How do I quickly delete all the arguments inside a function call?

Explanation

The di( command deletes everything inside the nearest pair of parentheses without removing the parentheses themselves. This is one of Vim's most practical text object commands for editing code — it lets you clear out function arguments, conditional expressions, or grouped sub-expressions in a single keystroke sequence.

How it works

• d is the delete operator
• i( is the "inner parentheses" text object — it selects everything between the nearest ( and ), excluding the parens themselves
• The cursor can be anywhere inside the parentheses — Vim finds the enclosing pair automatically
• di) is identical to di( — both refer to the same text object

Example

Given the text with the cursor anywhere between the parentheses:

calculateTotal(price, quantity, tax)

Pressing di( removes all three arguments:

calculateTotal()

The parentheses remain intact with the cursor between them, ready for you to type new arguments.

This also works with nested parentheses — Vim selects the innermost enclosing pair:

result = outer(inner(a, b), c)

With the cursor on a, pressing di( deletes a, b:

result = outer(inner(), c)

Tips

• Use ci( to delete the contents and enter insert mode — perfect for replacing arguments in one motion
• Use da( to delete the contents and the parentheses themselves
• Use yi( to yank (copy) the contents inside parentheses without deleting
• Use vi( to visually select the contents for inspection before acting
• The same pattern works for other paired delimiters:
  • di[ / di] for square brackets
  • di{ / di} for curly braces
  • di< / di> for angle brackets
  • di" for double quotes, di' for single quotes
• Use 2di( or di( from within nested parens, then . outside, to work outward through nesting levels
• Combine with . to repeat: after di(, move to another function call and press . to clear its arguments too