". / "% / ": / "# registers
Vim has four read-only special registers that automatically contain useful contextual information.
registers #registers #special-registers #workflow #productivity
:help registers
Vim has 10 types of registers, each serving a specific purpose.
Write keystrokes in buffer, then "qy$
Instead of recording a macro in real-time (where mistakes mean starting over), you can write the keystrokes as text in a buffer, edit them visually, and then ya
macros #macros #editing #registers #workflow #best-practices
<C-r>=expression<CR>
The expression register ("=) evaluates Vimscript expressions and returns the result.
registers #registers #insert-mode #expression #calculator #vimscript
"#p or <C-r># in insert mode
The # register always contains the name of the alternate file — typically the file you were editing just before the current one.
"0p
Register 0 (the yank register) always contains the text from your most recent yank command — and unlike the unnamed register, it is never overwritten by delet
<C-r>/
Vim stores your last search pattern in the / register.
<C-r><C-o>"
The {register} sequence in insert mode pastes register contents literally — without triggering auto-indentation, abbreviations, or mappings.
"1p ... "2p ... "9p
Vim maintains a numbered register history from "1 through "9 that stores your last 9 deletes and changes.
:g/pattern/y A
The :g/pattern/y A command yanks every line matching the pattern and appends it to register a.
command-line #command-line #registers #global #ex-commands #filtering
"{register}y{motion}
Vim has 26 named registers (a-z) that act as independent clipboards.
registers #registers #editing #normal-mode #yank #productivity
viwp
The viwp command visually selects the word under the cursor and replaces it with the contents of the unnamed register (your last yank or delete).
visual-mode #editing #visual-mode #registers #paste #productivity
let @a = 'macro_contents'
Recorded macros are stored in registers, which are lost when you quit Vim (unless viminfo saves them).
:redir @a | {cmd} | redir END
The :redir command redirects the output of Ex commands to a register, file, or variable instead of displaying it on the screen.
command-line #command-line #ex-commands #registers #productivity #advanced
"%p
The % register in Vim always contains the name of the current file.
registers #registers #editing #insert-mode #productivity #filename
":p
The : register holds the most recently executed Ex command.
registers #registers #ex-commands #normal-mode #productivity
".p
The ".
registers #registers #editing #insert-mode #normal-mode #productivity
<C-r>{register}
Pressing followed by a register name in insert mode inserts the contents of that register at the cursor position without leaving insert mode.
"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
<C-r>=
The expression register (=) lets you evaluate Vimscript expressions on the fly and insert the result directly into your text.
registers #editing #insert-mode #registers #productivity #math
