How do I restrict the :global command to operate on only a portion of the file?
:[range]g/pattern/command
The :global command accepts an optional line range prefix that restricts which lines it even considers matching.
Search: i" a"
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How do I use a pattern-based range with an offset to operate on lines relative to a search match?
:/pattern/+N and :/pattern/-N
Vim's Ex command ranges can use search patterns as line addresses, and those addresses can include a numeric offset (+N or -N) to target lines relative to the m
How do I call a Lua function or evaluate a Lua expression from within Vimscript in Neovim?
luaeval('lua_expression')
When you have existing Vimscript code that needs to reach into Neovim's Lua ecosystem, luaeval() is the bridge.
How do I move the current split into a new tab and immediately jump back to the previous tab?
<C-w>TgT
When a split temporarily becomes the center of attention, promoting it to its own tab can reduce layout noise.
How do I yank or delete a line range directly into a named register without selecting it visually?
:[range]yank {reg}
Vim's :[range]yank and :[range]delete Ex commands let you capture arbitrary line ranges into a register from the command line, bypassing the need to move the cu
How do I read or modify the lines of a buffer that is not currently displayed without switching to it?
getbufline() / setbufline()
The getbufline() and setbufline() functions let you inspect and update any loaded buffer's contents from Vimscript without switching the active window.
How do I run a macro on every line in a specific line number range?
:{range} normal @{reg}
The :normal command lets you execute Normal mode keystrokes over a range of lines.
How do I replay a macro multiple times in Vim?
10@a
The 10@a command replays the macro recorded in register a exactly 10 times.
How do I push or pull a single diff hunk between buffers with a single keystroke in diff mode?
dp
In Vim's diff mode, dp (diff put) and do (diff obtain) are single-keystroke shorthands for :diffput and :diffget.
buffers-windows #diff #buffers-windows #editing #normal-mode
How do I search for a pattern repeated an exact number of times in Vim?
/pattern\{3}
Vim supports counted quantifiers that let you specify exactly how many times a pattern should repeat.
How do I save a file and automatically create missing parent directories in Neovim?
:w ++p
Neovim's :w ++p flag automatically creates any missing intermediate directories when writing a file.
How do I insert register contents into the command line?
:<C-r>a
How it works While typing an Ex command on the command line (after pressing :), you can insert the contents of any register by pressing Ctrl-R followed by the r
How do I match a pattern only when it is preceded or followed by another pattern, without including that context in the match?
\@=
Vim's regex engine supports zero-width lookahead and lookbehind assertions using the \@ family of atoms.
How do I display a colored highlighted message using a highlight group in Vim?
:echohl WarningMsg | echo "message" | echohl None
:echohl sets the highlight group applied to subsequent :echo and :echom output.
How do I delete all blank and whitespace-only lines from a file in Vim?
:g/^\s*$/d
The global command :g/^\s$/d removes every line that is empty or contains only whitespace — a common cleanup task when tidying up code, configuration files, o
How do I move a line or selection up or down in Vim?
:move +1 / :move -2
The :move command relocates lines to a specific position without using delete and paste.
How do I see a list of recently opened files and quickly jump back to one?
:oldfiles
:oldfiles displays a numbered list of every file Vim has recorded in its viminfo (or shada in Neovim) file.
How do I prevent Vim from treating leading-zero numbers as octal when incrementing with Ctrl-A?
set nrformats-=octal
By default, Vim treats numbers prefixed with a leading zero (like 007) as octal when you use or to increment or decrement them.
How do I use an atomic group in a Vim regex to prevent backtracking?
\@>
Vim's \@> syntax creates an atomic group in a regular expression.
How do I change each occurrence of a search match one at a time, confirming each with the dot command?
cgn...{text}<Esc>.
The cgn + .