string" and dir_hl ~= "" then
+      chunks[#chunks + 1] = { dir, dir_hl }
+    else
+      chunks[#chunks + 1] = { dir, file_group }
+    end
+    chunks[#chunks + 1] = { base, file_group }
+    return
+  end
+  chunks[#chunks + 1] = { path, file_group }
+end
+
+---@param text? string
+---@return string
+local function normalize_label_text(text)
+  if type(text) ~= "string" then
+    return ""
+  end
+  local normalized = text:gsub("[\r\n\t]+", " "):gsub("%s+", " ")
+  return vim.trim(normalized)
+end
+
+---@param suffix string
+---@return string, integer, integer
+local function parse_suffix_location(suffix)
+  local path, line, col = suffix:match("^(.*):(%d+):(%d+)$")
+  if not path then
+    return suffix, 0, 0
+  end
+  return path, tonumber(line) or 0, tonumber(col) or 0
+end
+
+---@param loc PeekstackLocation
+---@param preview_lines integer
+---@param opts PeekstackDisplayTextOpts
+---@return { label: string, symbol: string, path: string, display_lnum: integer, display_col: integer }
+local function build_location_label_payload(loc, preview_lines, opts)
+  local suffix = location.display_text(loc, 0, opts)
+  local path, display_lnum, display_col = parse_suffix_location(suffix)
+  local symbol = preview_lines > 0 and normalize_label_text(loc.text) or ""
+  if symbol == "" then
+    return {
+      label = suffix,
+      symbol = "",
+      path = path,
+      display_lnum = display_lnum,
+      display_col = display_col,
+    }
+  end
+  return {
+    label = string.format("%s - %s", symbol, suffix),
+    symbol = symbol,
+    path = path,
+    display_lnum = display_lnum,
+    display_col = display_col,
+  }
+end
+
 ---@return PeekstackDisplayTextOpts
 local function display_text_opts()
   local ui_path = config.get().ui.path or {}
@@ -24,8 +89,9 @@ function M.build_items(locations, preview_lines)
   local opts = display_text_opts()
   local items = {}
   for _, loc in ipairs(locations) do
+    local payload = build_location_label_payload(loc, preview_lines, opts)
     table.insert(items, {
-      label = location.display_text(loc, preview_lines, opts),
+      label = payload.label,
       value = loc,
     })
   end
@@ -40,8 +106,13 @@ function M.build_external_items(locations, preview_lines)
   local items = {}
   for _, loc in ipairs(locations) do
     local start = loc.range and loc.range.start or {}
+    local payload = build_location_label_payload(loc, preview_lines, opts)
     table.insert(items, {
-      label = location.display_text(loc, preview_lines, opts),
+      label = payload.label,
+      symbol = payload.symbol,
+      path = payload.path,
+      display_lnum = payload.display_lnum,
+      display_col = payload.display_col,
       value = loc,
       file = fs.uri_to_fname(loc.uri),
       lnum = (start.line or 0) + 1,
diff --git a/tests/lsp_provider_spec.lua b/tests/lsp_provider_spec.lua
index a27553f..ac7c89f 100644
--- a/tests/lsp_provider_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/lsp_provider_spec.lua
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ describe("peekstack.providers.lsp", function()
     assert.equals(vim.uri_from_bufnr(ctx.bufnr), received[1].uri)
     assert.equals(1, received[1].range.start.line)
     assert.equals(2, received[1].range.start.character)
-    assert.equals("Parent - class", received[1].text)
+    assert.equals("Parent", received[1].text)
     assert.equals(5, received[1].kind)
     assert.equals("lsp.symbols_document", received[1].provider)
 
diff --git a/tests/picker_fzf_lua_spec.lua b/tests/picker_fzf_lua_spec.lua
index 7dbfbef..ea74179 100644
--- a/tests/picker_fzf_lua_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/picker_fzf_lua_spec.lua
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.fzf_lua", function()
       fzf_exec = function(source, opts)
         captured_opts = opts
         local lines = source()
-        assert.is_true(lines[1]:match("^/tmp/same.lua:1:1:") ~= nil)
-        assert.is_true(lines[2]:match("^/tmp/same.lua:1:1:") ~= nil)
+        assert.is_true(lines[1]:match("^/tmp/same.lua:1:1\t") ~= nil)
+        assert.is_true(lines[2]:match("^/tmp/same.lua:1:1\t") ~= nil)
         assert.is_true(lines[1]:match("\t1$") ~= nil)
         assert.is_true(lines[2]:match("\t2$") ~= nil)
         opts.actions["default"]({ lines[2] })
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.fzf_lua", function()
     assert.are.same(loc2, picked)
     assert.equals("builtin", captured_opts.previewer)
     assert.equals("Peekstack> ", captured_opts.prompt)
+    assert.equals("\t", captured_opts.fzf_opts["--delimiter"])
+    assert.equals("2", captured_opts.fzf_opts["--with-nth"])
+    assert.equals("2", captured_opts.fzf_opts["--nth"])
 
     package.loaded["fzf-lua"] = original
   end)
diff --git a/tests/picker_snacks_spec.lua b/tests/picker_snacks_spec.lua
index cb0adc6..e032aab 100644
--- a/tests/picker_snacks_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/picker_snacks_spec.lua
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.snacks", function()
     assert.is_true(warned)
   end)
 
-  it("passes file format items and confirms selected location", function()
+  it("passes text format items and confirms selected location", function()
     local picked = nil
     local closed = false
     local captured = nil
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.snacks", function()
     local loc1 = {
       uri = "file:///tmp/a.lua",
       range = { start = { line = 3, character = 4 }, ["end"] = { line = 3, character = 4 } },
+      text = "Alpha",
       provider = "test",
     }
     local loc2 = {
@@ -58,9 +59,24 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.snacks", function()
     end)
 
     assert.equals("Peekstack", captured.title)
-    assert.equals("file", captured.format)
+    assert.equals("function", type(captured.format))
     assert.equals("/tmp/a.lua", captured.items[1].file)
     assert.same({ 4, 4 }, captured.items[1].pos)
+    assert.equals("Alpha - /tmp/a.lua:4:5", captured.items[1].text)
+    assert.equals("Alpha", captured.items[1].symbol)
+    assert.equals("/tmp/a.lua", captured.items[1].path)
+    assert.equals(4, captured.items[1].display_lnum)
+    assert.equals(5, captured.items[1].display_col)
+    assert.same({
+      { "Alpha", "SnacksPickerLabel" },
+      { " - ", "SnacksPickerDelim" },
+      { "/tmp/", "SnacksPickerDir" },
+      { "a.lua", "SnacksPickerFile" },
+      { ":", "SnacksPickerDelim" },
+      { "4", "SnacksPickerRow" },
+      { ":", "SnacksPickerDelim" },
+      { "5", "SnacksPickerCol" },
+    }, captured.format(captured.items[1]))
     assert.is_nil(captured.items[1].loc)
     assert.are.same(loc1, captured.items[1].peekstack_loc)
     assert.are.same(loc2, picked)
diff --git a/tests/picker_telescope_spec.lua b/tests/picker_telescope_spec.lua
index 59e931e..7351e8d 100644
--- a/tests/picker_telescope_spec.lua
+++ b/tests/picker_telescope_spec.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.telescope", function()
   before_each(function()
     save_module("telescope.pickers")
     save_module("telescope.finders")
+    save_module("telescope.pickers.entry_display")
     save_module("telescope.config")
     save_module("telescope.actions")
     save_module("telescope.actions.state")
@@ -46,6 +47,18 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.telescope", function()
         return opts
       end,
     }
+    package.loaded["telescope.pickers.entry_display"] = {
+      create = function(_opts)
+        return function(chunks)
+          captured.display_chunks = chunks
+          local texts = {}
+          for _, chunk in ipairs(chunks) do
+            texts[#texts + 1] = chunk[1]
+          end
+          return table.concat(texts)
+        end
+      end,
+    }
     package.loaded["telescope.actions"] = {
       close = function(bufnr)
         captured.closed_bufnr = bufnr
@@ -76,6 +89,7 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.telescope", function()
     local loc1 = {
       uri = "file:///tmp/a.lua",
       range = { start = { line = 1, character = 2 }, ["end"] = { line = 1, character = 2 } },
+      text = "Alpha",
       provider = "test",
     }
     local loc2 = {
@@ -90,6 +104,18 @@ describe("peekstack.picker.telescope", function()
 
     assert.equals("sorter", captured.spec.sorter)
     assert.equals("previewer", captured.spec.previewer)
+    assert.equals("Alpha - /tmp/a.lua:2:3", captured.finder.results[1].display())
+    assert.same({
+      { "Alpha", "Function" },
+      { " - ", "Comment" },
+      { "/tmp/", "Comment" },
+      { "a.lua", "Directory" },
+      { ":", "Comment" },
+      { "2", "Number" },
+      { ":", "Comment" },
+      { "3", "Number" },
+    }, captured.display_chunks)
+    assert.equals("Alpha - /tmp/a.lua:2:3 /tmp/a.lua", captured.finder.results[1].ordinal)
     assert.equals("/tmp/a.lua", captured.finder.results[1].filename)
     assert.equals(2, captured.finder.results[1].lnum)
     assert.equals(3, captured.finder.results[1].col)
diff --git a/tests/picker_util_spec.lua b/tests/picker_util_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56fa343
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/picker_util_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+local config = require("peekstack.config")
+local picker_util = require("peekstack.util.picker")
+
+describe("peekstack.util.picker", function()
+  before_each(function()
+    config.setup({
+      ui = {
+        path = {
+          base = "absolute",
+          max_width = 200,
+        },
+      },
+    })
+  end)
+
+  it("builds symbol-first label when preview lines are enabled", function()
+    local location = {
+      uri = "file:///tmp/sample.lua",
+      range = {
+        start = { line = 2, character = 4 },
+        ["end"] = { line = 2, character = 4 },
+      },
+      text = "MyFunc\nDetail\tInfo",
+      provider = "test",
+    }
+
+    local items = picker_util.build_external_items({ location }, 1)
+    assert.equals("MyFunc Detail Info - /tmp/sample.lua:3:5", items[1].label)
+    assert.equals("MyFunc Detail Info", items[1].symbol)
+    assert.equals("/tmp/sample.lua", items[1].path)
+    assert.equals(3, items[1].display_lnum)
+    assert.equals(5, items[1].display_col)
+  end)
+
+  it("falls back to path label when preview lines are disabled", function()
+    local location = {
+      uri = "file:///tmp/sample.lua",
+      range = {
+        start = { line = 4, character = 1 },
+        ["end"] = { line = 4, character = 1 },
+      },
+      text = "Hidden",
+      provider = "test",
+    }
+
+    local items = picker_util.build_items({ location }, 0)
+    assert.equals("/tmp/sample.lua:5:2", items[1].label)
+  end)
+
+  it("falls back to path label when text is blank", function()
+    local location = {
+      uri = "file:///tmp/sample.lua",
+      range = {
+        start = { line = 7, character = 0 },
+        ["end"] = { line = 7, character = 0 },
+      },
+      text = " \n\t ",
+      provider = "test",
+    }
+
+    local items = picker_util.build_external_items({ location }, 1)
+    assert.equals("/tmp/sample.lua:8:1", items[1].label)
+    assert.equals("", items[1].symbol)
+    assert.equals("/tmp/sample.lua", items[1].path)
+    assert.equals(8, items[1].display_lnum)
+    assert.equals(1, items[1].display_col)
+  end)
+
+  it("keeps r characters when normalizing text", function()
+    local location = {
+      uri = "file:///tmp/sample.lua",
+      range = {
+        start = { line = 9, character = 2 },
+        ["end"] = { line = 9, character = 2 },
+      },
+      text = "errMsgFailedToStartServer",
+      provider = "test",
+    }
+
+    local items = picker_util.build_external_items({ location }, 1)
+    assert.equals("errMsgFailedToStartServer - /tmp/sample.lua:10:3", items[1].label)
+  end)
+
+  it("appends split path chunks with given highlight groups", function()
+    local chunks = {}
+    picker_util.append_path_chunks(chunks, "/tmp/sample.lua", "DirHl", "FileHl")
+
+    assert.same({
+      { "/tmp/", "DirHl" },
+      { "sample.lua", "FileHl" },
+    }, chunks)
+  end)
+end)