Vim Tutorial: Features, Advantages and Disadvantages

S.No.

Commands

Description

b

This Vim command moves the cursor at the starting of the previous word. This command cannot move the cursor at the start, if the word contains punctuation marks.

B

This command moves the cursor at the beginning of word if the word contains punctuation marks.

e

This Vim command moves the cursor at the last of the next word. It cannot moves the cursor at the end, if the word contain punctuation marks.

E

This Vim command also moves the cursor at the last of the current word but if the word contains punctuation marks.

fx

This command moves the cursor forwards to the first occurrence of the letter ‘x’ in the same line.

Fx

This command moves the cursor backwards to the first occurrence of the letter ‘x’ in the same line.

G

This Vim command moves the cursor at the starting of the last line in the current document or file.

gg

This command moves the cursor at the starting of the first line in the document or file.

g_

This command moves the cursor in the current line to the last character which is non-blank.

h

This Vim command moves the cursor to the left of next letter.

H

This Vim command moves the cursor at the first line of the current screen.

j

This command moves the cursor down only one line.

k

This Vim command moves the cursor to the upper line on the exact position.

l

This Vim command moves the cursor to the right of next letter.

L

This Vim command moves the cursor at the last line of the current screen.

M

This Vim command moves the cursor to the middle or midline of the current screen.

w

This command moves the character at the beginning of the next word. This command cannot move the cursor at the start of the next word if the current word contains punctuation marks.

W

This Vim command moves the cursor at the beginning of the next word when the word contains punctuation marks only.

0

This Vim command moves the cursor at the beginning of the current line.

^

This vim command moves the cursor in the current line to the first character which is non-blank.

$

This Vim command moves the cursor to the last character in the current line if the character is either blank or non-blank.

)

This Vim command moves the cursor to the begin of the next sentence.

(

This Vim command moves the cursor to the begin of the previous sentence.

{

This Vim command moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous paragraph or a text block.

}

This Vim command moves the cursor to the beginning of the next text block or a paragraph.

Ctrl + e

This shortcut key moves the screen down only one line. It does not move the cursor.

Ctrl + y

This shortcut key moves the screen up one line. This command

Ctrl + d

This shortcut key scrolls or moves forward half (1/2) a terminal screen.

Ctrl + u

This shortcut key scrolls or moves back half (1/2) a terminal screen.

Ctrl + f

This shortcut key scrolls or moves forward full terminal screen.

Ctrl + b

This shortcut key scrolls or moves back full terminal screen.

S. No

Commands

Description

. (dot)

This command is used to repeat that command which is recently executed.

C

This Vim command deletes all the characters or words after the current position of the cursor and takes us to Insert Mode for inserting the new text.

cc

This command deletes all the characters (whole line) in that line in which cursor is current present. And then, takes us to Insert Mode for inserting the new text.

ciw

This Vim command deletes the entire word in which the cursor is currently see. And then, takes us to Insert Mode for inserting the new text.

cw

This command deletes all the characters from the current position of the cursor till the last character of the word. And then, takes us to Insert Mode for inserting the new text.

D

This Vim command removes all blank and non-blank characters from the current position of the cursor in the current line.

dd

This Vim command deletes the entire line in which the cursor is currently available.

ndd

This command deletes nth line.

dw

This Vim command deletes the characters from the current position of the cursor till the begin of the next word.

d-

This command deletes the current line and the line which is present above the current line.

dfd

This Vim command deletes all the characters between the current position of the cursor and the first occurrence of the letter ‘d’. It also removes ‘d’ character and the character from the current position of the cursor.

db

This Vim command deletes the characters from the starting of the word till the current position of the cursor.

d^

This Vim command deletes the characters from the first non-blank character of the current line to the current position of the cursor.

gJ

This command joins the below line at the end of the current line without giving space between them.

J

This command joins the below line with the current line by giving one space between them.

r

This Vim command replaces the current position of the cursor.

s

This command deletes the character and substitute text. And, then takes us to the Insert Mode.

S

This command works the same as cc command.

u

This command is used for undo operation.

X

This command deletes only one character from the left of the cursor.

x

This command deletes the character from the current position of the cursor.

Ctrl + r

This shortcut key is used for redo operation.

S. No

Commands

Description

a

This command appends the characters or words after the cursor.

A

This command appends the text to the end of the current line. When we use this command, Vim automatically takes to the Insert mode allows us to append the text. Press Esc command for terminating the Insert Mode.

ea

This command appends the text to the end of the current or next upcoming word in the current line of a file or document.

Esc

This command exits or terminates the Insert mode.

i

This command inserts the text at the current position of the cursor.

I

This command inserts the text at the beginning of the current line.

o

This command opens a new line for appending the text below the line in which cursor is currently present.

O

This command opens a new line for appending the text above the line in which cursor is currently present.

S. No

Commands

Description

n

This command searches the item in the same direction of the last search.

N

This command searches the item in the opposite direction of the last search.

/word

This command searches the given word from top to bottom in the file or document.

?word

This command searches the given word from bottom to top in the file or document.

/j[ts]p

This command searches the word ‘jtp’ or ‘jsp’. This command specifies a word which is come first in searching.

/ \<or

This command searches the word like or, oracle, orange, etc in the file.

:%s/old/new/g

This command replaces all the given old words with the given new word throughout the file.

:%s/old/new/gc

This command asks for confirmation replaces all the given old words with the given new word throughout the file.

:s/old/new/gi

This command replaces all the old words or characters with the new given words or characters within a single line.

:1,10s/old_text/new_text/g

This command replaces all the old words or characters with the new given words or characters within a specified range of lines.

S. No

Commands

Description

>>

This command shifts the text right.

<<

This command shifts the text left.

~

This command changes the case of an individual character. Means, if the character is in lowercase, this command change into uppercase and vice-versa.

d

This command removes the marked text.

y

This command copies the marked text.

p

This command pastes the text which is copied by the ‘y’ command.

S. No

Commands

Description

:bd

This command deletes or closes the current buffer.

:bn or :bnext

This command allows us to move to the next buffer.

:bp or :brev

This command allows us to move to the previous buffer.

:e file

This command allows us to edit the file in the new buffer.

:ls

This command allows us to open the list of all buffers.

:sp file

This command allows us to open a file in the new buffer and splitting window.

:vsp file

This command allows us to open a file in new buffer and splitting window in vertical.

Ctrl + ws

This command is used for splitting the window screen.

Ctrl + ww

This command is used for switching the windows.

Ctrl + wq

This command exits or quits a window.

Ctrl + wv

This command is used for splitting the window vertically.

Ctrl+ wh

This command is used for moving the cursor to the left window when the window is vertically split.

Ctrl + wl

This command is used for moving the cursor to the right window when the window is vertically split.

Ctrl + wj

This command is used for moving the cursor to the below window when the window is horizontally split.

Ctrl + wk

This command is used for moving the cursor to the above window when the window is horizontally split.