How do I select or edit the content inside backtick-delimited text like Markdown code spans?

Explanation

Vim treats backticks as a valid quote delimiter for text objects, just like ' and ". The i`` text object selects the content **inside** a pair of backticks; a`` selects the content and the backticks themselves. This works for Markdown inline code spans, shell command substitutions, JavaScript template literals, and any other backtick-delimited text.

How it works

• `vi`` — enter Visual mode and select inside backticks (the content between them)
• va`` — select **a**round backticks (content + surrounding `` `` characters)
• Works in Normal mode as an operator target: ci`` changes the content, di deletes it, `yi yanks it
• The cursor can be anywhere on the line — Vim searches forward for the nearest backtick pair

Example

Given a Markdown line:

Run `git status` to check your repository.

With the cursor anywhere on the line:

• vi`` selects git status`
• ci`` deletes git status` and puts you in Insert mode to type the replacement
• da`` deletes the entire `` git status` `` including the backticks

Tips

• Works for all quote-like delimiters: vi' (single quotes), vi" (double quotes), vi( (parentheses), vi{ (curly braces), vi[ (square brackets)
• In Markdown, ci` is the fastest way to update an inline code snippet without touching the surrounding text
• For JavaScript template literals spanning multiple lines, vi`` may not work as expected — use va{` with the outer object instead
• :set matchpairs does not affect quote text objects; those are always recognized by default