Vim

2 min read

⚙️ Modes🔗

Mode	Description	How to enter
Normal	Default mode (navigate, edit commands)	Press `Esc`
Insert	Type and insert text	`i`, `I`, `a`, or `A`
Visual	Select text	`v` (character), `V` (line), `Ctrl+v` (block)
Command-line	Run commands (save, quit, etc.)	`:` from Normal mode

Command	Action
`h` / `j` / `k` / `l`	Move left / down / up / right
`0`	Beginning of line
`$`	End of line
`w` / `b`	Next / previous word
`gg`	Go to start of file
`G`	Go to end of file
`:n`	Go to line n (e.g., `:42`)
`Ctrl+d` / `Ctrl+u`	Scroll half page down / up
`Ctrl+f` / `Ctrl+b`	Scroll full page down / up

✏️ Insert Mode🔗

Command	Action
`i`	Insert before cursor
`I`	Insert at beginning of line
`a`	Append after cursor
`A`	Append at end of line
`o`	Open new line below
`O`	Open new line above
`Esc`	Return to Normal mode

� Editing🔗

Command	Action
`x`	Delete character under cursor
`dd`	Delete current line
`D`	Delete to end of line
`dw`	Delete word
`u`	Undo
`Ctrl+r`	Redo
`yy`	Yank (copy) current line
`p`	Paste below
`P`	Paste above
`r<char>`	Replace single character
`cw`	Change word (delete + insert)
`cc`	Change entire line
`J`	Join current and next line

� Search & Replace🔗

Command	Action
`/pattern`	Search forward
`?pattern`	Search backward
`n` / `N`	Next / previous match
`:%s/old/new/g`	Replace all in file
`:s/old/new/g`	Replace all in current line
`:%s/old/new/gc`	Replace all (confirm each)

� Files & Saving🔗

Command	Action
`:w`	Save file
`:q`	Quit
`:wq` or `:x`	Save and quit
`:q!`	Quit without saving
`:e filename`	Open file
`:saveas newfile`	Save as new file
`:ls`	List open buffers
`:bn` / `:bp`	Next / previous buffer

⚡ Useful Tricks🔗

Command	Action
`.`	Repeat last command
`>>` / `<<`	Indent / unindent line
`=`	Auto-indent selection
`Ctrl+g`	Show file info
`%`	Jump to matching bracket/parenthesis
`:help <command>`	Open Vim help for a command

� Example Workflow🔗

Open file → vim myfile.txt
Move to a line → gg or /word
Edit → i (insert mode), then Esc
Save → :w
Quit → :q

✅ Tip: You can combine counts with commands —
For example, 3dd deletes 3 lines, 5w moves forward 5 words.