Mastering Vim: Essential Commands for Efficient Text Editing

Vim is a powerful text editor with a wide range of commands that can enhance productivity. Here are some of the top commands and keybindings you should know to work efficiently with Vim:

Basic Navigation

1. h, j, k, l: Move the cursor left, down, up, and right, respectively.

2. w: Move the cursor to the beginning of the next word.

3. b: Move the cursor to the beginning of the previous word.

4. e: Move the cursor to the end of the current word.

5. 0: Move the cursor to the beginning of the line.

6. $: Move the cursor to the end of the line.

7. gg: Go to the beginning of the file.

8. G: Go to the end of the file.

9. Ctrl-f: Move forward one screen.

10. Ctrl-b: Move backward one screen.

Editing Text

1. i: Enter insert mode before the cursor.

2. a: Enter insert mode after the cursor.

3. o: Open a new line below the cursor and enter insert mode.

4. O: Open a new line above the cursor and enter insert mode.

5. x: Delete the character under the cursor.

6. dd: Delete the current line.

7. yy: Yank (copy) the current line.

8. p: Paste the yanked or deleted content after the cursor.

9. u: Undo the last change.

10. Ctrl-r: Redo the undone change.

11. cw: Change (replace) the word under the cursor.

12. ciw: Change the entire word under the cursor.

13. daw: Delete a word, including trailing space.

Visual Mode

1. v: Start visual mode (character-wise selection).

2. V: Start visual line mode (select entire lines).

3. Ctrl-v: Start visual block mode (column selection).

4. y: Yank (copy) the selected text.

5. d: Delete the selected text.

6. c: Change the selected text (delete and enter insert mode).

Search and Replace

1. /: Search forward for a pattern.

2. ?: Search backward for a pattern.

3. n: Repeat the search in the same direction.

4. N: Repeat the search in the opposite direction.

5. :%s/old/new/g: Replace all occurrences of "old" with "new" in the file.

6. : Clear search highlighting.

File Management

1. :w: Save the current file (write changes).

2. :q: Quit Vim.

3. :wq: Save and quit Vim.

4. :q!: Quit without saving changes.

5. :e filename: Open or edit a specified file, replacing filename with the actual file name.

6. :x: Save and quit, similar to :wq.

7. :saveas filename: Save the current file with a new name, replacing filename with the desired new file name.

8. :bd: Close the current buffer without closing the window.

9. **:ls or :buffers: List all open buffers.

10. :bN: Switch to buffer number N, where N is the buffer number.

11. :set number: Display line numbers.

12. :set nonumber: Hide line numbers.

Window Management

1. :split or :sp: Split the current window horizontally, creating a new window above the current one.

2. :vsplit or :vsp: Split the current window vertically, creating a new window to the right of the current one.

3. Ctrl-w w: Switch between open windows.

4. Ctrl-w h: Move to the window to the left.

5. Ctrl-w j: Move to the window below.

6. Ctrl-w k: Move to the window above.

7. Ctrl-w l: Move to the window to the right.

8. Ctrl-w q: Close the current window.

9. Ctrl-w o: Close all other windows except the current one.

10. :resize N: Set the height of the current window to N lines.

11. :vertical resize N: Set the width of the current window to N columns.

12. Ctrl-w =: Make all windows equal height and width.

These commands and keybindings cover a wide range of basic and advanced functionalities in Vim. Learning and practicing them will significantly enhance your efficiency in using this versatile editor.