How do I jump back to where the cursor was when I last left a buffer?
`"
The " mark is an automatic mark Vim sets whenever you leave a buffer — switching to another file, hiding the buffer, or quitting Vim (with viminfo/shada enabl
Search: :help
170 results for ":help"
How do I collapse every tab page to a single window without closing tabs?
:tabdo only
When you are deep in a refactor, each tab can accumulate helper splits, previews, and temporary views.
buffers-windows #buffers #windows #tabs #ex-commands #workflow
How do I launch GDB inside Vim using the built-in termdebug plugin without preloading it?
:packadd termdebug | Termdebug ./a.out
If you only debug occasionally, loading termdebug on demand keeps startup lean while still giving you an in-editor GDB workflow.
How do I repeat my last substitution across the entire file?
g&
The g& command repeats the last substitute command across the entire file.
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 restrict a search to only match within a specific line range?
/\%>10l\%<20lpattern
Vim's \%>Nl and \%10l matches only after line 10 \%10l\%10l\%<20lold/new/g Combine with column restrictions for precise region targeting Tips Line numbers in \%
How do I toggle the display of hidden dot-files in Vim's built-in netrw file browser?
gh (in netrw)
When browsing files with Vim's built-in netrw file explorer (:Explore or :Ex), hidden files starting with a dot (.
How do I jump between unmatched #if, #else, and #endif preprocessor directives in Vim?
]# and [#
Vim provides the ]# and [# motions specifically for navigating C preprocessor conditionals.
How do I highlight the column just past my textwidth to visually mark line length limits?
set colorcolumn=+1
The colorcolumn option highlights one or more vertical columns to help keep lines within a length limit.
How do I search for multiple spellings or word endings with a single Vim pattern?
/colour\%[s]
Vim's \%[.
How do I make Ctrl-A and Ctrl-X increment and decrement alphabetical characters in Vim?
set nrformats+=alpha
By default, Vim's and commands only increment and decrement numbers (decimal, hex, binary).
How do I replace a character or pattern with a newline in a substitute command?
:%s/,/\r/g
In Vim's substitute command, \r in the replacement string inserts a newline.
How do I register an autocommand that automatically removes itself after firing once?
autocmd ++once
The ++once flag, added in Vim 8.
How do I use POSIX character classes like [:alpha:] and [:digit:] in Vim search patterns?
[[:alpha:]]
Vim's regex engine supports POSIX character classes inside bracket expressions, giving you locale-aware, readable alternatives to manual character ranges like [
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 export my syntax-highlighted Vim buffer to an HTML file?
:TOhtml
The :TOhtml command converts the current buffer — complete with its syntax highlighting colors — into a standalone HTML file.
How do I jump to a specific column number on the current line?
{N}|
The command (pipe character) moves the cursor to a specific column number on the current line.
How do I toggle common Vim options like spell, wrap, and number with single keystrokes using vim-unimpaired?
yos, yow, yol, yon, yoh
The vim-unimpaired plugin adds a set of paired bracket mappings, including a powerful family of option toggles.
How do I access my delete history beyond the last delete?
"1p ... "2p ... "9p
Vim maintains a numbered register history from "1 through "9 that stores your last 9 deletes and changes.
How do I execute Vimscript code from the current buffer?
:source % or :'<,'>source
The :source command executes Vimscript from a file.
command-line #command-line #vimscript #workflow #development