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.
Search: /pattern
640 results for "/pattern"
How do I collect multiple project searches into one location list instead of replacing results?
:lvimgrepadd /pattern/gj **/*
When investigating a bug or refactor, you often need to gather results from several related patterns before deciding what to edit.
How do I insert an actual newline in a substitution replacement, and why does backslash-n not work?
s/pattern/\r/
In Vim substitutions, \r in the replacement string inserts a line break, creating a new line.
How do I use \zs and \ze to define the exact boundaries of a regex match in Vim?
\zs and \ze in a pattern
Vim's \zs ("match start") and \ze ("match end") atoms let you narrow the actual match region within a broader pattern context.
How do I load yanked text into search as a literal pattern without regex escaping headaches?
:let @/='\V'.escape(@", '\\')
When you yank text that contains regex characters like .
How do I apply the last substitution's replacement to a different search pattern without retyping it?
:~
The :~ command repeats the last substitution but uses the current search pattern instead of the original pattern.
How do I set the search pattern to the current word literally without executing a search in Vim?
:let @/ = '\V' . escape(expand('<cword>'), '\')
This pattern lets you prepare a precise search target without jumping the cursor or triggering an immediate search motion.
How do I replace text using a custom Vimscript function in a substitution?
:%s/pattern/\=MyFunc(submatch(0))/g
The \= prefix in Vim's substitute replacement invokes the expression register, which can call any Vimscript function.
How do I run vimgrep across a project using whatever pattern is currently in the search register?
:execute 'vimgrep /' . @/ . '/gj **/*'
If you already refined a search interactively with / or ?, retyping that pattern for project-wide grep is repetitive and error-prone.
How do I uppercase or lowercase matched text directly in a substitute command?
:%s/pattern/\U&/g
Vim's substitute replacement string supports special case-transform atoms that change the case of matched text without requiring a second pass or an external to
How do I use a Vim expression as the replacement string in a :s substitution?
:s/pattern/\=expr/g
Vim's :s command normally replaces matches with a literal string.
command-line #search #editing #ex-commands #command-line #registers
How do I use the location list instead of the quickfix list to have per-window grep results?
:lgrep {pattern} {files}
The location list is a per-window counterpart to the global quickfix list.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #ex-commands #search #navigation
How do I narrow an existing location list to only entries matching a regex without rerunning the search?
:packadd cfilter | Lfilter /pattern/
When you already have a populated location list, rerunning the original search just to focus on a subset is slow and disruptive.
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 run a search and replace only within a visually selected region?
:'<,'>s/pattern/replacement/g
When you make a visual selection and then type :, Vim automatically inserts ' as the range — the marks for the start and end of the last visual selection.
How do I position the cursor at a specific character offset from a search match?
/pattern/e+2
Vim's search command supports an offset suffix that controls where the cursor lands after a match.
How do I run a substitution without displacing my marks?
:keepmarks %s/pattern/replacement/g
The :keepmarks modifier prevents Vim from adjusting mark positions when a buffer-modifying command runs.
How do I strip trailing whitespace without clobbering my last search pattern?
:keeppatterns %s/\s\+$//e
Bulk cleanup commands often damage your navigation flow by overwriting the last search pattern (@/).
command-line #command-line #search #substitution #whitespace
How do I run a substitute command without changing my current search pattern?
:keeppattern s/old/new/g
When you run a :s or :g command, Vim updates the search register (@/) with the pattern you used.
How do I transform matched text to uppercase or lowercase directly inside a substitute replacement?
:s/pattern/\U&/g
Vim's :substitute command supports case-transformation escape sequences in the replacement string.
search #search #substitute #ex-commands #editing #text-objects