How do I make a macro conditionally execute commands based on line content?
:if condition | execute 'normal cmd' | endif
How it works Vim macros can include Ex commands with conditional logic.
Search: "+y
189 results for ""+y"
How do I check whether a register contains characterwise, linewise, or blockwise text?
:echo getregtype('a')
The getregtype() function returns the motion type of a register's content — whether it was yanked characterwise, linewise, or as a visual block.
How do I use a macro to align text on a specific character like the equals sign?
qa0f=20i <Esc>20|C= <Esc>lDjq
How it works Aligning text on a delimiter such as = without plugins requires a clever macro technique.
How do I build a custom statusline without plugins?
:set statusline=%f\ %m%r%h%w\ %=%l/%L\ %p%%
Vim's statusline option accepts printf-style format codes that display file info, position, mode, and any custom expression.
How do I run the same command across all open buffers at once?
:bufdo
When you need to apply the same change to every file you have open in Vim, switching to each buffer manually is tedious and error-prone.
What is the difference between the star register and the plus register?
"*p vs "+p
How it works Vim has two system clipboard registers that interact with the operating system: " -- the selection register (PRIMARY selection on Linux/X11, clipbo
How do I view the contents of all registers in Vim?
:registers
The :registers command displays the contents of all Vim registers, showing you exactly what text is stored in each one.
How do I configure Vim's completion menu to show a popup without auto-selecting the first candidate?
:set completeopt=menuone,noselect
By default, Vim's and completion can auto-insert the first match, or only show a menu when there are multiple matches.
How do I run a substitution only on lines that match a specific pattern using the global command?
:g/pattern1/s/pattern2/replacement/g
Combining :g with :s lets you apply a substitution using two independent patterns: :g selects which lines to act on, and :s controls what gets replaced within t
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 paste text from the system clipboard into Vim?
"+p
The "+p command pastes the contents of the system clipboard into Vim.
How do I select or operate on a block of code based on its indentation level in Vim?
ii / ai
The vim-indent-object plugin by Michael Smith adds text objects based on indentation level, giving you ii (inner indent) and ai (an indent) to select, delete, c
How do I create a recursive macro that repeats itself until it fails?
qqqqqq{edits}@qq
A recursive macro calls itself at the end of its sequence, creating a loop that automatically repeats until a motion or command fails (such as hitting the last
How do I use the leader key to create my own keyboard shortcuts?
let mapleader = ' ' then nnoremap <leader>key command
The leader key is a configurable prefix for your custom key mappings.
How do I use \zs and \ze to define the exact boundaries of a regex match in Vim?
\zs and \ze in a pattern
Vim's \zs ("match start") and \ze ("match end") atoms let you narrow the actual match region within a broader pattern context.
How do I move the cursor to a specific column on the current line?
{count}|
The command moves the cursor to a specific screen column on the current line.
How do I select text character by character in Vim?
v
The v command enters character-wise visual mode, letting you select text one character at a time.
How do I copy the entire current line to the system clipboard?
"+yy
The "+yy command yanks the current line directly to the system clipboard register, making it available for pasting in other applications.
How do I execute the current line as a shell command and insert the output?
:.!sh
The :.
command-line #editing #ex-commands #shell #filtering #productivity
How do I configure Vim's built-in auto-completion?
:set completeopt=menu,menuone,noselect
The completeopt option controls the behavior of the completion popup menu.