How do I use gn as a text object to delete or yank the next search match?

Explanation

The gn motion is a versatile text object that selects the next occurrence of the last search pattern. Most Vim users know cgn for changing matches, but gn pairs with any operator — d, y, =, >, and more — enabling a consistent dot-repeatable workflow for bulk operations.

How it works

• After setting a search pattern (e.g., /todo), gn selects the next match as a text object
• Prefix any operator to act on that selection:
  • dgn — delete the next match
  • ygn — yank the next match into the unnamed register
  • =gn — auto-indent the next match (useful for code blocks)
  • >gn — indent the next match
• After dgn, pressing . deletes the next match, and so on

Example

Search for a word:

Buffer: TODO: fix login   TODO: fix signup   TODO: clean up
Search: /TODO: fix

With cursor before the first TODO: fix:

dgn

Result:

Buffer:  login   TODO: fix signup   TODO: clean up

Now press . to delete the next TODO: fix:

Buffer:  login    signup   TODO: clean up

Tips

• gn works even when the cursor is on a match — it moves to and selects the next one
• Combine with n to skip a match: n jumps past, then . applies the operator to the next
• Use gN to operate on the previous match in reverse: dgN
• The dot-repeat with dgn mirrors the beloved cgn workflow, just for deletion instead of change