How do I jump to the start or end of the last changed, yanked, or pasted text using automatic marks?
'[ and ']
Vim automatically sets two special marks after every change, yank, or put operation: '[ and '].
Search: "+p
245 results for ""+p"
How do I search through command history and only see commands that start with what I've already typed?
<Up>
In Vim's command line, and navigate history in prefix-filtered mode — they only cycle through past commands that begin with whatever you have already typed.
How do I wrap text with an HTML tag using vim-surround?
ysiw<em>
The vim-surround plugin makes wrapping text in HTML or XML tags effortless.
How do I paste register contents in insert mode without triggering auto-indentation?
<C-r><C-o>
When you paste a register in insert mode with {reg}, Vim inserts the text as if you had typed it — which means auto-indent, abbreviation expansion, and other
registers #registers #insert-mode #paste #autoindent #editing
How do you paste from a named register before the cursor?
"aP
Use "aP (uppercase P) to paste the contents of register a before the cursor position, as opposed to "ap which pastes after.
How do I reference just the extension, stem, or directory of the current file in a Vim command?
%:e
Vim exposes the current filename as % in Ex commands, and you can apply modifiers to extract specific parts of the path.
How do I replace a visual selection with yanked text without losing my clipboard?
"0p in visual mode
When you paste over a visual selection with p, Vim replaces the selection with the register contents — but it also puts the deleted selection into the unnamed
How do I access the X11 primary selection (middle-click buffer) separately from the clipboard in Vim on Linux?
"*
On X11 Linux systems, there are two independent clipboard-like buffers: the primary selection (") and the clipboard ("+).
How do you record a macro to swap the current line with the one below?
qaddpq
Record a macro that deletes the current line with dd and pastes it below the next line with p.
How do I paste a register literally in insert mode without triggering auto-indent or special key handling?
<C-r><C-r>x
When you press x in insert mode to paste a register, Vim inserts the text "as if you typed it" — meaning autoindent, textwidth, and other insert behaviors can
How do I delete an entire line in Vim?
dd
The dd command deletes the entire current line, regardless of where the cursor is positioned on that line.
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 stop Vim from creating backup and swap files in my project directories?
:set backupdir=~/.vim/backup// directory=~/.vim/swap//
How it works By default, Vim creates backup files (ending in ~) and swap files (ending in .
How do I execute Ctrl-W window commands from the command line or a Vimscript function?
:wincmd
:wincmd {key} executes any {key} window command from the Ex command line or from inside a Vimscript function.
How do I delete text without overwriting my yank register?
"_d
The "d command deletes text using the black hole register ("), which discards the deleted content instead of storing it.
How do I delete from the cursor to the end of the line?
D
The D command deletes everything from the cursor position to the end of the current line.
How do I select the text I just pasted or changed?
`[v`]
The ` [v] sequence visually selects the exact region of text that was last changed, pasted, or yanked into the buffer.
visual-mode #editing #visual-mode #marks #paste #productivity
How do I preview quickfix entries without leaving the quickfix window?
<C-w>z or :pclose
The preview window shows file contents temporarily without switching your editing context.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #quickfix #preview #navigation
How do I enable persistent undo so undo history survives closing files?
:set undofile undodir=~/.vim/undodir
By default, Vim's undo history is lost when you close a file.
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.