How do I zero-pad every number in a line using a Vim substitute expression?
:s/\v\d+/\=printf('%04d', submatch(0))/g
Substitution expressions let Vim compute each replacement dynamically, which is ideal when plain capture groups are too limited.
Category: editing
How do I uppercase just the current paragraph without visual selection?
gUip
gUip is a compact operator-plus-text-object pattern that uppercases exactly the paragraph your cursor is in.
How do I invert the case of an entire paragraph with one operator command?
g~ap
g~ap is a fast way to invert letter case across a full paragraph without entering Visual mode.
editing #editing #operators #text-objects #case #normal-mode
How do I force a normally linewise motion to operate characterwise when combined with an operator?
dv{motion}
In operator-pending mode — after typing an operator like d, y, or c but before the motion — you can press v, V, or to override the motion type to characterw
How do I yank text from the cursor to the next occurrence of a pattern without entering visual mode?
y/{pattern}<CR>
Any operator in Vim can take a search motion as its argument.
How do I convert space-indented code to tab-indented code in Vim?
:set noexpandtab | retab!
When you inherit space-indented code and need to switch to tabs, :retab! (with the bang) converts groups of spaces into tabs throughout the file.
How do I select, delete, or change a complete sentence using Vim's sentence text objects?
as and is
Vim defines sentence text objects — as (around sentence) and is (inner sentence) — that allow any operator to act on an entire sentence in one motion.
How do I insert special Unicode characters and symbols using Vim's built-in digraph system?
<C-k>{two-chars}
Vim's digraph system lets you type hundreds of special characters — arrows, fractions, accented letters, currency symbols, and more — using intuitive two-ch
How do I sort a range of lines by piping them through an external sort command using the ! operator?
!{motion}sort
The ! operator in Vim filters a motion's text through an external shell command, replacing it with the output.
What is the difference between the inner word (iw) and inner WORD (iW) text objects in Vim?
iW vs iw
Vim has two flavors of the "inner word" text object that are easy to confuse: iw (lowercase) and iW (uppercase).
How do I replace a text object with the contents of a register in Neovim 0.11?
gr{motion}
Neovim 0.
How do I use gn as a text object to delete or yank the next search match?
dgn
The gn motion is a versatile text object that selects the next occurrence of the last search pattern.
editing #editing #search #text-objects #normal-mode #motions
How do I apply ROT13 encoding to the current line in Vim without using a motion or visual selection?
g??
Vim has a built-in ROT13 operator g? that encodes text by rotating each letter 13 positions in the alphabet.
How do I insert a blank line above or below the current line without entering insert mode?
:put =''
Using :put ='' with an empty expression lets you insert blank lines in normal mode without ever entering insert mode.
editing #editing #normal-mode #ex-commands #expression-register #blank-line
How do I complete keywords using only the current buffer as the source?
<C-x><C-n>
triggers keyword completion that searches only the current buffer for matches, scanning forward from the cursor.
How do I force a Vim operator to act linewise even when the motion is normally characterwise?
dV{motion}
In operator-pending mode — the brief state after typing an operator like d, c, or y but before entering the motion — you can prefix the motion with v, V, or
How do I open folds one level at a time in Vim without revealing all nested folds at once?
zr
zr ("reduce" fold level) decrements the global foldlevel option by 1, opening the next layer of folds across the entire file.
How do I indent all lines from the cursor to the matching closing bracket in Vim?
>%
Vim's > operator (indent) works with any motion or text object — including %, which jumps to the bracket, parenthesis, or brace matching the one under the cur
editing #editing #indentation #text-objects #normal-mode #motions
How do I shift-indent all lines from the current cursor position to the end of the file?
>G
The >G command applies a right-indent shift to every line from the cursor through the last line of the buffer.
How do I replace exactly N consecutive characters with the same character without entering visual mode?
{count}r{char}
The {count}r{char} command replaces a precise number of characters starting at the cursor position with a single repeated character.