How do I create a key mapping that behaves differently depending on context?
:nnoremap <expr> j (v:count == 0 ? 'gj' : 'j')
Expression mappings use the flag to evaluate a Vimscript expression at the time the key is pressed.
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Searching...How do I filter text through an external program using a motion in normal mode?
!{motion}{program}
The ! operator in normal mode lets you pipe a range of text through any external program and replace it with the output.
How do I run a command on lines near each match, not just the matching line itself?
:g/pattern/.-1,.+1d
The :g (global) command normally operates on lines that match a pattern.
How do I expand or shrink a visual selection based on the syntax tree using Treesitter?
grn / grc / grm
Neovim's nvim-treesitter plugin provides incremental selection based on the abstract syntax tree (AST) of your code.
How do I get enhanced tab completion with a visual menu for commands and file paths?
:set wildmenu wildmode=longest:full,full
By default, Vim's command-line tab completion just cycles through options.
How do I populate the quickfix list from the output of an external shell command?
:cexpr system('grep -rn TODO .')
The :cexpr command evaluates an expression and parses the result as quickfix entries using the current errorformat.
How do I add line numbers to the beginning of every line using a substitute expression?
:%s/^/\=line('.').' '/
Vim's substitute command supports expressions in the replacement string using \=.
How do I change the case of a specific column of text using visual block mode?
<C-v>jjlU
Visual block mode lets you select rectangular regions of text, which means you can target a specific column and apply case changes only to that area.
How do I fix the indentation of a code block without affecting surrounding code?
=i{
When editing code with messy indentation — after a paste, a merge conflict, or a refactor — you often need to fix just one block rather than the entire file
How do I open a file in a new tab or switch to it if it is already open?
:tab drop filename
When working with many tabs, you often want to open a file — but only if it is not already open somewhere.
How do I modify the contents of a register without re-recording it?
:let @a = substitute(@a, 'old', 'new', 'g')
After recording a macro or yanking text into a named register, you may need to tweak it — fix a typo in a recorded macro, change a variable name in yanked tex
How do I turn a visual selection of lines into a numbered list?
:s/^/\=line('.') - line("'<") + 1 . '. '/
When you need to quickly number a set of lines — such as TODO items, steps, or bullet points — you can use a visual selection combined with a substitution e
visual-mode #visual-mode #editing #ex-commands #formatting #substitute
How do I move all lines matching a pattern to the top or bottom of a file?
:g/pattern/m 0
The :global command combined with :move lets you restructure a file by relocating all lines that match a pattern.
How do I load Vim's optional built-in packages like matchit or editorconfig on demand?
:packadd {package}
Vim ships with several useful packages in its opt/ directory that are not loaded by default.
How do I diff two files that are already open in Vim splits?
:diffthis
You often have two files open side by side and want to compare them without leaving Vim or launching vimdiff.
How do I find which Vim scripts or functions are slow and causing performance issues?
:profile start profile.log
When Vim feels sluggish, the built-in :profile command lets you measure exactly how much time each script and function consumes.
How do I run a substitute command without changing my current search pattern?
:keeppattern s/old/new/g
When you run a :s or :g command, Vim updates the search register (@/) with the pattern you used.
How do I insert a literal control character or special key in insert mode?
<C-v>{char}
When you need to insert a literal tab character despite expandtab being set, or embed a control character like ^M (carriage return) into your text, in insert mo
editing #editing #insert-mode #special-characters #control-characters
How do I search for tag definitions using a regex pattern instead of an exact name?
:tag /pattern
When working with ctags, you typically jump to exact tag names with .
How do I insert the same text multiple times without a macro or copy-paste?
80i-<Esc>
Vim's insert commands accept a count prefix that repeats everything you type.