How do I browse the full commit history of the current file using vim-fugitive?
:G log -- %
vim-fugitive's :G log -- % loads the git commit history for the current file into a quickfix-style log buffer.
Tag: navigation
How do I choose between multiple tag definitions when jumping to a symbol in Vim?
g<C-]>
When a symbol (function, class, variable) is defined in multiple places, CTRL-] blindly jumps to the first match.
How do I quickly jump between function definitions or top-level blocks in a source file?
[[
The [[ and ]] commands navigate between top-level code blocks — specifically, lines where { appears in column 1.
How do I open a file and jump directly to a specific line or pattern?
:e +{line} {file}
The :edit command accepts a +{cmd} prefix that executes an Ex command immediately after the file is loaded.
command-line #buffers #ex-commands #navigation #command-line
How do I search for a pattern across all files in my project with Vim's built-in grep?
:vim /pattern/ **
:vimgrep /pattern/ (shortened to :vim) is Vim's built-in project-wide search.
How do I open a related file with a different extension using the current filename?
:e %:r.html
In Vim's command line, % expands to the current buffer's filename.
command-line #ex-commands #command-line #buffers #navigation
How do I cycle through all lowercase marks in the current file sequentially?
]'
The ]' command jumps to the start of the line containing the next lowercase mark in the file, while [' jumps to the previous one.
How do I change the working directory for only the current window without affecting other windows or tabs?
:lcd
:cd changes the global working directory, affecting every window and tab in the session.
How do I set a different working directory for each split window in Vim?
:lcd {dir}
:lcd (local cd) sets the working directory for the current window only, leaving other windows at their previous directory.
buffers-windows #buffers-windows #navigation #ex-commands #config
How do I see a list of recently opened files and quickly jump back to one?
:oldfiles
:oldfiles displays a numbered list of every file Vim has recorded in its viminfo (or shada in Neovim) file.
How do I quickly switch between the current file and the last file I was editing?
:e #
:e # opens the alternate file — the file you were editing just before the current one.
What is the difference between ' and ` when jumping to a mark in Vim?
' vs `
Vim provides two distinct ways to jump to a mark, and they behave differently: the apostrophe ' jumps to the first non-blank character of the marked line, while
How do I search for a pattern across all files in my project without leaving Vim?
:vimgrep /pattern/ **
:vimgrep /pattern/ searches recursively through all files in the current working directory tree using Vim's own regex engine, populating the quickfix list with
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 pick from multiple tag matches instead of jumping to the first one?
g]
g] is the disambiguation-aware alternative to .
How do I move through search matches while still typing the pattern?
<C-g> and <C-t>
While the search prompt is open (with incsearch enabled), pressing advances the cursor to the next match and moves it to the previous match — all without leav
How do I bookmark a position in one file and jump back to it from any other file?
mA to set, 'A to jump
Uppercase marks (A–Z) are global marks — they persist across files and Vim sessions.
How do I search for the word under the cursor as a substring, not a whole word?
g* and g#
The and # commands search for the exact whole word under the cursor (with word boundaries \).
How do I jump between function or section boundaries in Vim?
[[ and ]]
[[ and ]] navigate between section boundaries — typically the start of the previous or next top-level block.
How do I open a file by name without knowing its full path?
:find
The :find command searches for a file by name across all directories listed in Vim's path option, so you can open files without typing full paths.