How do I remove trailing whitespace from all lines?
:%s/\s\+$//
The :%s/\s\+$// command removes trailing whitespace (spaces and tabs) from every line in the file.
Tag: ex-commands
How do I move a line to a specific line number?
:m {line-number}
The :m (move) command moves the current line to after the specified line number.
How do I copy a line to another location without yanking?
:t {line-number}
The :t (copy/transfer) command duplicates the current line and places it after the specified line number.
How do I run a normal mode command on every line in a range?
:%normal command
The :normal command executes normal mode commands programmatically on a range of lines.
How do I search for a pattern across multiple files?
:vimgrep /pattern/ **/*.ext
The :vimgrep command searches for a pattern across multiple files and populates the quickfix list with the results.
How do I use an external grep program from within Vim?
:grep pattern files
The :grep command runs an external grep tool and loads the results into Vim's quickfix list.
How do I use capture groups in a Vim search and replace?
:%s/\(group\)/\1/g
Capture groups in Vim substitute let you match parts of a pattern and reuse them in the replacement.
How do I search and replace only within a visual selection?
:'<,'>s/old/new/g
After making a visual selection, you can run a substitute command that only affects the selected text.
How do I replace text with a newline in a substitute command?
:%s/pattern/\r/g
In the replacement part of :s, \r inserts a newline.
How do I change the case of matched text in a substitute?
:%s/\(\w\+\)/\u\1/g
Vim provides case-conversion atoms in substitute replacements: \u uppercases the next character, \l lowercases it, \U uppercases until \e, and \L lowercases unt
How do I restrict a search to the current function body?
:[{,]}s/old/new/g
By using the range [{,]}, you can limit a substitute command to the lines between the enclosing braces — effectively the current function or block.
How do I search and replace text containing special characters?
:%s/\V literal.text/replacement/g
The \V (very nomagic) flag treats all characters as literal except for \.
How do I search and replace across multiple files using the quickfix list?
:cdo s/old/new/g
The :cdo command executes a command on every entry in the quickfix list.
How do I view my tag navigation history?
:tags
The :tags command displays the tag stack, showing all the tag jumps you have made with and their return points.
How do I choose from multiple tag matches when a tag has several definitions?
:tselect
When a tag has multiple definitions (e.
How do I return to my previous position after jumping to a tag?
<C-t>
The command pops the tag stack and returns to the position from which you last used or :tag.
How do I use the location list for per-window navigation?
:lnext and :lprev
The location list is a per-window alternative to the quickfix list.
How do I navigate through the quickfix list?
:cnext and :cprev
The quickfix list holds a set of file positions, typically from compiler errors, grep results, or other tools.
How do I jump to a tag definition using the tag stack?
<C-]>
The command jumps to the definition of the keyword under the cursor using tag files.
How do I jump directly to a specific line number in Vim?
:<line-number>
When you know the exact line number you want to navigate to, the colon command is the quickest way to get there.