What is the difference between
and in Vim search patterns versus substitution replacements?

Q: What is the difference between \n and \r in Vim search patterns versus substitution replacements?

`\n in search, \r in replacement` Vim uses `\n` and `\r` differently depending on whether they appear in a **search pattern** or a **replacement string**, and mixing them up is a common source of confusion. ## How it works - **In a search pattern** (`/pattern` or the find side of `:s/{pattern}/`): `\n` matches the end-of-line character. This lets you find text that spans line boundaries. - **In a replacement string** (the replace side of `:s//replacement/`): `\r` inserts a newline, breaking the line at that point. Using `\n` in the replacement inserts a literal NUL character (`^@`), which is almost never what you want. The asymmetry exists because internally Vim stores line separators differently than most tools. ## Example Join the current line with the next by replacing the newline: ```vim :s/\n/ / ``` Split a comma-separated list onto separate lines: ```vim :%s/,/,\r/g ``` Before: ```text foo,bar,baz ``` After: ```text foo, bar, baz ``` ## Tips - Mnemonic: search for `\n` (newline), **r**eplace with `\r` (**r**eturn = new line) - `\n` in a replacement puts a NUL byte visible as `^@` — if you see `^@` appearing, you used `\n` instead of `\r` - In `:substitute`, both the search and replace sides follow these rules consistently

Question

What is the difference between 
 and  in Vim search patterns versus substitution replacements?

Accepted Answer

`
 in search,  in replacement` Vim uses `
` and `` differently depending on whether they appear in a **search pattern** or a **replacement string**, and mixing them up is a common source of confusion.

## How it works

- **In a search pattern** (`/pattern` or the find side of `:s/{pattern}/`): `
` matches the end-of-line character. This lets you find text that spans line boundaries.
- **In a replacement string** (the replace side of `:s//replacement/`): `` inserts a newline, breaking the line at that point. Using `
` in the replacement inserts a literal NUL character (`^@`), which is almost never what you want.

The asymmetry exists because internally Vim stores line separators differently than most tools.

## Example

Join the current line with the next by replacing the newline:

```vim
:s/
/ /
```

Split a comma-separated list onto separate lines:

```vim
:%s/,/,/g
```

Before:

```text
foo,bar,baz
```

After:

```text
foo,
bar,
baz
```

## Tips

- Mnemonic: search for `
` (newline), **r**eplace with `` (**r**eturn = new line)
- `
` in a replacement puts a NUL byte visible as `^@` — if you see `^@` appearing, you used `
` instead of ``
- In `:substitute`, both the search and replace sides follow these rules consistently

Answer

Explanation

How it works

Example

Tips

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