Search Vim Tricks
Searching...:let winid = win_getid() | ... | call win_gotoid(winid)
The wingetid() and wingotoid() functions let you bookmark a window by its stable integer ID and jump back to it reliably.
:let @q = substitute(@q, 'from', 'to', 'g')
Macros are stored as plain text in named registers, so you can manipulate them with any Vimscript string function.
:s/\(\w\+\) \(\w\+\)/\=submatch(2) . ' ' . submatch(1)/
The submatch(N) function lets you access individual capture groups inside a \= (expression replacement) in a substitution.
g$
The g$ command moves the cursor to the last character of the current screen line, not the end of the logical line.
:/pattern/+N and :/pattern/-N
Vim's Ex command ranges can use search patterns as line addresses, and those addresses can include a numeric offset (+N or -N) to target lines relative to the m
:set switchbuf=useopen,usetab
By default, Vim opens a new window (or reloads the buffer in the current window) whenever you navigate to a quickfix entry, tag, or :buffer command — even if
:setglobal
Vim maintains two values for most options: a global default that applies to new windows and buffers, and a local copy that can be overridden per-buffer or per-w
:Cfilter /pattern/
Vim ships with an optional built-in package called cfilter that adds :Cfilter and :Lfilter commands for narrowing down quickfix and location list entries by pat
z<CR> and z. and z-
Vim has two sets of scroll-and-position commands: zt/zz/zb (which reposition the screen but keep the cursor column intact) and z/z.
:set shortmess+=I
The shortmess option is a string of single-character flags that tell Vim which messages to suppress or abbreviate.
:undo {N}
:undo {N} lets you jump directly to the undo tree state after change number N was applied.
:g/pattern/put ='text'
Combining :global with :put = lets you insert synthesized lines of content after every line matching a pattern — without plugins or complex macros.
<C-k>{digraph}
Vim's digraph system lets you insert special characters, accented letters, and symbols by typing a memorable two-character sequence.
:set showbreak=+++
When wrap is enabled, Vim wraps long lines at the screen edge, but there is no built-in visual marker to distinguish a wrapped continuation from a brand-new lin
:%TOhtml
Vim ships with a built-in plugin that converts the current buffer into a standalone HTML file, complete with your exact syntax highlighting colors.
2<C-g>
Pressing prints the current filename, buffer status, and cursor position in the status line.
:%s/,/,\r/g
In Vim substitutions, \n and \r behave differently depending on whether they appear in the search pattern or the replacement string — a common gotcha that sur
"1p and .
When you paste from a numbered register with "1p, Vim's dot command (.
:execute "normal! \<{key}>"
When building dynamic :execute normal! calls in Vimscript, you must use double-quoted strings with the \ notation so Vim interprets the special key codes.
m'
Vim's jump list automatically records your position whenever you make large motions (like G, /pattern, or ).
