How do I search backward for text in Vim?

Explanation

The ? command searches backward from the cursor position. It works exactly like / but in reverse.

How it works

• Press ? to open the backward search prompt
• Type your search pattern
• Press <CR> to find the previous match before the cursor

Example

line one
line two
line three

With the cursor on line three, typing ?one<CR> jumps to one on the first line.

Tips

• n continues searching in the backward direction
• N reverses to search forward
• ? also wraps around the beginning of the file
• You can use the same regex patterns as with /