How do I split a line by inserting a newline with the substitute command?
:s/,/\r/g
In Vim's substitute command, use \r (not \n) in the replacement to insert a real newline.
All Vim Tricks
How do I sort lines based on a specific field or column rather than the beginning of each line?
:sort /regex/
The :sort /pattern/ command sorts lines by the text that appears after the first match of a pattern, not from the start of each line.
How do I force a case-sensitive or case-insensitive search for just one pattern without changing my settings?
\C
Vim's \C and \c atoms let you override ignorecase and smartcase on a per-pattern basis.
How do I create a macro that runs continuously until it hits an error?
@q
A recursive macro is a macro that calls itself as its last step, causing it to loop automatically until an operation fails (such as reaching the end of the file
How do I count the number of pattern matches in a file without making substitutions?
:s/pattern//gn
The :s///gn command counts how many times a pattern appears in the file without actually replacing anything.
command-line #search #ex-commands #substitution #command-line
How do I create text shortcuts that auto-expand while typing in Vim?
iabbrev
:iabbrev defines insert-mode abbreviations that expand automatically when you type a non-keyword character (space, punctuation, ) after the abbreviation.
How do I replace a line (or range) with the output of a shell command in Vim?
:.!{cmd}
:.
How do I highlight a pattern in Vim without jumping the cursor to the next match?
:let @/ = 'pattern'
Writing to the @/ register via :let @/ = 'pattern' sets Vim's last-search pattern directly — without performing a search or moving the cursor.
How do I search for a pattern across all files in my project without leaving Vim?
:vimgrep /pattern/ **
:vimgrep /pattern/ searches recursively through all files in the current working directory tree using Vim's own regex engine, populating the quickfix list with
How do I reopen Vim and jump directly to where I was editing last time?
'0
Pressing '0 in normal mode jumps to the exact cursor position in the most recently edited file, even after closing and reopening Vim.
How do I create a custom Vim operator that works with any motion or text object?
:set opfunc and g@
Vim's operatorfunc option lets you define your own operators — just like the built-in d, y, or c — that accept any motion or text object.
How do I search for a pattern only on a specific line number or at a specific column position?
\%l and \%c
Vim's \%l and \%c pattern atoms anchor a search to a particular line number or column, enabling surgical searches and substitutions that standard regex cannot e
How do I extract the directory, filename, or extension from the current file path inside a Vim command?
%:h
Vim's filename modifiers let you derive path components from the current buffer's filename directly on the command line.
How do I copy a character from the line directly above or below while staying in insert mode?
<C-y> and <C-e>
In Insert mode, copies the character at the same column position from the line above the cursor, and copies the character from the line below.
How do I apply a macro to every line in a specific range without running it manually each time?
:[range]normal @q
The :[range]normal @q command replays the macro in register q on every line within a given range.
How do I pick from multiple tag matches instead of jumping to the first one?
g]
g] is the disambiguation-aware alternative to .
How do I run a command on every individual quickfix entry in Vim?
:cdo s/old/new/ | update
:cdo {cmd} executes a command at every entry in the quickfix list, visiting each location in turn.
How do I load a plugin on demand using Vim's native package system?
:packadd {name}
Vim 8+ and Neovim have a built-in package manager.
How do I run a normal mode command on every line in a visual selection?
:'<,'>norm I//
After making a visual selection, :norm {commands} executes normal-mode keystrokes on every line in the range.
How do I move through search matches while still typing the pattern?
<C-g> and <C-t>
While the search prompt is open (with incsearch enabled), pressing advances the cursor to the next match and moves it to the previous match — all without leav