Basic Vim commands - For getting started

Started learning to use Vim. Some simple commands to get started.

Vim has two modes.

1. Insert mode (Where you can just type like normal text editor. Press i for insert mode)

2. Command mode (Where you give commands to the editor to get things done . Press ESC for command mode)

Most of them below are in command mode

• x - to delete the unwanted character
• u - to undo the last the command and U to undo the whole line
• CTRL-R to redo
• A - to append text at the end
• :wq - to save and exit
• :q! - to trash all changes
• dw - move the cursor to the beginning of the word to delete that word
• 2w - to move the cursor two words forward.
• 3e - to move the cursor to the end of the third word forward.
• 0 (zero) to move to the start of the line.
• d2w - which deletes 2 words .. number can be changed for deleting the number of consecutive words like d3w
• dd to delete the line and 2dd to delete to line .number can be changed for deleting the number of consecutive words

The format for a change command is: operator [number] motion
-operator - is what to do, such as d for delete
- [number] - is an optional count to repeat the motion
- motion - moves over the text to operate on, such as w (word),
$ (to the end of line), etc.

• p - puts the previously deleted text after the cursor(Type dd to delete the line and store it in a Vim register. and p to put the line)

• r - to replace the letter e.g press re to replace the letter with e

• ce - to change until the end of a word (place the cursor on the u in lubw it will delete ubw )

• ce - deletes the word and places you in Insert mode

• G - to move you to the bottom of the file.

• gg - to move you to the start of the file.
  Type the number of the line you were on and then G

• % to find a matching ),], or }

• :s/old/new/g to substitute 'new' for 'old' where g is globally

• / backward search n to find the next occurrence and N to search in opposite direction

• ? forward search

• :! to run the shell commands like :!dir, :!ls

• :w - TEST (where TEST is the filename you chose.) . Save the file

• v - starts visual mode for selecting the lines and you can perform operation on that like d delete

• :r - Filename will insert the content into the current file

• R - to replace more than one character

• y - operator to copy text using v visual mode and p to paste it

• yw - (copy)yanks one word

• o - opens a line below the cursor and start Insert mode.

• O - opens a line above the cursor.

• a - inserts text after the cursor.

• A - inserts text after the end of the line.

• e - command moves to the end of a word.

• y - operator yanks (copies) text, p puts (pastes) it.

• R - enters Replace mode until <ESC> is pressed.

• ctrl-w to jump from one window to another

type a command :e and press ctrl+D to list all the command name starts with :e and press tab to complete the command

Related protips:

Basic Vim commands - For getting started