How do I run commands without polluting the jump list?
:keepjumps
When writing scripts or running commands that move the cursor (like :g, :s, or :normal), Vim normally adds each cursor position to the jump list.
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How do I reopen Vim and jump directly to where I was editing last time?
'0
Pressing '0 in normal mode jumps to the exact cursor position in the most recently edited file, even after closing and reopening Vim.
How do I jump to the next search match and keep it centered on the screen?
nzz
Typing nzz chains two normal-mode commands: n jumps to the next match of the last search, and zz immediately redraws the screen so the cursor line is vertically
How do I jump to an already-open file window instead of opening duplicate buffers?
:drop {file}
When the same file is already open elsewhere, using :edit can create extra navigation friction because you stay in the current window and may lose layout contex
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #windows #buffers #workflow
How do I set an environment variable inside Vim so it is available to shell commands I run?
:let $VAR = "value"
Vim lets you read and write environment variables using the $VARIABLE syntax in Vimscript.
How do I find which syntax highlighting rules are slowing down Vim?
:syntime on
When Vim feels sluggish while editing files with complex syntax highlighting, :syntime lets you profile exactly which syntax rules are consuming the most time.
How do I change the case of text using operators and motions?
gU{motion} / gu{motion} / g~{motion}
Vim has three case operators that work with any motion or text object: gU for uppercase, gu for lowercase, and g~ for toggle case.
editing #editing #case #operators #text-objects #normal-mode
How do I indent or unindent the current line while staying in Insert mode?
<C-t> / <C-d>
While in Insert mode, you can adjust indentation without switching back to Normal mode.
How do I use an external formatter with the gq operator in Vim?
:set formatprg={program}
Vim's gq operator normally reflows text to fit textwidth, but by setting formatprg you can delegate formatting to any external tool — a language formatter, a
How do I scroll the screen up by one line without moving the cursor?
<C-y>
The command scrolls the window up one line at a time while keeping the cursor position fixed.
How do I visually select the next occurrence of my last search pattern?
gn
The gn motion searches forward for the next match of the last search pattern and visually selects it.
search #navigation #search #motions #normal-mode #repeat #editing
How do I select an entire code block from opening brace to closing brace in visual mode?
V%
Pressing V% enters visual line mode on the current line and immediately extends the selection to the line containing the matching bracket or brace.
How do I jump to the start of the next method or function?
]m
The ]m command jumps to the start of the next method in Java-style code.
How do I make plugin commands repeatable with the dot command?
Plug 'tpope/vim-repeat'
vim-repeat by Tim Pope extends the .
How do I set up Vim to parse errors from my compiler or linter into the quickfix list?
:compiler gcc | :make
Vim ships with built-in compiler plugins that configure makeprg and errorformat for popular tools.
How do I reselect the last visual selection?
gv
The gv command reselects the exact same area that was last selected in visual mode.
How do I highlight only the line number of the current line without highlighting the entire line?
:set cursorlineopt=number
When cursorline is enabled, Vim highlights the entire line the cursor is on.
How do I pick from multiple tag matches instead of jumping to the first one?
g]
g] is the disambiguation-aware alternative to .
How do I enable inline character-level diff highlighting in Neovim's diff mode?
:set diffopt+=linematch:60
Neovim's linematch diffopt enables intra-line diff highlighting — instead of marking an entire changed line, Neovim highlights only the specific characters th
How do I jump to the start or end of the text I last yanked or changed?
`[ and `]
The ` [ ` and ] ` marks automatically track the boundaries of the last changed or yanked text.