How do I create a macro that repeats itself automatically until there is nothing left to process?
A recursive macro calls itself at the end of its own definition, causing it to run repeatedly until Vim hits an error — such as reaching the end of the file o
category:
macros
tags:
#macros
#registers
#editing
#normal-mode
How do I highlight a pattern without executing a search or moving the cursor?
Assigning a string directly to the search register @/ with :let causes Vim to highlight all matches (if hlsearch is enabled) without performing a search or movi
category:
registers
tags:
#registers
#search
#normal-mode
#ex-commands
How do I jump to the start of the previous method or function in code?
The [m motion jumps backward to the start of the nearest enclosing or preceding method definition.
category:
navigation
tags:
#navigation
#motions
#code
#normal-mode
How do I match a pattern only when it is preceded or followed by another pattern using Vim regex?
Vim's regex engine supports zero-width lookahead and lookbehind assertions using the \@ atom.
category:
search
tags:
#search
#regex
#normal-mode
#ex-commands
How do I insert text at the beginning of multiple lines at once using visual block mode?
Visual block mode's I command lets you type once and have the text inserted at the cursor column across all selected lines simultaneously.
category:
visual-mode
tags:
#visual-mode
#editing
#normal-mode
How do I browse and restore previously deleted text using Vim's numbered registers?
"1p then u. to cycle through delete history
Vim silently maintains a rolling history of your last 9 deletions in numbered registers "1 through "9.
category:
registers
tags:
#registers
#editing
#normal-mode
#undo-redo
How do I choose between multiple tag definitions when jumping to a symbol in Vim?
When a symbol (function, class, variable) is defined in multiple places, CTRL-] blindly jumps to the first match.
category:
navigation
tags:
#navigation
#tags
#normal-mode
How do I match a pattern only when it is preceded or followed by another pattern, without including that context in the match?
Vim's regex engine supports zero-width lookahead and lookbehind assertions using the \@ family of atoms.
category:
search
tags:
#search
#editing
#normal-mode
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.
category:
navigation
tags:
#navigation
#motions
#normal-mode
How do I override ignorecase or smartcase for a single search without changing my settings?
Vim's \c and \C flags let you force a search to be case-insensitive or case-sensitive on a per-search basis, regardless of your ignorecase and smartcase setting
category:
search
tags:
#search
#normal-mode
#ex-commands
How do I define or modify a macro directly as a string without recording it?
Macros in Vim are stored in registers as plain text.
category:
macros
tags:
#macros
#registers
#ex-commands
#normal-mode
How do I run a substitution only within the exact characters of my visual selection?
:%s/\%Vpattern/replacement/g
The \%V atom restricts a regex match to the last visual selection — more precisely than :'s/.
category:
search
tags:
#search
#visual-mode
#ex-commands
#normal-mode
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.
category:
navigation
tags:
#navigation
#marks
#normal-mode
How do I temporarily highlight a custom text pattern in my buffer without changing the syntax file?
:match {group} /{pattern}/
:match lets you apply a highlight group to any pattern in the current window without touching the buffer or its syntax rules.
category:
config
tags:
#search
#config
#normal-mode
#ex-commands
How do I make Ctrl-A and Ctrl-X increment and decrement alphabetic characters?
By default, and only increment and decrement numbers (decimal, hex, and octal depending on format).
category:
config
tags:
#editing
#normal-mode
#config
#increment
How do I use a VimScript expression as the replacement in a substitution?
:s/pattern/\=expression/g
Prefixing the replacement string with \= in a :substitute command tells Vim to evaluate the rest as a VimScript expression rather than literal text.
category:
search
tags:
#search
#ex-commands
#editing
#normal-mode
How do I programmatically combine or modify the contents of Vim registers?
You can manipulate register contents directly using the :let command with the @{reg} syntax.
category:
registers
tags:
#registers
#editing
#normal-mode
#ex-commands
How do I apply a recorded macro to every line in a visual selection?
Combining :normal with a visual range lets you replay a macro on each line of a selection individually — far more targeted than recursive macros or @@ repeati
category:
macros
tags:
#macros
#ex-commands
#normal-mode
#visual-mode
How do I programmatically set the contents of a register from the command line?
The :let @{reg} = expr command lets you assign any string or expression directly into a named register without entering insert mode or performing a yank.
category:
registers
tags:
#registers
#ex-commands
#macros
#normal-mode
How do I insert a newline in the replacement string of a :s substitution?
In Vim's :substitute command, \r in the replacement string inserts a literal newline — it splits the line at that point.
category:
search
tags:
#search
#editing
#ex-commands
#normal-mode
