How do I jump between method or function definitions in Vim?

Explanation

Vim's ]m and [m motions navigate between method and function boundaries in curly-brace languages like C, Java, JavaScript, and Go. They are part of Vim's built-in bracket motions and require no plugins.

How it works

• ]m — jump to the start of the next method (the { opening a function/method body)
• [m — jump to the start of the previous method
• ]M — jump to the end of the next method (the closing })
• [M — jump to the end of the previous method

Vim detects method boundaries by looking for { characters that follow a function signature pattern. This is heuristic-based and works best in C, Java, and JavaScript-style files.

Example

Given this JavaScript file:

function alpha() {
    doSomething();
}

function beta() {
    doSomethingElse();
}

With the cursor anywhere inside alpha, pressing ]m moves to the opening { of beta. Pressing ]M moves to the closing } of beta.

Tips

• Combine with operators: d]M deletes from the cursor to the end of the current method
• v]M visually selects to the method end — useful for selecting an entire function body
• A count prefix works: 3]m jumps three methods forward
• For Python or indentation-based languages, [[ / ]] jump between top-level sections instead