How do I run a normal mode command on multiple lines at once?

Explanation

The :normal Ex command lets you execute any Normal mode keystrokes on a range of lines simultaneously, turning a single-line operation into a multi-line batch edit without recording a macro. Combined with a visual selection range, it becomes a precise and powerful bulk editing tool.

How it works

• :'<,'> — the range spanning the last visual selection (automatically inserted when you press : while in Visual mode)
• norm! — run Normal mode keystrokes literally, bypassing any custom key remappings (the ! ensures consistent, portable behavior)
• A; — the Normal mode command to execute on each line: A enters Insert mode at end of line, ; types the character, and Vim then exits back to Normal mode

You can substitute any Normal mode sequence for A;. Common examples:

• I# — prepend # to comment out lines
• >> — indent each line one level
• dw — delete first word on each line

Example

Given three lines selected with V:

foo()
bar()
baz()

Running :'<,'>norm! A; transforms every line:

foo();
bar();
baz();

Tips

• Works with any line range: :1,$norm! >> indents the entire file
• Use norm (no !) only when you intentionally want custom mappings to fire
• Pair with :g/pattern/norm! command to run Normal commands only on lines matching a pattern