How do I save a recorded macro permanently so it persists across Vim sessions?
let @a = 'macro_contents'
Recorded macros are stored in registers, which are lost when you quit Vim (unless viminfo saves them).
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How do I run Lua code in the context of a specific buffer without switching to it in Neovim?
vim.api.nvim_buf_call()
vim.
How do I reformat a paragraph or motion to fit within the text width without moving my cursor?
gw
The gw operator reformats text to fit within textwidth, just like gq — but with one key difference: gw leaves the cursor in its original position after format
How do I jump directly to a specific tab page by its number in Vim?
{count}gt
Prefixing gt (go to next tab) with a count jumps directly to the tab page at that position.
buffers-windows #tabs #buffers-windows #navigation #normal-mode
How do I search across files with lvimgrep and keep results in a window-local location list?
:lvimgrep /pattern/j **/* | lopen
Quickfix is great, but it is global.
How do I delete text from the cursor to the next occurrence of a pattern?
d/{pattern}<CR>
Vim lets you use a / search as a motion for any operator.
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 land the cursor a few lines above or below a search match?
/pattern/+3
Vim's search command accepts an offset after the pattern that shifts where the cursor lands relative to the match.
How do I uppercase or capitalize matched text inside a Vim substitution?
:s/\v\w+/\U&/g
Vim's substitute command supports special case-conversion sequences in the replacement string, letting you transform matched text to upper or lower case without
How do I get a more accurate diff that avoids matching unrelated lines?
:set diffopt+=algorithm:histogram
Switches Vim's diff algorithm from the default Myers algorithm to histogram, which produces more semantically meaningful diffs by avoiding false matches between
How do I maximize a window to full height or make all windows equal size?
<C-w>_ and <C-w>=
When working with multiple splits, you often want to focus on one window by making it as large as possible, then restore equal sizing when you're done.
How do I create a macro that repeats itself automatically until it can no longer proceed?
qq{actions}@qq
A recursive macro ends by calling itself, so it loops automatically without you pressing @q repeatedly.
How do I create a self-referential recursive macro that repeats until it fails?
qqq then qq{commands}@qq
A recursive macro in Vim calls itself at the end of its body, repeating automatically until one of its commands fails.
How do I make a key mapping fire immediately without waiting for longer mappings to time out?
nnoremap <nowait> {key} {action}
The flag on a mapping tells Vim not to delay waiting for a longer key sequence.
How do I configure Vim's built-in file explorer netrw to look like a sidebar?
let g:netrw_liststyle=3 and let g:netrw_banner=0
How it works Vim ships with a built-in file explorer called netrw that you can access with :Explore (or :Ex).
How do I search for a string containing special regex characters like dots or asterisks without escaping them?
\V
Vim's default search mode gives special meaning to characters like .
How do I create a mapping that runs an Ex command without switching modes or affecting the current state?
nnoremap <key> <Cmd>command<CR>
The special key (Vim 8.
config #config #macros #ex-commands #normal-mode #insert-mode
How do I prevent the cursor from jumping when opening a split in Neovim?
:set splitkeep=screen
Controls how Neovim preserves the visual position of content when creating, closing, or resizing horizontal splits.
How do I add custom filetype detection for a new file extension without modifying Vim's built-in filetypes?
ftdetect/{filetype}.vim
Vim automatically sources every file in ftdetect/ directories on the runtimepath when filetype detection runs.
How do I search for a pattern across all files in my project with Vim's built-in grep?
:vim /pattern/ **
:vimgrep /pattern/ (shortened to :vim) is Vim's built-in project-wide search.