How do I paste register contents at the beginning of a file without moving the cursor there first?

Explanation

The :put Ex command inserts register contents as a new line below the specified line number. Using :0put — line zero — places the content before line 1, prepending it at the very top of the file without requiring any cursor movement.

How it works

• :put {reg} — paste register {reg} below the current line (linewise)
• :{N}put {reg} — paste below line N regardless of cursor position
• :0put {reg} — paste before line 1 (top of file)
• :$put {reg} — paste after the last line (end of file)

The register defaults to the unnamed register " if omitted. Unlike p or P, :put always pastes linewise regardless of the register's stored type.

Example

Given a JavaScript file:

function greet() { return 'hello'; }
module.exports = { greet };

Yank 'use strict'; into the unnamed register, then run :0put:

'use strict';
function greet() { return 'hello'; }
module.exports = { greet };

Tips

• :0put =system('date') — insert shell command output at the top using the expression register
• :$put a — append register a contents at the end of the file
• Works safely inside macros — no cursor repositioning needed before or after
• To move a block to the top without copying: yank it with yap, delete it, then :0put