How do I replace a visual selection with yanked text in Vim?

Explanation

In visual mode, pressing p replaces the selected text with the contents of the default register. Unlike deleting and then pasting, this is a single atomic operation — and it has a useful side effect: the replaced text is stored in the default register, which enables text swaps.

How it works

1. Yank the replacement text (e.g., yiw to yank a word)
2. Visually select the target text you want to replace (viw, V, <C-v>, etc.)
3. Press p — the selection is replaced by the yanked text, and the replaced text enters the default register "

Example

Starting with:

foo bar

1. Place cursor on foo, yank it: yiw
2. Move to bar, select it: viw
3. Press p

Result:

foo foo

bar is now in register ", so pressing p elsewhere pastes bar — enabling a complete word swap in just a few keystrokes.

Tips

• To always paste from the yank register (unaffected by the swap), use "0p in visual mode: viw"0p
• In Neovim, P in visual mode pastes without overwriting the register — the selection is replaced but your yank stays intact
• Works with any visual mode: characterwise (v), linewise (V), or blockwise (<C-v>)
• Map xnoremap <Leader>p "0p to make visual paste always use the yank register