How do I refer to all files in the argument list at once in an Ex command?

Explanation

The ## special token expands to the names of all files currently in Vim's argument list. Just as % expands to the current filename, ## expands to the entire argument list, letting you pass all those files to any Ex command that accepts filenames.

How it works

• :args *.go or :args **/*.js loads files into the argument list
• ## in any subsequent Ex command expands to that full list of filenames
• Useful with commands like :vimgrep, :grep, and :argdo that operate on multiple files

Example

Load all Python files in the project:

:args **/*.py

Now search across all of them with one command:

:vimgrep /def main/ ##

This is equivalent to typing every filename explicitly but works dynamically as your arglist changes. To view which files are in the argument list:

:args

To run an external grep across all arglist files:

:grep -n 'TODO' ##

Tips

• ## always reflects the current argument list at the time the command runs
• Combine with :argdo for operations that need to run commands per-file: :argdo %s/old/new/g | update
• For single-file reference use % (current file) or # (alternate file)
• Use :next and :prev to navigate the argument list one file at a time