Search Vim Tricks
Searching...:{range}!command
The :{range}!command syntax pipes the specified lines through an external shell command and replaces them with the output.
command-line #command-line #shell #filtering #unix #ex-commands
"-p
The small delete register ("-) captures text from delete operations that are less than one line — like dw, x, dt.
=i{ or =ap
The = operator performs smart indentation based on Vim's filetype-aware indent rules.
:resize N / :vertical resize N
The :resize and :vertical resize commands set a window to an exact number of lines or columns.
/pattern/+N or /pattern/-N
Vim's search command accepts an offset that places your cursor on a line relative to the match.
/\%>10l\%<20lpattern
Vim's \%>Nl and \%10l matches only after line 10 \%10l\%10l\%<20lold/new/g Combine with column restrictions for precise region targeting Tips Line numbers in \%
". / "% / ": / "# registers
Vim has four read-only special registers that automatically contain useful contextual information.
registers #registers #special-registers #workflow #productivity
:help registers
Vim has 10 types of registers, each serving a specific purpose.
:%s/,/\r/g
In Vim's substitute command, \r in the replacement string inserts a newline.
qq /pattern<CR> {commands} q
By incorporating a search command inside a macro, you can make it jump to the next occurrence of a pattern before performing its edits.
oil.nvim: edit directory listing like a buffer
oil.
:find filename
The :find command searches for a file by name across all directories in your path setting and opens it.
buffers-windows #buffers #file-management #navigation #workflow
:colder / :cnewer
Vim remembers up to 10 previous quickfix lists.
:argdo normal @q | update
The :argdo command runs a command in every file in the argument list.
macros #macros #batch-editing #multi-file #ex-commands #workflow
:let i=1 then use <C-r>=i<CR> in macro
By combining a Vimscript variable with the expression register inside a macro, you can create a counter that increments on each replay.
Use :s/pat/rep/e flag or :silent! prefix
By default, Vim macros abort on the first error — a failed search, a substitute with no matches, or a movement that can't be performed.
<C-o> / <C-i>
Vim maintains a jumplist — a history of every "jump" you make (searches, marks, gg, G, %, etc.
let mapleader = ' ' then nnoremap <leader>key command
The leader key is a configurable prefix for your custom key mappings.
/\(pattern\)\@<=target or /target\(pattern\)\@=
Vim supports zero-width assertions (lookahead and lookbehind) in its regex engine.
gd / gr / <leader>rn with nvim-lspconfig
The Language Server Protocol (LSP) brings IDE-level intelligence to Neovim — go-to-definition, find references, rename symbol, and more.
