How do I change the filename associated with the current buffer in Vim without saving to disk?
:file {newname}
:file {newname} (short form: :f {newname}) changes the filename Vim associates with the current buffer.
Search: @a
2277 results for "@a"
How do I display the current LSP server progress messages in the Neovim statusline?
vim.lsp.status()
vim.
How do I stage or undo individual Git hunks without leaving Vim?
<Leader>hs / <Leader>hu
The vim-gitgutter plugin shows Git diff markers in the sign column and provides powerful commands to stage, undo, and preview individual hunks directly from Vim
How do I paste or reuse my last search pattern?
<C-r>/
Vim stores your last search pattern in the / register.
How do I copy and paste to the system clipboard?
"+y and "+p
The "+ register is linked to the system clipboard.
How do I quickly switch between the current file and the last edited file?
<C-^>
Pressing (Ctrl-6 on most keyboards) instantly toggles between the current buffer and the alternate file — the last file you were editing.
buffers-windows #navigation #buffers #normal-mode #productivity #windows
How do I quickly comment and uncomment code with vim-commentary?
gcc (toggle line), gc{motion} (toggle range)
vim-commentary by Tim Pope provides a simple way to toggle comments.
How to configure what Neovim saves between sessions using the ShaDa file?
:set shada
Neovim's ShaDa (Shared Data) file replaces Vim's viminfo and persists session state across restarts — marks, registers, command history, search history, jump
How do I compare two files side by side using Vim's built-in diff mode?
:vertical diffsplit {file}
Vim has a built-in diff mode that highlights added, removed, and changed lines between two (or more) buffers.
How do I get the current search match index and total count programmatically in Vim?
searchcount()
The searchcount() function returns a dictionary containing the current search state: which match the cursor is on, how many total matches exist, and whether the
How do I reuse my last search pattern literally in :substitute without re-escaping it?
:%s/\V<C-r>//gc
When your last search pattern contains punctuation, slashes, or regex atoms, retyping it inside :substitute is error-prone.
How do I jump back to where I last inserted text and continue typing?
gi
The gi command moves the cursor to the position where you last exited insert mode and immediately enters insert mode again.
navigation #navigation #insert-mode #marks #normal-mode #productivity
How do I save screen space by merging the sign column into the line number column in Neovim?
:set signcolumn=number
Setting signcolumn=number tells Neovim to display signs (diagnostics, git hunks, breakpoints) inside the line number column instead of adding a dedicated extra
How do I populate the quickfix list from any shell command?
:cexpr system('grep -rn pattern .')
While :make and :grep populate the quickfix list, they are limited to their configured programs.
How do I create text shortcuts that auto-expand while typing in Vim?
iabbrev
:iabbrev defines insert-mode abbreviations that expand automatically when you type a non-keyword character (space, punctuation, ) after the abbreviation.
How do I add more keystrokes to the end of an existing macro without re-recording the whole thing?
qQ (or any uppercase register letter)
When recording a macro with qq, you can append additional keystrokes to the existing macro by recording into the uppercase version of the same register.
How do I move the cursor to the horizontal midpoint of the current screen view?
gm
The gm command moves the cursor horizontally to the middle of the current screen width on the current line.
How do I change the working directory for only the current window without affecting other windows or tabs?
:lcd
:cd changes the global working directory, affecting every window and tab in the session.
How do I recover the last small deletion without disrupting my numbered registers?
"-
Vim silently stores every deletion of less than one line in the special "- register (the "small delete" register).
How do I briefly highlight text after yanking it to get visual confirmation of what was copied?
autocmd TextYankPost
The TextYankPost event fires immediately after any yank operation completes — including y, Y, dd, dw, and any other command that writes to a register.