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Linux & Terminal · Cheatsheet

Vim Editor Cheatsheet

Vim modes, movement, editing, copy and paste, search, replacement, and file commands.

64 commands 8 sections

Modes

  • i Enter Insert mode (before cursor)
  • a Enter Insert mode (after cursor)
  • I Insert at beginning of line
  • A Insert at end of line
  • o Open new line below and enter Insert mode
  • O Open new line above and enter Insert mode
  • v Enter Visual mode (character selection)
  • V Enter Visual Line mode (line selection)
  • Ctrl+v Enter Visual Block mode (column selection)
  • Esc Return to Normal mode

Editing

  • x Delete character under cursor
  • dd Delete (cut) entire line
  • dw Delete to end of word
  • d$ Delete to end of line
  • D Delete to end of line (same as d$)
  • cc Change entire line (delete and enter Insert mode)
  • cw Change word
  • C Change to end of line
  • r<char> Replace single character
  • R Enter Replace mode (overwrite text)
  • J Join current line with next line
  • ~ Toggle case of character

Copy & Paste

  • yy Yank (copy) entire line
  • yw Yank word
  • y$ Yank to end of line
  • p Paste after cursor
  • P Paste before cursor
  • "+y Yank to system clipboard
  • "+p Paste from system clipboard

Search & Replace

  • /<pattern> Search forward for pattern
  • ?<pattern> Search backward for pattern
  • n Repeat search in same direction
  • N Repeat search in opposite direction
  • * Search for word under cursor (forward)
  • # Search for word under cursor (backward)
  • :%s/old/new/g Replace all in file
  • :%s/old/new/gc Replace all with confirmation
  • :s/old/new/g Replace all in current line

Undo & Redo

  • u Undo last change
  • Ctrl+r Redo last undone change
  • . Repeat last command

File Operations

  • :w Save file
  • :w <filename> Save as new file
  • :q Quit (fails if unsaved changes)
  • :q! Quit without saving
  • :wq Save and quit
  • :x Save and quit (only writes if changed)
  • ZZ Save and quit (Normal mode)
  • :e <file> Open a file
  • :bn / :bp Next / previous buffer

Sources

  • https://vimhelp.org/quickref.txt.html Vim reference: modes, movement, editing, search, and file commands.

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