How do I completely remove a buffer from Vim?

Explanation

The :bwipeout command (:bw) completely removes a buffer from Vim's memory, including its marks, options, and variables. It is more thorough than :bdelete.

How it works

• :bwipeout removes the current buffer entirely
• :bw 3 wipes buffer number 3
• The buffer is removed from the buffer list
• All associated data is freed

Example

:ls              " List buffers
:bw 5            " Completely remove buffer 5
:bw!             " Force wipe even with unsaved changes

Tips

• :bdelete hides the buffer but keeps it in memory (unlisted)
• :bwipeout truly removes everything
• Use :bw when you want to clean up buffer numbers
• :bd is usually sufficient for normal use
• Be careful with :bw! — unsaved changes are lost permanently