How do I configure backup and swap file behavior?

Explanation

Disabling backup and swap files prevents Vim from creating extra files alongside your source code. Many developers prefer this for cleaner directories.

How it works

• :set nobackup prevents creating filename~ backup files
• :set noswapfile prevents creating .filename.swp swap files
• :set nowritebackup prevents creating temporary backups during write

Example

set nobackup
set nowritebackup
set noswapfile

Tips

• Alternatively, redirect them: :set backupdir=~/.vim/backup//
• :set directory=~/.vim/swap// moves swap files to a central location
• The // suffix uses the full path for unique filenames
• Swap files help recover from crashes — disabling has trade-offs
• Add *~ and *.swp to your .gitignore if you keep them enabled