How do I repeat the last substitute command quickly?
&
The & command in normal mode repeats the last :s substitution on the current line.
search #search #substitution #ex-commands #repeat #normal-mode
Tag: normal-mode
How do I overwrite existing text character by character without deleting first?
R
Replace mode lets you type over existing text one character at a time, like the "Insert" key behavior in traditional editors.
How do I jump back to where I last inserted text and continue typing?
gi
The gi command moves the cursor to the position where you last exited insert mode and immediately enters insert mode again.
navigation #navigation #insert-mode #marks #normal-mode #productivity
How do I jump back to where I last made an edit?
g; / g,
The g; and g, commands let you navigate Vim's changelist — a per-buffer history of every position where you made a change.
navigation #navigation #changelist #editing #normal-mode #marks
How do I quickly jump between function or method definitions in code?
]] / [[
The ]] and [[ commands let you jump forward and backward between section boundaries, which in most programming languages correspond to function or method defini
navigation #navigation #motions #normal-mode #code #functions
What is the difference between :map and :noremap, and why should I use non-recursive mappings?
:nnoremap / :inoremap / :vnoremap
Vim has two types of key mappings: recursive (:map, :nmap, :imap) and non-recursive (:noremap, :nnoremap, :inoremap).
How do I run the same normal mode command on every line in a range?
:'<,'>norm {commands}
The :normal (or :norm) command lets you execute normal mode keystrokes from the command line.
command-line #editing #ex-commands #normal-mode #productivity #ranges
How do I open a file path that appears in my code without manually typing it?
gf
The gf command ("go to file") opens the file whose path is under the cursor.
navigation #navigation #normal-mode #buffers #productivity #file-management
How do I paste the last Ex command I ran into my buffer?
":p
The : register holds the most recently executed Ex command.
registers #registers #ex-commands #normal-mode #productivity
How do I paste the text I just typed in insert mode?
".p
The ".
registers #registers #editing #insert-mode #normal-mode #productivity
How do I fold and unfold sections of code to hide details I'm not working on?
zf / zo / zc / za
Vim's folding system lets you collapse blocks of code into a single line, hiding the details so you can focus on the structure.
editing #editing #folding #navigation #normal-mode #productivity
How do I set a mark that works across different files?
mA / 'A
Uppercase marks (A-Z) are global marks — they remember not only the line and column position, but also the file where they were set.
navigation #navigation #marks #normal-mode #buffers #productivity
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 jump to a specific percentage position in a file?
{N}%
The {N}% command jumps the cursor to the line that is N percent of the way through the file.
How do I use a macro to generate a numbered list automatically?
qaYp<C-a>q99@a
By recording a macro that duplicates a line and increments its number, you can generate a numbered list of any length with a single replay command.
macros #macros #editing #normal-mode #automation #productivity
How do I cycle through my previous deletions to find the one I want to paste?
"1p then u.u.u.
Vim stores your last 9 deletions (of one line or more) in the numbered registers "1 through "9.
registers #registers #editing #normal-mode #undo-redo #paste
How do I delete or change an entire paragraph of text in one motion?
dap / dip
The dap and dip commands use Vim's paragraph text objects to delete an entire block of contiguous text in a single motion.
editing #editing #text-objects #normal-mode #delete #motions
How do I quickly delete all the arguments inside a function call?
di(
The di( command deletes everything inside the nearest pair of parentheses without removing the parentheses themselves.
What is the difference between backtick and single quote when jumping to marks?
` vs '
Vim offers two ways to jump to a mark, and the difference is crucial: the backtick (` `) jumps to the exact line and column where the mark was set, while the si
How do I paste the result of a calculation or expression in normal mode?
"=expression<CR>p
The expression register ("=) lets you evaluate any Vimscript expression and paste the result directly into your buffer from normal mode.
registers #registers #editing #normal-mode #productivity #math