How do I change the filetype of the current buffer to get correct syntax highlighting and indent rules?
:setfiletype {filetype}
:setfiletype {filetype} sets the filetype option for the current buffer only if it has not already been set.
Tag: config
How do I make the gq operator format code with an external tool like prettier or black?
:set formatprg=<cmd>
When formatprg is set, the gq operator pipes the selected text through that external program and replaces it with the program's output.
How do I reset a Vim option back to its compiled default value?
:set {option}&
Append & to any :set command to reset that option to its compiled-in default value — the value Vim shipped with before any vimrc or plugin changed it.
How do I configure Vim's command-line tab completion to show all matches and complete to the longest common prefix?
:set wildmode=list:longest
Vim's wildmode option controls how the command line behaves when you press to complete filenames, buffer names, or Ex commands.
How do I accept a flagged word as correct for the current session without permanently adding it to my spellfile?
zG
zG marks the word under the cursor as correctly spelled in Vim's internal word list, which exists only for the current session.
How do I make Vim automatically load a project-specific configuration file from the project directory?
:set exrc secure
Adding set exrc to your vimrc tells Vim to read a .
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 define custom fold boundaries using a Vimscript expression in Vim?
:set foldmethod=expr
Setting foldmethod=expr tells Vim to call the foldexpr expression for every line to compute its fold level.
How do I customize the text displayed for closed folds in Vim?
:set foldtext={expr}
The foldtext option controls what Vim displays for a closed fold.
How do I add or remove individual values from a comma-separated Vim option using Neovim Lua?
vim.opt.option:append(value)
Neovim's vim.
How do I enable tab completion inside custom command-line mappings?
:set wildcharm=<Tab>
The wildcharm option designates a key that, when it appears inside a mapping, triggers wildmenu completion on the command line — just as if you had pressed in
How do I create an insert-mode abbreviation that expands a short sequence into longer text?
:iabbrev {lhs} {rhs}
The :iabbrev command defines insert-mode abbreviations — short character sequences that automatically expand into longer text when you type a non-keyword char
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 fuzzy-find and open any file in a project without using plugins?
:set path+=** | :find
By adding to Vim's path option and using :find, you can search for any file recursively through your project tree with tab completion — no plugins required.
How do I configure Vim's :grep command to use a faster external search tool like ripgrep or ag?
:set grepprg={cmd} grepformat={fmt}
Vim's :grep command delegates to an external tool defined by grepprg, then parses the output according to grepformat to populate the quickfix list.
How do I control which actions automatically open folds in Vim?
:set foldopen
The foldopen option lets you specify exactly which cursor movements and commands will automatically open a closed fold.
How do I make Vim show the beginning of long lines that don't fit on screen instead of just showing @@@ placeholders?
:set display=lastline
By default, when the last visible line of a window is too long to fit on screen, Vim shows @@@ in its place — hiding the content entirely.
How do I register an autocommand that automatically removes itself after firing once?
autocmd ++once
The ++once flag, added in Vim 8.
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 create a project-specific Lua config that Neovim loads automatically from the project directory?
:trust
Neovim supports project-local configuration via a .