How do I match an optional sequence of characters at the end of a word in a Vim regex?
\%[abc]
The \%[.
Search: G
795 results for "G"
How do I add a visual indicator at the start of soft-wrapped continuation lines to tell them apart from real line starts?
set showbreak=↪\
When wrap is enabled, long lines visually wrap to the next screen row.
How do I change an option's global default without affecting the current buffer's local value?
:setglobal
Vim maintains two values for most options: a global default that applies to new windows and buffers, and a local copy that can be overridden per-buffer or per-w
How do I run a substitute or filter command without Vim automatically repositioning my marks?
:keepmarks
When Vim executes commands that move or reorder lines — such as :sort, :%!sort, or :s/// across ranges — it automatically adjusts named marks to follow the
How do I search for a second pattern relative to where the first one matched?
/pattern1/;/pattern2/
Vim's search offsets allow chaining two patterns together with a semicolon.
How do I limit a search or substitution to only the text I visually selected?
\%V
The \%V atom in a Vim pattern matches only inside the last visual selection.
search #search #visual-mode #substitute #regex #text-objects
How do I step through the files in my argument list one at a time?
:next
When Vim is opened with multiple files (e.
command-line #buffers-windows #ex-commands #navigation #editing
How do I run a literal project-wide vimgrep for the word under my cursor?
:vimgrep /\V<C-r><C-w>/gj **/*
When you need a project-wide search for the exact word under your cursor, this pattern avoids regex surprises and immediately populates quickfix.
How do I comment out multiple lines at once in Vim without a plugin?
<C-v>I#<Esc>
Vim's Visual Block mode lets you prepend characters (like comment markers) to multiple lines simultaneously.
How do I open a related file with a different extension using the current filename?
:e %:r.html
In Vim's command line, % expands to the current buffer's filename.
command-line #ex-commands #command-line #buffers #navigation
How do I read a single keystroke from the user inside a Vimscript mapping or function?
getchar()
getchar() blocks and waits for the user to press a key, returning its numeric character code.
How do I create a dynamic abbreviation that inserts live content like the current date?
:iabbrev <expr> {trigger} {expression}
The flag on :iabbrev turns the right-hand side into a Vimscript expression that is evaluated at expansion time rather than stored as a literal string.
How do I jump to the beginning of the next word?
w
The w command moves the cursor forward to the beginning of the next word.
How do I programmatically manipulate register contents using setreg and getreg?
:call setreg('a', @a . 'text', 'l')
How it works Vim provides two functions for advanced register manipulation: setreg() and getreg().
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 group regex atoms in Vim without creating a backreference?
\%(pattern\)
In Vim's regex engine, \( and \) create a capturing group whose contents are stored in \1, \2, etc.
How do I reuse my last search pattern literally in :substitute without re-escaping it?
:%s/\V<C-r>//gc
When your last search pattern contains punctuation, slashes, or regex atoms, retyping it inside :substitute is error-prone.
How do I search many files with :vimgrep but avoid opening each hit while building quickfix?
:vimgrep /{pattern}/j **/*
For project-wide searches, :vimgrep is powerful but can feel disruptive if it jumps into files while populating quickfix.
How do I open a file in a split window and jump directly to the first match of a pattern?
:sp +/{pattern} {file}
The +{cmd} syntax lets you run an Ex command immediately after a file is opened.
How do I force a search to be case-sensitive even when ignorecase is enabled?
\C in search pattern
Adding \C anywhere in a search pattern forces case-sensitive matching for that search, overriding the global ignorecase setting.