How do I open an existing buffer in a new split window?
:sb {buffer}
The :sb (short for :sbuffer) command opens a buffer that is already loaded in Vim in a new horizontal split window.
Search: :ls
73 results for ":ls"
How do I close the current buffer in Vim?
:bdelete
How it works The :bdelete command (often abbreviated :bd) removes the current buffer from Vim's buffer list and closes it.
How do I redisplay the output from the last Ex command that already scrolled away?
g<
Pressing g or q to dismiss it again Example Tips :messages also shows recent messages (and those accumulate across the session), while g< only shows the last pa
How do I switch to a buffer by typing part of its filename?
:b partial<Tab>
The :b (buffer) command accepts partial filename matching with tab completion.
How do I get just the filename without its path or extension to use in a command?
%:t:r
Vim's % special character expands to the current filename and accepts a chain of colon-delimited modifiers.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #editing #navigation
How do I open another file without saving the current modified buffer first?
:hide edit {file}<CR>
Normally, trying to :edit another file from a modified buffer triggers a warning and blocks the switch unless you save or force the command.
buffers-windows #buffers #windows #workflow #command-line #editing
How do I close all buffers except the current one in Vim?
:%bd | e#
How it works Vim does not have a built-in single command to close all buffers except the current one, but you can achieve this with a two-part command: :%bd e#.
How do I open the alternate (previously visited) buffer in a new split window?
<C-w>^
Vim tracks the alternate buffer — the last file you were editing before the current one.
How do I filter the output of a Vim command to show only lines matching a pattern?
:filter /pattern/ {command}
:filter /pattern/ {command} runs any Ex command but suppresses every output line that does not match the pattern.
How do I run a command on all open buffers at once?
:bufdo {cmd}
:bufdo executes an Ex command in each open buffer in sequence, cycling through every buffer in the buffer list.
How do I open all buffers in split windows?
:ball
The :ball command opens a window for every buffer in the buffer list.
How do I access the alternate file register?
"# register
The # register contains the name of the alternate file — the previously edited file in the current window.
How do I use LSP for go-to-definition, references, and refactoring in Neovim?
gd / gr / <leader>rn with nvim-lspconfig
The Language Server Protocol (LSP) brings IDE-level intelligence to Neovim — go-to-definition, find references, rename symbol, and more.
How do I completely remove a buffer from Vim?
:bwipeout
The :bwipeout command (:bw) completely removes a buffer from Vim's memory, including its marks, options, and variables.
How do I create a temporary scratch buffer for quick notes without saving a file?
:enew | setlocal buftype=nofile bufhidden=wipe noswapfile
A scratch buffer is a temporary, unnamed buffer that exists only in memory — it won't prompt you to save when you close it and leaves no trace on disk.
buffers-windows #buffers #editing #ex-commands #productivity #workflow
How do I open all loaded buffers into split windows at once?
:sball
The :sball command (short for split all) opens every loaded buffer in its own horizontal split window in one shot.
How do I run a shell command from Vimscript and capture its output as a list of individual lines?
systemlist()
systemlist({cmd}) runs a shell command and returns the output as a list of strings, one per line — unlike system() which returns everything as a single string
How do I remove trailing whitespace across all open buffers and save only changed files?
:bufdo keeppatterns %s/\s\+$//e | update
If you keep many files open during a refactor, cleaning trailing whitespace one buffer at a time is slow and error-prone.
How do I save all modified buffers at once without switching to each one?
:wall
When working across multiple files, you often have unsaved changes in several buffers.
How do I open a floating window showing diagnostic details at the cursor using a built-in Neovim key?
<C-w>d
Neovim 0.
buffers-windows #diagnostics #lsp #floating-window #neovim #buffers #windows