How do I count substitution matches before changing anything?
:%s/pattern/replacement/gn
When you are about to run a broad substitution, it is often safer to measure impact first.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #substitution #search
Search: i' a'
2125 results for "i' a'"
How do I recover text from older deletions using Vim's numbered registers?
"1p
Vim automatically stores your deletion history in numbered registers "1 through "9.
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 I navigate Vim's undo tree branches to access states that u and Ctrl-R can't reach?
g- and g+
Vim's undo history is a tree, not a linear stack.
How do I allow split windows to collapse completely to just their status line?
:set winminheight=0
By default, Vim enforces a minimum window height of 1 line, which means you can never fully collapse a split.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #windows #splits #navigation
How do I hide or conceal syntax elements like markdown formatting in Vim?
:set conceallevel=2
The conceallevel option controls how Vim displays characters that have the "conceal" syntax attribute.
How do I search for an exact multi-word phrase or special text I've selected?
* (in visual mode)
In normal mode, searches for the word under the cursor with word-boundary anchors.
How do I make Vim respond faster to idle events?
:set updatetime=250
The updatetime option controls how long Vim waits after you stop typing before triggering certain events (like swap file writes and CursorHold autocommands).
How do I preview, stage, and navigate Git hunks inline with gitsigns?
:Gitsigns preview_hunk
gitsigns.
How do I use ALE to automatically lint and fix code in Vim?
:ALEFix
ALE (Asynchronous Lint Engine) is a popular Vim plugin that runs linters and formatters asynchronously in the background, showing errors and warnings in the gut
How do I highlight multiple different patterns simultaneously using Vim's built-in match commands?
:2match Todo /FIXME/
Vim provides three independent match slots — :match, :2match, and :3match — each of which highlights a pattern using a specified highlight group.
How do I scroll the screen so the current line is at the top?
zt
The zt command repositions the viewport so that the line where your cursor sits moves to the top of the screen, without changing your cursor position within the
navigation #navigation #scrolling #normal-mode #viewport #productivity
How do I move backward to the end of the previous word?
ge
The ge motion moves the cursor backward to the end of the previous word.
How do I force-convert all indentation including tabs in the middle of lines throughout an entire file?
:%retab!
The :retab command converts leading whitespace according to the current tabstop and expandtab settings, but it only touches indentation at the start of lines.
How do I switch between character, line, and block visual modes?
v, V, or Ctrl-V while in visual mode
How it works Vim has three visual modes, and you can switch between them without losing your current selection: v - Characterwise visual mode (select individual
How do I duplicate the current line to the end of the file without yanking or moving the cursor?
:.t$
The Ex command :.
How do I list only modified or active buffers in Vim?
:ls +
The :ls command (or :buffers) supports filter flags that narrow the buffer list to specific states.
How do I zero-pad issue numbers without changing the # prefix?
:%s/#\zs\d\+/\=printf('%04d', submatch(0))/g
For log files, changelogs, or issue references, you sometimes need fixed-width numeric IDs without touching surrounding syntax.
editing #editing #ex-commands #substitute #regex #text-processing
How do I remove trailing whitespace across all open buffers and save only changed files?
:bufdo keeppatterns %s/\s\+$//e | update
If you keep many files open during a refactor, cleaning trailing whitespace one buffer at a time is slow and error-prone.
How do I keep an argument list change local to the current window?
:arglocal
By default, Vim's argument list is global, so changing it in one window can unexpectedly affect another workflow in a different tab or split.