How do I sort lines alphabetically in Vim?

Explanation

The :sort command sorts lines in the current buffer or a specified range alphabetically. It is a built-in alternative to the external sort command.

How it works

• :sort sorts all lines in the buffer
• :'<,'>sort sorts only the selected lines
• :sort! sorts in reverse order
• :sort u sorts and removes duplicate lines

Example

charlie
alpha
bravo

After :sort:

alpha
bravo
charlie

Tips

• :sort n sorts numerically instead of alphabetically
• :sort i sorts case-insensitively
• :sort /pattern/ sorts by the text after the pattern match
• :sort u removes duplicate lines while sorting
• :%sort is equivalent to :sort (whole file)