How do I merge changes between two diff windows using diffget and diffput?
do (diffget) / dp (diffput)
How it works When you open two files in diff mode (using vim -d file1 file2 or :windo diffthis), Vim highlights the differences between them.
Tag: normal-mode
How do I record a macro that processes one line and moves to the next?
qa0f:dwj0q
How it works When recording a macro that you plan to repeat across multiple lines, the key technique is to end the macro positioned on the next line, ready for
How do I preview a function or tag definition without leaving my current position?
<C-w>}
How it works The } command opens a preview window showing the tag definition of the word under your cursor.
How do I clear or empty a macro register in Vim?
qaq
How it works To clear a macro register, you simply start recording into that register and immediately stop.
How do I open the file path under my cursor in a new split window?
<C-w>f
How it works You may already know that gf opens the file path under the cursor in the current window.
How do I swap the contents of two split windows in Vim?
<C-w>x
How it works The x command exchanges the current window with the next one.
How do I move between split windows using direction keys in Vim?
<C-w>h / <C-w>j / <C-w>k / <C-w>l
How it works Vim lets you navigate between split windows using followed by a direction key.
How do I quickly repeat the last macro I executed?
@@
How it works After running a macro with @a (or any other register), you can repeat that same macro by pressing @@.
How do I access text from small deletes like dw or x?
"-p
The small delete register ("-) captures text from delete operations that are less than one line — like dw, x, dt.
How do I jump to a specific column number on the current line?
{N}|
The command (pipe character) moves the cursor to a specific column number on the current line.
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 select or operate on the entire buffer as a text object?
ggVG
While Vim doesn't have a built-in "entire buffer" text object, the ggVG sequence achieves it: go to the first line, enter line-wise visual mode, then select to
How do I scroll the screen so the current line is at the top or bottom?
zt / zb
The zt and zb commands scroll the viewport so the current cursor line appears at the top or bottom of the screen respectively, without moving the cursor.
How do I open a URL under the cursor in my web browser from Vim?
gx
The gx command opens the URL, file path, or identifier under the cursor using the system's default handler.
navigation #navigation #netrw #workflow #browser #normal-mode
How do I move by visible screen lines instead of actual lines?
gj / gk
When a long line wraps across multiple screen rows, the regular j and k motions skip the entire logical line.
How do I join lines without adding spaces between them?
gJ
The gJ command joins the current line with the line below it without inserting any space between them.
How do I increment or decrement a number under the cursor?
<C-a> / <C-x>
Pressing increments and decrements the number under or after the cursor.
How do I see the Unicode code point of the character under the cursor?
ga
The ga command displays the ASCII/Unicode value of the character under the cursor in decimal, hexadecimal, and octal.
editing #editing #unicode #debugging #normal-mode #inspection
How do I add text to the end of every line in a range?
:'<,'>normal A;
The :normal command executes normal-mode keystrokes on every line in a range.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #editing #normal-mode #batch-editing
How do I quickly change the text between any pair of delimiters?
ci" / ci( / ci{ / ci[ / ci` / ci'
The ci{delimiter} family of commands changes the text inside any matching pair of delimiters.
editing #editing #text-objects #change #delimiters #normal-mode