351 results for "registers"
<C-r>={expr}<CR>
The expression register ("=) lets you evaluate any Vimscript expression and insert the result directly into the buffer — all without leaving insert mode.
let @a = 'sequence'
How it works Macros recorded with q are stored in registers, but they are lost when you close Vim (unless you have the viminfo or shada file preserving them).
"*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
"#p or <C-r># in insert mode
The # register always contains the name of the alternate file — typically the file you were editing just before the current one.
:echo strtrans(@q)
When a macro behaves unexpectedly, :echo strtrans(@q) reveals exactly what is stored in register q—including invisible control characters—as human-readable
{visual}p
When you visually select text and press p, Vim replaces the selection with the contents of the default register and saves the replaced text into the unnamed reg
<C-r><C-r>a
In insert mode, a pastes register a but processes the text as if typed, which can trigger abbreviations and mappings.
:put =getreg('a', 1, 1)
Most register pastes are character-oriented, but advanced edits often need to preserve exact line structure.
registers #registers #ex-commands #scripting #text-processing
"_d{motion}
Vim's black hole register (") acts as a write-only sink: anything sent to it is discarded without affecting any other register, including the unnamed register (
:let g:debug_macro=1 | normal @a
When a macro doesn't work as expected, debugging it step by step is essential.
:@q
Most macro workflows focus on @q, which replays register q as normal-mode keystrokes.
:let @a = "value"
The :let @{reg} = expr command lets you assign any string or expression directly into a named register without entering insert mode or performing a yank.
:let @/ = @"
After yanking text, you can promote it directly to the search register with :let @/ = @".
:call setreg('a', @a, 'V')
When you paste from a register, Vim uses that register's stored type: characterwise, linewise, or blockwise.
"=strftime('%F')<CR>p
The expression register lets you compute text on demand and insert it without leaving Normal mode workflows.
registers #registers #expression-register #normal-mode #automation
qa ... q ... @a
Macros let you record a sequence of commands and replay them.
:call setreg('"', @", 'l')
Vim registers carry not just their text content but also a type: charwise (c), linewise (l), or blockwise (b).
"+p
The "+p command pastes the contents of the system clipboard into Vim.
:let @+ = @a
If you already have carefully collected text in a named register, re-yanking just to reach the system clipboard is noisy and error-prone.
<C-r>/
Vim stores your last search pattern in the / register.
