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.
Tag: normal-mode
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
How do I target outer nested brackets using counted text objects?
d2i(
Vim text objects accept a count prefix that lets you target outer layers of nested delimiters.
How do I force a motion to act blockwise, linewise, or characterwise?
d<C-v>2j
Vim lets you override the natural type of any motion by pressing v, V, or between the operator and the motion.
editing #editing #motions #visual-mode #advanced #normal-mode
How do I make plugin actions repeatable with the dot command in Vim?
vim-repeat
The vim-repeat plugin by Tim Pope extends Vim's built-in .
plugins #plugins #repeat #dot-command #workflow #normal-mode
How do I quickly change surrounding quotes, brackets, or tags in Vim?
cs"'
The vim-surround plugin by Tim Pope lets you change any surrounding delimiter pair with a single cs command.
plugins #plugins #surround #editing #text-objects #normal-mode
How do I quickly delete surrounding quotes, brackets, or tags in Vim?
ds"
The vim-surround plugin provides the ds command to instantly delete any surrounding delimiter pair.
plugins #plugins #surround #editing #text-objects #normal-mode
How do I wrap a word or text object with quotes, brackets, or tags in Vim?
ysiw)
The vim-surround plugin provides the ys (you surround) operator to wrap any Vim text object or motion with a delimiter pair.
plugins #plugins #surround #editing #text-objects #normal-mode
How do I quickly comment and uncomment code in Vim with a plugin?
gcc
The vim-commentary plugin by Tim Pope provides a minimal yet powerful way to toggle comments in any programming language.
plugins #plugins #commentary #commenting #editing #normal-mode
How do I yank text into a specific named register for later use?
"{register}y{motion}
Vim has 26 named registers (a-z) that act as independent clipboards.
registers #registers #editing #normal-mode #yank #productivity