Mode Switching

  • i/a/o: Enter insert mode (insert before, after, or on a new line).
  • Esc: Exit insert mode and return to normal mode.
  • v: Enter visual mode (highlight text).
  • V: Enter visual line mode (highlight entire lines).
  • Ctrl + v: Enter visual block mode (highlight blocks of text).

File Operations

  • :w: Save the file.
  • :wq: Save and quit.
  • :q: Quit the editor.
  • :q!: Force quit without saving.
  • :set number: Show line numbers.
  • :set nonumber: Hide line numbers.
  • :e filename: Open a file in Vim.
  • :r filename: Insert the content of another file into the current file.
  • :! command: Execute an external command (e.g., :!ls to list files).

Cursor Movement

  • h/j/k/l: Move the cursor left, down, up, and right.
  • b: Move to the beginning of the current/previous word.
  • e: Move to the end of the current/next word.
  • w: Move to the beginning of the next word.
  • 0: Move to the beginning of the line.
  • $: Move to the end of the line.
  • G: Move to the end of the file.
  • gg: Move to the beginning of the file.
  • Ctrl + f: Scroll forward one page.
  • Ctrl + b: Scroll backward one page.
  • H: Move to the top of the screen.
  • M: Move to the middle of the screen.
  • L: Move to the bottom of the screen.
  • Ctrl + o: Jump back to the previous cursor position.
  • Ctrl + i: Jump forward to the next cursor position.

Editing Operations

  • dd: Delete a line.
  • d motion: Delete text following a movement (e.g., dw to delete a word).
  • x: Delete a character.
  • u: Undo the last operation.
  • Ctrl + r: Redo the last undone operation.
  • yy: Copy (yank) a line.
  • y motion: Copy text following a movement (e.g., yw to copy a word).
  • p: Paste the copied or deleted text.
  • r: Replace a single character under the cursor.
  • cw: Change (delete and enter insert mode) a word.
  • ci: Change inside quotes.
  • >>: Indent a line.
  • <<: Un-indent a line.

Search and Replace

  • /pattern: Search for a pattern.
  • ?pattern: Search for a pattern in reverse.
  • n: Repeat the search in the same direction.
  • N: Repeat the search in the opposite direction.
  • :%s/old/new/g: Replace all occurrences of “old” with “new” in the file.
  • :noh: Clear search highlighting.

Buffer and Window Management

  • :bn: Go to the next buffer.
  • :bp: Go to the previous buffer.
  • :bd: Close the current buffer.
  • :split: Split the window horizontally.
  • :vsplit: Split the window vertically.
  • Ctrl + w w: Switch between windows.