VI/VIM power user guide

Last updated: December 12, 2025 Author: Paul Namalomba
- SESKA Computational Engineer
- SEAT Backend Developer
- Software Developer
- PhD Candidate (Civil Engineering Spec. Computational and Applied Mechanics)
Contact: kabwenzenamalomba@gmail.com
Website: paulnamalomba.github.io

Overview

This Vi/Vim guide covers advanced navigation, editing commands, and customization for working efficiently with text files.

VI/VIM power user guide
Overview
Contents
Mode System
Basic navigation
Advanced navigation
Searching
- Basic search
- Search options
Editing commands
Visual mode
- Entering Visual mode
- Visual mode operations
Text objects
- Inner vs around
- Paired objects
Command-Line mode (ex commands)
Advanced features
Configuration
- Settings
- Common settings
Power user combinations
Cheat sheet quick reference
- Essential commands
- Speed tips
Help System

Mode system

Vi/Vim operates in different modes: - Normal Mode (Command Mode) - Default mode for navigation and commands - Insert Mode - For typing text - Visual Mode - For selecting text - Command-Line Mode - For executing ex commands

Press Esc to return to Normal Mode from any other mode.

Character movement

Command	Action
`h`	Move left one character
`j`	Move down one line
`k`	Move up one line
`l`	Move right one character
Arrow keys	Also work for movement

Word movement

Command	Action
`w`	Move forward to start of next word
`W`	Move forward to start of next WORD (whitespace-delimited)
`e`	Move forward to end of word
`E`	Move forward to end of WORD
`b`	Move backward to start of word
`B`	Move backward to start of WORD
`ge`	Move backward to end of previous word
`gE`	Move backward to end of previous WORD

Line movement

Command	Action
`0`	Move to beginning of line (column 0)
`^`	Move to first non-blank character of line
`$`	Move to end of line
`g_`	Move to last non-blank character of line
`\|`	Move to column 0
`5\|`	Move to column 5
`f{char}`	Move forward to next occurrence of {char} on line
`F{char}`	Move backward to previous occurrence of {char} on line
`t{char}`	Move forward to character before next {char}
`T{char}`	Move backward to character after previous {char}
`;`	Repeat last f, F, t, or T command forward
`,`	Repeat last f, F, t, or T command backward

Screen movement

Command	Action
`H`	Move to top of screen (High)
`M`	Move to middle of screen (Middle)
`L`	Move to bottom of screen (Low)
`zt`	Scroll current line to top of screen
`zz`	Scroll current line to center of screen
`zb`	Scroll current line to bottom of screen

Scrolling

Command	Action
`Ctrl-f`	Scroll forward one full screen (Page Down)
`Ctrl-b`	Scroll backward one full screen (Page Up)
`Ctrl-d`	Scroll down half screen
`Ctrl-u`	Scroll up half screen
`Ctrl-e`	Scroll down one line (cursor stays)
`Ctrl-y`	Scroll up one line (cursor stays)

File movement

Command	Action
`gg`	Go to first line of file
`G`	Go to last line of file
`50G`	Go to line 50
`:50`	Go to line 50 (command mode)
`:$`	Go to last line
`50%`	Go to 50% through file
`1G`	Go to first line

Jump commands

Command	Action
`Ctrl-o`	Jump to older position in jump list
`Ctrl-i`	Jump to newer position in jump list
`	Jump to last cursor position
`''`	Jump to beginning of last line
`[	Jump to beginning of last changed/yanked text
`]	Jump to end of last changed/yanked text
`<	Jump to beginning of last visual selection
`>	Jump to end of last visual selection
`g;`	Jump to position of last change
`g,`	Jump forward through change list

Marks

Command	Action
`ma`	Set mark 'a' at current position
`a	Jump to mark 'a'
`'a`	Jump to beginning of line with mark 'a'
`:marks`	List all marks
`mA`	Set global mark 'A' (works across files)
`.	Jump to position of last change
`"	Jump to position when last exited file

Searching

Basic search

Command	Action
`/pattern`	Search forward for pattern
`?pattern`	Search backward for pattern
`n`	Repeat search in same direction
`N`	Repeat search in opposite direction
`*`	Search forward for word under cursor
`#`	Search backward for word under cursor
`g*`	Search forward for partial word under cursor
`g#`	Search backward for partial word under cursor

Search options

Command	Action
`/pattern/e`	Search and place cursor at end of match
`/pattern/+2`	Search and place cursor 2 lines below match
`:set ic`	Ignore case in searches
`:set noic`	Case-sensitive searches
`:set hls`	Highlight search matches
`:noh`	Clear search highlighting
`:set incsearch`	Incremental search (search as you type)

Editing commands

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
`s`	Substitute character (delete char and insert)
`S`	Substitute line (delete line and insert)
`C`	Change to end of line
`cc`	Change entire line
`cw`	Change word
`ciw`	Change inner word
`ci"`	Change text inside quotes
`ci(`	Change text inside parentheses
`cit`	Change text inside HTML/XML tag

Delete commands

Command	Action
`x`	Delete character under cursor
`X`	Delete character before cursor
`dw`	Delete word
`dW`	Delete WORD
`dd`	Delete line
`D`	Delete to end of line
`d$`	Delete to end of line
`d0`	Delete to beginning of line
`dgg`	Delete to beginning of file
`dG`	Delete to end of file
`d50G`	Delete to line 50
`dt{char}`	Delete until {char}
`df{char}`	Delete including {char}
`diw`	Delete inner word
`di"`	Delete inside quotes
`da"`	Delete around quotes (including quotes)
`dap`	Delete around paragraph

Copy (yank) commands

Command	Action
`yw`	Yank word
`yy`	Yank line
`Y`	Yank line (same as yy)
`y$`	Yank to end of line
`y0`	Yank to beginning of line
`ygg`	Yank to beginning of file
`yG`	Yank to end of file
`yiw`	Yank inner word
`yi"`	Yank inside quotes
`yap`	Yank around paragraph

Paste commands

Command	Action
`p`	Paste after cursor/below line
`P`	Paste before cursor/above line
`gp`	Paste and move cursor after pasted text
`gP`	Paste before and move cursor
`]p`	Paste and adjust indentation

Undo/redo

Command	Action
`u`	Undo last change
`U`	Undo all changes on line
`Ctrl-r`	Redo
`.`	Repeat last change
`&`	Repeat last :substitute

Visual mode

Entering Visual mode

Command	Action
`v`	Enter character-wise visual mode
`V`	Enter line-wise visual mode
`Ctrl-v`	Enter block-wise visual mode
`gv`	Reselect last visual selection

Visual mode operations

Command	Action
`o`	Move to other end of selection
`O`	Move to other corner (block mode)
`d`	Delete selection
`c`	Change selection
`y`	Yank selection
`>`	Indent selection
`<`	Unindent selection
`=`	Auto-indent selection
`~`	Toggle case
`u`	Make lowercase
`U`	Make uppercase
`J`	Join lines

Text objects

Text objects work with operator commands (d, c, y, etc.)

Inner vs around

Command	Action
`iw`	Inner word
`aw`	Around word (includes whitespace)
`iW`	Inner WORD
`aW`	Around WORD
`is`	Inner sentence
`as`	Around sentence
`ip`	Inner paragraph
`ap`	Around paragraph

Paired objects

Command	Action
`i"`	Inside double quotes
`a"`	Around double quotes
`i'`	Inside single quotes
`a'`	Around single quotes
i`	Inside backticks
a`	Around backticks
`i(` or `i)` or `ib`	Inside parentheses
`a(` or `a)` or `ab`	Around parentheses
`i{` or `i}` or `iB`	Inside braces
`a{` or `a}` or `aB`	Around braces
`i[` or `i]`	Inside brackets
`a[` or `a]`	Around brackets
`i<` or `i>`	Inside angle brackets
`a<` or `a>`	Around angle brackets
`it`	Inside tag (HTML/XML)
`at`	Around tag

Command-Line mode (ex commands)

Enter with : from Normal mode

File operations

Command	Action
`:w`	Write (save) file
`:w filename`	Save as filename
`:q`	Quit
`:q!`	Quit without saving
`:wq`	Write and quit
`:x`	Write and quit (only if changes)
`ZZ`	Write and quit (normal mode)
`ZQ`	Quit without saving (normal mode)
`:e filename`	Edit (open) file
`:e!`	Reload current file (discard changes)
`:saveas filename`	Save as and continue editing new file
`:r filename`	Read file and insert below cursor
`:r !command`	Read command output and insert

Line numbers and ranges

Command	Action
`:set nu`	Show line numbers
`:set nonu`	Hide line numbers
`:set rnu`	Show relative line numbers
`:50`	Go to line 50
`:$`	Go to last line
`:+5`	Go 5 lines down
`:-3`	Go 3 lines up
`:.`	Current line
`:%`	All lines
`:1,50`	Lines 1 to 50
`:'a,'b`	From mark a to mark b

Search and replace

Command	Action
`:s/old/new/`	Substitute first occurrence on line
`:s/old/new/g`	Substitute all occurrences on line
`:s/old/new/gc`	Substitute with confirmation
`:%s/old/new/g`	Substitute in entire file
`:%s/old/new/gi`	Substitute case-insensitive
`:5,12s/old/new/g`	Substitute in lines 5-12
`:'<,'>s/old/new/g`	Substitute in visual selection
`:g/pattern/d`	Delete all lines matching pattern
`:g!/pattern/d` or `:v/pattern/d`	Delete non-matching lines
`:g/pattern/m$`	Move matching lines to end
`:g/pattern/t$`	Copy matching lines to end

Multiple files

Command	Action
`:bn`	Next buffer
`:bp`	Previous buffer
`:bd`	Delete buffer (close file)
`:ls` or `:buffers`	List buffers
`:b5`	Switch to buffer 5
`:b filename`	Switch to buffer (tab completion)
`:ball`	Open all buffers in windows
`:e#`	Switch to alternate file

Windows (splits)

Command	Action
`:sp filename`	Split window horizontally
`:vs filename`	Split window vertically
`Ctrl-w s`	Split current window horizontally
`Ctrl-w v`	Split current window vertically
`Ctrl-w q`	Close current window
`Ctrl-w w`	Switch to next window
`Ctrl-w h/j/k/l`	Move to window (left/down/up/right)
`Ctrl-w H/J/K/L`	Move window to edge
`Ctrl-w =`	Make all windows equal size
`Ctrl-w +`	Increase window height
`Ctrl-w -`	Decrease window height
`Ctrl-w >`	Increase window width
`Ctrl-w <`	Decrease window width
`Ctrl-w _`	Maximize window height
`Ctrl-w \|`	Maximize window width

Tabs

Command	Action
`:tabnew`	New tab
`:tabe filename`	Edit file in new tab
`:tabc`	Close current tab
`:tabo`	Close all other tabs
`gt` or `:tabn`	Next tab
`gT` or `:tabp`	Previous tab
`5gt`	Go to tab 5
`:tabs`	List all tabs
`:tabm 3`	Move tab to position 3

Advanced features

Macros

Command	Action
`qa`	Record macro in register 'a'
`q`	Stop recording
`@a`	Execute macro 'a'
`@@`	Repeat last macro
`5@a`	Execute macro 'a' 5 times
`qA`	Append to macro 'a'
`:reg`	View register contents

Registers

Command	Action
`"ayy`	Yank line into register 'a'
`"ap`	Paste from register 'a'
`"Ayy`	Append line to register 'a'
`"+y`	Yank to system clipboard
`"+p`	Paste from system clipboard
`"*y`	Yank to selection clipboard (Linux)
`"*p`	Paste from selection clipboard
`"0p`	Paste from yank register (not delete)
`"1p`	Paste from delete register
`:reg`	View all registers

Folding

Command	Action
`zf`	Create fold (in visual mode)
`zf50j`	Create fold for 50 lines
`za`	Toggle fold
`zo`	Open fold
`zc`	Close fold
`zO`	Open all folds recursively
`zC`	Close all folds recursively
`zM`	Close all folds in file
`zR`	Open all folds in file
`zd`	Delete fold
`zE`	Delete all folds

Indentation

Command	Action
`>>`	Indent line
`<<`	Unindent line
`5>>`	Indent 5 lines
`>%`	Indent block (cursor on bracket)
`=%`	Auto-indent block
`gg=G`	Auto-indent entire file
`=ap`	Auto-indent paragraph
`==`	Auto-indent current line

Case manipulation

Command	Action
`~`	Toggle case of character
`g~~`	Toggle case of line
`gUU`	Uppercase line
`guu`	Lowercase line
`gUw`	Uppercase word
`guw`	Lowercase word
`gUiw`	Uppercase inner word
`guiw`	Lowercase inner word

Increment/decrement numbers

Command	Action
`Ctrl-a`	Increment number under cursor
`Ctrl-x`	Decrement number under cursor
`5 Ctrl-a`	Add 5 to number
`g Ctrl-a`	Increment sequence (visual mode)

Configuration

Settings

Command	Action
`:set all`	Show all settings
`:set`	Show modified settings
`:set option?`	Show value of option
`:set option`	Enable boolean option
`:set nooption`	Disable boolean option
`:set option=value`	Set option value
`:set option+=value`	Append to option

Common settings

:set number              " Show line numbers
:set relativenumber      " Show relative line numbers
:set ignorecase          " Case-insensitive search
:set smartcase           " Case-sensitive if uppercase used
:set hlsearch            " Highlight search results
:set incsearch           " Incremental search
:set expandtab           " Use spaces instead of tabs
:set tabstop=4           " Tab width
:set shiftwidth=4        " Indent width
:set autoindent          " Auto-indent new lines
:set smartindent         " Smart auto-indent
:set wrap                " Wrap long lines
:set nowrap              " Don't wrap lines
:set mouse=a             " Enable mouse
:set clipboard=unnamed   " Use system clipboard
:set syntax=on           " Enable syntax highlighting

Power user combinations

5j          - Move down 5 lines
10k         - Move up 10 lines
3w          - Move forward 3 words
2b          - Move back 2 words
5G          - Go to line 5
/pattern    - Search forward, then n n n to jump through matches
?pattern    - Search backward
*           - Search word under cursor, use n/N to navigate

Efficient editing

ciw         - Change inner word (cursor anywhere in word)
ci"         - Change text inside quotes
ca"         - Change text and quotes
dap         - Delete paragraph
yap         - Yank paragraph
>ap         - Indent paragraph
=ap         - Auto-indent paragraph
gqap        - Format/wrap paragraph

Multiple operations

d3w         - Delete 3 words
c2j         - Change current and next 2 lines
y5k         - Yank current and previous 5 lines
5dd         - Delete 5 lines
3p          - Paste 3 times
10i*<Esc>   - Insert 10 asterisks

Complex commands

:%s/\s\+$//g              - Remove trailing whitespace
:g/^$/d                   - Delete empty lines
:g/pattern/normal @a      - Execute macro on matching lines
:.,+5s/old/new/g          - Substitute in next 5 lines
:'<,'>normal I#           - Comment visual selection
:%!sort                   - Sort entire file
:r !date                  - Insert current date

Cheat sheet quick reference

Essential commands

Exit: :q (quit), :wq (save and quit), :q! (force quit)
Save: :w (write)
Navigate: h j k l (left, down, up, right)
Go to line: :50 or 50G
Go to start: gg
Go to end: G
Search: /pattern then n (next), N (previous)
Undo: u
Redo: Ctrl-r
Delete line: dd
Copy line: yy
Paste: p
Insert mode: i
Exit insert mode: Esc

Speed tips

Use relative line numbers (:set rnu) for quick jumps
Use * to search word under cursor
Use . to repeat last change
Use text objects: ciw, ci", dap etc.
Record macros for repetitive tasks
Use marks (ma, `a) for quick navigation
Use :noh to clear search highlighting
Use Ctrl-o and Ctrl-i to jump back and forward
Use visual block mode (Ctrl-v) for column editing
Use :earlier 5m to go back 5 minutes in undo history

Help system

Command	Action
`:help`	Open help
`:help topic`	Help on specific topic
`:help :command`	Help on ex command
`:help 'option'`	Help on option
`Ctrl-]`	Jump to tag under cursor (in help)
`Ctrl-o`	Jump back
`:q`	Close help window

Example help topics: - :help navigation - :help motion - :help text-objects - :help registers - :help patterns

This guide covers vi/vim commands. Most commands work in both vi and vim, though vim has additional features.