How do I remove duplicate consecutive lines using a substitute command?
:%s/^\(.\+\)\n\1$/\1/
This substitute command detects pairs of identical adjacent lines and collapses them into one, using a back-reference to match the repeated content.
Tag: search
How do I change each occurrence of a search match one at a time, confirming each with the dot command?
cgn...{text}<Esc>.
The cgn + .
How do I use POSIX character classes like [:alpha:] and [:digit:] in Vim search patterns?
[[:alpha:]]
Vim's regex engine supports POSIX character classes inside bracket expressions, giving you locale-aware, readable alternatives to manual character ranges like [
How do I write a Vim search pattern that matches any character including newlines for multi-line searches?
\_.{-}
The \ modifier in Vim extends any character class or atom to also match newlines.
How do I highlight a custom pattern with a priority so it wins over other overlapping highlights?
matchadd('Group', 'pattern', priority)
matchadd() accepts an optional third argument: a priority integer that controls which match wins when two patterns cover the same text.
How do I find the syntax highlighting group applied to the character under the cursor?
:echo synIDattr(synID(line('.'),col('.'),1),'name')
When customizing a colorscheme or debugging unexpected colors, you need to know exactly which highlight group is coloring the text under your cursor.
How do I save the current search pattern into a named register before it gets overwritten by a new search?
:let @a = @/
Vim stores the last search pattern in the special / register (@/).
How do I delete consecutive duplicate lines from a file using a single Ex command?
:g/\(.\+\)\n\1/d
The :g command with a backreference pattern can detect and delete consecutive duplicate lines in one pass.
How do I position the cursor at a specific character offset from a search match?
/pattern/e+2
Vim's search command supports an offset suffix that controls where the cursor lands after a match.
How do I sort lines by a secondary field while ignoring a common leading prefix?
:[range]sort /regex/
The :[range]sort /regex/ command sorts lines while skipping the portion of each line that matches the regex.
How do I write a Vim search pattern that matches text at or between mark positions?
\%'m
Vim's \%'m regex atom matches the exact position of mark m in a search pattern.
How do I swap two adjacent words on a line using a substitute command in Vim?
:s/\v(\w+)\s+(\w+)/\2 \1/
By using capture groups in a substitute command with very magic mode (\v), you can swap two adjacent words in a single operation.
How do I write an Ex range where the second address is evaluated relative to the first match instead of the cursor?
/pattern/;+3
In Vim's range notation, a semicolon (;) between two addresses makes the second address relative to the line the first address matched, not to the current curso
How do I reuse the replacement text from my last substitution in a new one without retyping it?
:s/pattern/~/
In a Vim substitution, using ~ as the replacement string repeats the replacement text from the most recent :s command.
How do I match text only when it is followed by a specific pattern using zero-width lookahead?
\(pattern\)\@=
Vim's regex engine supports zero-width positive lookahead via the \@= operator.
How do I insert an actual newline in a substitution replacement, and why does backslash-n not work?
s/pattern/\r/
In Vim substitutions, \r in the replacement string inserts a line break, creating a new line.
How do I write a Vim regex that matches any character including newlines for multi-line pattern matching?
\_.
In Vim's regular expressions, .
How do I jump to the start or end of a C-style block comment from anywhere inside or near it?
[* and ]*
The [ and ] motions (also written as [/ and ]/) let you jump directly to the opening / or closing / of a C-style block comment.
How do I zero-pad or reformat numbers during a substitution using printf in Vim?
:%s/\d\+/\=printf('%03d', submatch(0))/g
Combining Vim's \= expression substitution with the printf() function lets you apply arbitrary formatting to matched text.
How do I highlight a custom pattern persistently in a window without changing the search register?
matchadd()
The matchadd() function adds a persistent highlight for a pattern in the current window without touching your search register or interfering with n/N navigation