How do I append text to the end of multiple lines that have different lengths?
<C-v>jj$A;
Visual block mode normally selects a fixed-width column, which makes appending tricky when lines have different lengths.
Search: = motion
216 results for "= motion"
How do I delete a fold definition at the cursor without deleting the underlying text?
zd
zd removes the fold definition at the cursor position — the text inside the fold is not deleted.
How do I reformat text to fit the line width without moving the cursor?
gwip
The gw operator reformats text just like gq, but leaves the cursor in its original position after reformatting.
How do I re-indent all lines from the cursor to the end of the file in one keystroke?
=G
The =G command applies Vim's auto-indent operator (=) from the current line to the last line of the file (G).
How do I jump back in the jumplist and automatically reveal and center the destination?
<C-o>zvzz
Jumping backward with is fast, but in folded or dense files it can land you in a collapsed section or near the edge of the screen, forcing extra cleanup keystro
How do I run a macro a specific number of times without using a recursive macro?
{N}@q
Prefix a macro invocation with a count to execute it up to N times in a single command.
How do I check whether a register contains characterwise, linewise, or blockwise text?
:echo getregtype('a')
The getregtype() function returns the motion type of a register's content — whether it was yanked characterwise, linewise, or as a visual block.
How do I use gn as a text object to delete or yank the next search match?
dgn
The gn motion is a versatile text object that selects the next occurrence of the last search pattern.
editing #editing #search #text-objects #normal-mode #motions
How do I debug a Vim macro one command at a time?
:debug normal @q
Recorded macros are powerful, but when one keystroke goes wrong they can fail fast and leave confusing state behind.
How do I make % jump between matching HTML tags and language keywords like if/end?
packadd matchit
Vim ships with matchit.
What is the difference between the inner word (iw) and inner WORD (iW) text objects in Vim?
iW vs iw
Vim has two flavors of the "inner word" text object that are easy to confuse: iw (lowercase) and iW (uppercase).
How do I use a count with a text object to operate on multiple words, sentences, or paragraphs at once?
d3aw
Most Vim users know you can put a count before an operator (3dw) or use a text object once (daw).
editing #text-objects #editing #delete #normal-mode #motions
How do I remove the last recorded keystroke from a register or macro in Vim?
:let @a = @a[:-2]
Macros and named registers are just strings, so you can surgically edit them instead of re-recording from scratch.
How do I create a macro that repeats itself automatically until there is nothing left to process?
qq{commands}@qq
A recursive macro calls itself at the end of its own definition, causing it to run repeatedly until Vim hits an error — such as reaching the end of the file o
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 jump back to locations where I previously made edits?
g; and g,
Vim tracks every position where you made a change in the changelist.
How do I make Vim preserve the cursor column when jumping between lines?
:set nostartofline
By default, many Vim movement commands — gg, G, Ctrl-d, Ctrl-u, Ctrl-f, Ctrl-b, and others — snap the cursor to the first non-blank character of the destina
How do I jump to a specific line number in Vim?
42G
The 42G command jumps the cursor directly to line 42 in the current file.
How do I set a bookmark that persists across different files and Vim sessions?
mA and 'A
Vim has two tiers of marks.
How do I browse and edit my backward search history in a full Vim buffer?
q?
Vim provides three command-line history windows accessible from normal mode: q: for Ex commands, q/ for forward searches, and q? for backward searches.