How do I create text shortcuts that auto-expand while typing in Vim?
iabbrev
:iabbrev defines insert-mode abbreviations that expand automatically when you type a non-keyword character (space, punctuation, ) after the abbreviation.
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Searching...How do I replace a line (or range) with the output of a shell command in Vim?
:.!{cmd}
:.
How do I search for a pattern across all files in my project without leaving Vim?
:vimgrep /pattern/ **
:vimgrep /pattern/ searches recursively through all files in the current working directory tree using Vim's own regex engine, populating the quickfix list with
How do I reopen Vim and jump directly to where I was editing last time?
'0
Pressing '0 in normal mode jumps to the exact cursor position in the most recently edited file, even after closing and reopening Vim.
How do I create a custom Vim operator that works with any motion or text object?
:set opfunc and g@
Vim's operatorfunc option lets you define your own operators — just like the built-in d, y, or c — that accept any motion or text object.
How do I search for a pattern only on a specific line number or at a specific column position?
\%l and \%c
Vim's \%l and \%c pattern atoms anchor a search to a particular line number or column, enabling surgical searches and substitutions that standard regex cannot e
How do I extract the directory, filename, or extension from the current file path inside a Vim command?
%:h
Vim's filename modifiers let you derive path components from the current buffer's filename directly on the command line.
How do I copy a character from the line directly above or below while staying in insert mode?
<C-y> and <C-e>
In Insert mode, copies the character at the same column position from the line above the cursor, and copies the character from the line below.
How do I apply a macro to every line in a specific range without running it manually each time?
:[range]normal @q
The :[range]normal @q command replays the macro in register q on every line within a given range.
How do I pick from multiple tag matches instead of jumping to the first one?
g]
g] is the disambiguation-aware alternative to .
How do I run a command on every individual quickfix entry in Vim?
:cdo s/old/new/ | update
:cdo {cmd} executes a command at every entry in the quickfix list, visiting each location in turn.
How do I load a plugin on demand using Vim's native package system?
:packadd {name}
Vim 8+ and Neovim have a built-in package manager.
How do I run a normal mode command on every line in a visual selection?
:'<,'>norm I//
After making a visual selection, :norm {commands} executes normal-mode keystrokes on every line in the range.
How do I move through search matches while still typing the pattern?
<C-g> and <C-t>
While the search prompt is open (with incsearch enabled), pressing advances the cursor to the next match and moves it to the previous match — all without leav
How do I run a Vim command without triggering any autocommands?
:noautocmd write
The :noautocmd modifier (abbreviated :noa) runs any subsequent Ex command while temporarily disabling all autocommand events.
How do I uppercase or lowercase matched text directly in a substitute command?
:%s/pattern/\U&/g
Vim's substitute replacement string supports special case-transform atoms that change the case of matched text without requiring a second pass or an external to
How do I bookmark a position in one file and jump back to it from any other file?
mA to set, 'A to jump
Uppercase marks (A–Z) are global marks — they persist across files and Vim sessions.
How do I match a pattern only when followed or preceded by another pattern in Vim?
\@= and \@! and \@<= and \@<!
Vim's regex engine supports zero-width lookahead and lookbehind assertions using the \@=, \@!, \@<=, and \@<! atoms.
How do I run a macro a specific number of times at once?
{count}@{register}
Prefix any macro execution with a count to repeat it that many times in a single command.
How do I search for the word under the cursor as a substring, not a whole word?
g* and g#
The and # commands search for the exact whole word under the cursor (with word boundaries \).