How do I open the next buffer in a new split window without leaving the current one?

Explanation

:sbnext (shorthand :sbn) opens the next buffer from the buffer list in a new horizontal split, leaving your current window and buffer intact. It is the split counterpart of :bnext — instead of replacing the current window, it creates a new one. Similarly, :sbprev (:sbp) opens the previous buffer in a split.

Commands

• :sbnext / :sbn — split and switch to the next buffer in the list
• :sbprev / :sbp — split and switch to the previous buffer
• :sbfirst — split and open the first buffer
• :sblast — split and open the last buffer
• :sb {N} — split and open buffer number N
• :sb {name} — split and open the buffer matching {name} (partial name OK)
• Use :vertical sbnext or :vert sbn for a vertical split instead

Example

You are editing main.py and want to compare it with the next file in your buffer list:

:sbnext

Now you have main.py in the bottom window and the next buffer in the top window.

Open the previous file in a vertical split:

:vertical sbprev

Tips

• All :s{buf-cmd} forms obey the same :vertical prefix for vertical splits
• Combine with <C-w>= to equalize the split sizes after opening
• :sb {partial} with <Tab> completion is fast for jumping to a specific buffer by name in a split
• To cycle through all buffers each in their own split window: :ball opens all buffers in tiled splits at once