How do I append another pattern search to the current quickfix results?
:vimgrepadd /FIXME/j **/*.go
When you are triaging a codebase, one pattern is rarely enough.
Category: search
How do I search only a sub-part of a larger pattern using \zs and \ze?
/foo\zsbar\zebaz<CR>
Sometimes you need Vim to match a long structural pattern but only treat one piece of it as the actual match.
How do I jump to the Nth next search match instead of pressing n repeatedly?
{count}n
Like most Vim motions, the n and N search repeat commands accept a count prefix.
How do I use an expression in a substitution to perform arithmetic on matched numbers?
:%s/\(\d\+\)/\=submatch(1)+1/g
Vim's substitute command supports using a VimScript expression as the replacement by prefixing it with \=.
How do I avoid backslash-escaping slashes in a substitution when replacing file paths or URLs?
:s#pattern#replacement#g
Vim's substitution command accepts any non-alphanumeric, non-whitespace character as the delimiter — not just /.
How do I run a substitution without displacing my marks?
:keepmarks %s/pattern/replacement/g
The :keepmarks modifier prevents Vim from adjusting mark positions when a buffer-modifying command runs.
How do I extend my incremental search pattern one character at a time from the current match without retyping?
<C-l> during / search
When searching with incsearch enabled, Vim highlights matches as you type.
How do I make part of a search pattern optional so it matches with or without that sequence?
\%[seq]
Vim's \%[seq] atom makes the sequence seq optional in a pattern — matching any prefix of the sequence (including nothing).
How do I use case conversion metacharacters in Vim substitution replacement strings?
\U, \L, \u, \l, \e in :substitute replacement
Vim's substitute command supports in-replacement case conversion metacharacters that transform the case of matched text without extra scripting.
How do I persistently highlight a pattern in Vim using a specific highlight group without a plugin?
:match {group} /pattern/
:match, :2match, and :3match give you three independent highlight slots that overlay patterns on the buffer using any highlight group — without touching the s
How do I write a Vim regex lookahead that doesn't consume a capture group slot?
\%(pattern\)\@=
Vim's lookahead assertion \@= confirms that the current position is followed by a pattern — without including those characters in the match.
How do I restrict a substitute command to only the text within my last visual selection using the percent-V atom?
:s/\%Vfoo/bar/
The \%V atom in Vim's regex engine matches only within the area of the last visual selection.
search #search #visual-mode #substitute #advanced #ex-commands
How do I remove duplicate consecutive lines using a substitute command?
:%s/^\(.\+\)\n\1$/\1/
This substitute command detects pairs of identical adjacent lines and collapses them into one, using a back-reference to match the repeated content.
How do I change each occurrence of a search match one at a time, confirming each with the dot command?
cgn...{text}<Esc>.
The cgn + .
How do I use POSIX character classes like [:alpha:] and [:digit:] in Vim search patterns?
[[:alpha:]]
Vim's regex engine supports POSIX character classes inside bracket expressions, giving you locale-aware, readable alternatives to manual character ranges like [
How do I write a Vim search pattern that matches any character including newlines for multi-line searches?
\_.{-}
The \ modifier in Vim extends any character class or atom to also match newlines.
How do I position the cursor at a specific character offset from a search match?
/pattern/e+2
Vim's search command supports an offset suffix that controls where the cursor lands after a match.
How do I write a Vim search pattern that matches text at or between mark positions?
\%'m
Vim's \%'m regex atom matches the exact position of mark m in a search pattern.
How do I swap two adjacent words on a line using a substitute command in Vim?
:s/\v(\w+)\s+(\w+)/\2 \1/
By using capture groups in a substitute command with very magic mode (\v), you can swap two adjacent words in a single operation.
How do I reuse the replacement text from my last substitution in a new one without retyping it?
:s/pattern/~/
In a Vim substitution, using ~ as the replacement string repeats the replacement text from the most recent :s command.