$devvkit resources --cheatsheet vim-/-neovim-cheatsheet

Vim / Neovim Cheatsheet

[editors]

Every essential Vim command: modes, motions, editing, registers, search, buffers, windows, and visual mode, with keys and real use cases.117 commands · 7 sections

Vim is a modal editor: the same keys do different things depending on the mode. This cheatsheet covers the commands you use daily: normal-mode motions and editing, insert mode, visual selection, search and replace, registers, buffers, windows, tabs, and macros.

Keys are shown in Vim notation: w moves word-by-word, dd deletes a line, and so on. Master these and you never touch the mouse again.

Modes & Basics17

$i

Use case: Enter insert mode before the cursor: start typing.Example: press i then type

$a

Use case: Enter insert mode AFTER the cursor.Example: press a then type

$o

Use case: Open a new line below and enter insert mode.Example: press o to add a line

$O

Use case: Open a new line ABOVE and enter insert mode.Example: press O to insert above

$Esc

Use case: Return to normal mode: the mode where keys navigate and edit.Example: press Esc anywhere

$:w

Use case: Save the file.Example: :w

$:q

Use case: Quit.Example: :q

$:wq

Use case: Save and quit.Example: :wq

$:q!

Use case: Quit WITHOUT saving: abandon changes.Example: :q!

$:e <file>

Use case: Open another file in the current buffer.Example: :e src/main.ts

$:e!

Use case: Reload the file from disk, discarding changes.Example: :e!

$:set number

Use case: Show line numbers.Example: :set number

$:set relativenumber

Use case: Relative line numbers: jump distances are visible.Example: :set relativenumber

$:noh

Use case: Clear search highlighting.Example: :noh

$u

Use case: Undo.Example: press u

$Ctrl-r

Use case: Redo.Example: press Ctrl-r

$:help <topic>

Use case: Open built-in help: the best Vim documentation.Example: :help motion

Navigation22

$h j k l

Use case: Move left, down, up, right: the home-row motion keys.Example: h j k l

$w / b

Use case: Next / previous word start.Example: press w to jump words

$e / ge

Use case: Next / previous word END.Example: press e

$0

Use case: Jump to the start of the line (column 0).Example: press 0

$$

Use case: Jump to the end of the line.Example: press $

$^

Use case: Jump to the first non-whitespace character.Example: press ^

$gg

Use case: Jump to the first line of the file.Example: press gg

$G

Use case: Jump to the last line.Example: press G

$<n>G

Use case: Jump to line n.Example: 42G jumps to line 42

$Ctrl-d / Ctrl-u

Use case: Scroll down / up half a screen: page without losing context.Example: press Ctrl-d

$Ctrl-f / Ctrl-b

Use case: Page forward / backward a full screen.Example: press Ctrl-f

$H / M / L

Use case: Jump to the top / middle / bottom of the screen.Example: press L to see the bottom

${ / }

Use case: Jump to the previous / next paragraph: code blocks.Example: press }

$( / )

Use case: Jump to the previous / next sentence.Example: press )

$f<char> / F<char>

Use case: Jump to the next / previous occurrence of a character on the line.Example: f" jumps to next quote

$t<char> / T<char>

Use case: Jump to just BEFORE the character: f then change position.Example: t;

$; / ,

Use case: Repeat / reverse the last f/t motion.Example: press ;

$%

Use case: Jump to the matching bracket: paren, brace, bracket.Example: press % on ( or {

$gd

Use case: Go to the definition of the identifier under the cursor.Example: press gd

$gi

Use case: Return to the last insert position: resume typing where you left off.Example: press gi

$``

Use case: Jump back to the previous position: the goto-return.Example: press ``

$Ctrl-o / Ctrl-i

Use case: Jump back / forward through the jump list: navigation history.Example: press Ctrl-o

Editing & Clipboard28

$x

Use case: Delete the character under the cursor.Example: press x

$X

Use case: Delete the character BEFORE the cursor.Example: press X

$dd

Use case: Delete the whole line.Example: press dd

$dw

Use case: Delete from the cursor to the end of the word.Example: press dw

$d$

Use case: Delete to the end of the line.Example: press d$

$d0

Use case: Delete to the start of the line.Example: press d0

$D

Use case: Delete to end of line: shorthand for d$.Example: press D

$ciw

Use case: Change the whole word under the cursor: the most-used command.Example: ciw then type replacement

$ci"

Use case: Change everything inside quotes.Example: ci" then type new string

$ci(

Use case: Change everything inside parentheses.Example: ci(

$ci{

Use case: Change everything inside braces.Example: ci{

$ct<char>

Use case: Change up to (not including) a character.Example: ct; changes up to the semicolon

$cc

Use case: Replace the whole line: delete and enter insert mode.Example: press cc

$r<char>

Use case: Replace the single character under the cursor.Example: rX replaces with X

$R

Use case: Enter replace mode: overwrite as you type.Example: press R then type

$yy

Use case: Yank (copy) the whole line.Example: press yy

$yw

Use case: Yank the word.Example: press yw

$y$

Use case: Yank to the end of the line.Example: press y$

$p

Use case: Paste AFTER the cursor (or below the line).Example: press p

$P

Use case: Paste BEFORE the cursor (or above the line).Example: press P

$"*yy

Use case: Yank into the system clipboard: share with other apps.Example: "*yy then paste anywhere

$"*p

Use case: Paste FROM the system clipboard.Example: "*p

$ggdG

Use case: Delete the ENTIRE file content: gg then dG.Example: ggdG

$dG

Use case: Delete from the cursor to the end of the file.Example: press dG

$.

Use case: Repeat the last change: the macro for one action.Example: press . to repeat

$>> / <<

Use case: Indent / unindent the current line.Example: press >>

$=G

Use case: Auto-format (indent) to the end of the file.Example: press =G

$J

Use case: Join the next line onto the current one.Example: press J

Search & Replace13

$/pattern

Use case: Search forward: the command line shows your pattern.Example: /TODO

$?pattern

Use case: Search backward.Example: ?FIXME

$n / N

Use case: Next / previous search match.Example: press n

$*

Use case: Search for the exact word under the cursor: the fastest search.Example: place cursor on word, press *

$:s/old/new/

Use case: Replace first occurrence on the current line.Example: :s/foo/bar/

$:s/old/new/g

Use case: Replace ALL occurrences on the current line.Example: :s/foo/bar/g

$:%s/old/new/g

Use case: Replace ALL occurrences in the whole file.Example: :%s/foo/bar/g

$:%s/old/new/gc

Use case: Replace globally with confirmation: review each change.Example: :%s/foo/bar/gc

$:s/old/new/gI

Use case: Case-insensitive replace.Example: :s/foo/bar/gI

$:%s/\<word\>/new/g

Use case: Whole-word replace: no partial matches.Example: :%s/\<cat\>/dog/g

$:g/pattern/d

Use case: Delete every line matching a pattern.Example: :g/^\s*$/d removes blank lines

$:v/pattern/d

Use case: Delete every line NOT matching: keep only matches.Example: :v/ERROR/d

$:%s/\d\+/NUM/g

Use case: Replace with regex: search patterns are regex.Example: :%s/\d\+/N/g

Buffers, Windows & Tabs14

$:ls

Use case: List all open buffers.Example: :ls

$:bn / :bp

Use case: Go to the next / previous buffer.Example: :bn

$:b <name>

Use case: Jump to a buffer by name or number.Example: :b main

$:bd

Use case: Close the current buffer (file tab).Example: :bd

$:split

Use case: Split horizontally: two files stacked.Example: :split src/main.ts

$:vsplit

Use case: Split vertically: side-by-side diff view.Example: :vsplit other.ts

$Ctrl-w w

Use case: Cycle focus between split windows.Example: press Ctrl-w w

$Ctrl-w h/j/k/l

Use case: Move focus to the window in that direction.Example: press Ctrl-w l

$Ctrl-w _

Use case: Maximize the current window vertically.Example: press Ctrl-w _

$Ctrl-w =

Use case: Equalize all window sizes.Example: press Ctrl-w =

$Ctrl-w o

Use case: Close all other windows: focus only the current one.Example: press Ctrl-w o

$:tabnew <file>

Use case: Open a file in a new tab.Example: :tabnew src/main.ts

$gt / gT

Use case: Next / previous tab.Example: press gt

$:tabs

Use case: List all tabs.Example: :tabs

Visual Mode12

$v

Use case: Character-wise visual mode: select exact characters.Example: press v then move

$V

Use case: Line-wise visual mode: select whole lines.Example: press V then jjj

$Ctrl-v

Use case: Block visual mode: select a rectangle. Multi-line column edits.Example: Ctrl-v then select a column

$viw

Use case: Select the word under the cursor.Example: press viw

$vip

Use case: Select the whole paragraph.Example: press vip

$vi" / vi( / vi{

Use case: Select inside quotes / parens / braces.Example: press vi"

$y (in visual)

Use case: Yank the selection.Example: select then press y

$d (in visual)

Use case: Delete the selection.Example: select then press d

$c (in visual)

Use case: Change the selection: delete and enter insert mode.Example: select then press c

$> (in visual)

Use case: Indent the selection.Example: select then press >

$u / U (in visual)

Use case: Lowercase / uppercase the selection.Example: select then press U

$gv

Use case: Re-select the last visual selection.Example: press gv

Macros, Marks & Folds11

$qa ... q

Use case: Record a macro into register a: press qa, do the actions, press q.Example: qa then actions then q

$@a

Use case: Play back macro a.Example: press @a

$10@a

Use case: Play macro a 10 times: repeat a transformation across lines.Example: 10@a

$ma

Use case: Set mark a at the cursor position.Example: press ma

$`a

Use case: Jump to mark a.Example: press `a

$:marks

Use case: List all marks.Example: :marks

$zf

Use case: Create a fold over the current motion (e.g. zfap for paragraph).Example: press zfap

$zo / zc

Use case: Open / close a fold.Example: press zo

$zR / zM

Use case: Open ALL / close ALL folds.Example: press zR

$:sort

Use case: Sort the current selection or file lines.Example: :sort

$:g/^/m0

Use case: Reverse the file: every line moved to the top in order.Example: :g/^/m0

Vim / Neovim Cheatsheet

Every essential Vim command: modes, motions, editing, registers, search, buffers, windows, and visual mode, with keys and real use cases.

Keys are shown in Vim notation: w moves word-by-word, dd deletes a line, and so on. Master these and you never touch the mouse again.

Modes & Basics

i: Enter insert mode before the cursor: start typing.

Example: press i then type

a: Enter insert mode AFTER the cursor.

Example: press a then type

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

Example: press o to add a line

O: Open a new line ABOVE and enter insert mode.

Example: press O to insert above

Esc: Return to normal mode: the mode where keys navigate and edit.

Example: press Esc anywhere

:w: Save the file.

Example: :w

:q: Quit.

Example: :q

:wq: Save and quit.

Example: :wq

:q!: Quit WITHOUT saving: abandon changes.

Example: :q!

:e <file>: Open another file in the current buffer.

Example: :e src/main.ts

:e!: Reload the file from disk, discarding changes.

Example: :e!

:set number: Show line numbers.

Example: :set number

:set relativenumber: Relative line numbers: jump distances are visible.

Example: :set relativenumber

:noh: Clear search highlighting.

Example: :noh

u: Undo.

Example: press u

Ctrl-r: Redo.

Example: press Ctrl-r

:help <topic>: Open built-in help: the best Vim documentation.

Example: :help motion

Navigation

h j k l: Move left, down, up, right: the home-row motion keys.

Example: h j k l

w / b: Next / previous word start.

Example: press w to jump words

e / ge: Next / previous word END.

Example: press e

0: Jump to the start of the line (column 0).

Example: press 0

$: Jump to the end of the line.

Example: press $

^: Jump to the first non-whitespace character.

Example: press ^

gg: Jump to the first line of the file.

Example: press gg

G: Jump to the last line.

Example: press G

<n>G: Jump to line n.

Example: 42G jumps to line 42

Ctrl-d / Ctrl-u: Scroll down / up half a screen: page without losing context.

Example: press Ctrl-d

Ctrl-f / Ctrl-b: Page forward / backward a full screen.

Example: press Ctrl-f

H / M / L: Jump to the top / middle / bottom of the screen.

Example: press L to see the bottom

{ / }: Jump to the previous / next paragraph: code blocks.

Example: press }

( / ): Jump to the previous / next sentence.

Example: press )

f<char> / F<char>: Jump to the next / previous occurrence of a character on the line.

Example: f" jumps to next quote

t<char> / T<char>: Jump to just BEFORE the character: f then change position.

Example: t;

; / ,: Repeat / reverse the last f/t motion.

Example: press ;

%: Jump to the matching bracket: paren, brace, bracket.

Example: press % on ( or {

gd: Go to the definition of the identifier under the cursor.

Example: press gd

gi: Return to the last insert position: resume typing where you left off.

Example: press gi

``: Jump back to the previous position: the goto-return.

Example: press ``

Ctrl-o / Ctrl-i: Jump back / forward through the jump list: navigation history.

Example: press Ctrl-o

Editing & Clipboard

x: Delete the character under the cursor.

Example: press x

X: Delete the character BEFORE the cursor.

Example: press X

dd: Delete the whole line.

Example: press dd

dw: Delete from the cursor to the end of the word.

Example: press dw

d$: Delete to the end of the line.

Example: press d$

d0: Delete to the start of the line.

Example: press d0

D: Delete to end of line: shorthand for d$.

Example: press D

ciw: Change the whole word under the cursor: the most-used command.

Example: ciw then type replacement

ci": Change everything inside quotes.

Example: ci" then type new string

ci(: Change everything inside parentheses.

Example: ci(

ci{: Change everything inside braces.

Example: ci{

ct<char>: Change up to (not including) a character.

Example: ct; changes up to the semicolon

cc: Replace the whole line: delete and enter insert mode.

Example: press cc

r<char>: Replace the single character under the cursor.

Example: rX replaces with X

R: Enter replace mode: overwrite as you type.

Example: press R then type

yy: Yank (copy) the whole line.

Example: press yy

yw: Yank the word.

Example: press yw

y$: Yank to the end of the line.

Example: press y$

p: Paste AFTER the cursor (or below the line).

Example: press p

P: Paste BEFORE the cursor (or above the line).

Example: press P

"*yy: Yank into the system clipboard: share with other apps.

Example: "*yy then paste anywhere

"*p: Paste FROM the system clipboard.

Example: "*p

ggdG: Delete the ENTIRE file content: gg then dG.

Example: ggdG

dG: Delete from the cursor to the end of the file.

Example: press dG

.: Repeat the last change: the macro for one action.

Example: press . to repeat

>> / <<: Indent / unindent the current line.

Example: press >>

=G: Auto-format (indent) to the end of the file.

Example: press =G

J: Join the next line onto the current one.

Example: press J

Search & Replace

/pattern: Search forward: the command line shows your pattern.

Example: /TODO

?pattern: Search backward.

Example: ?FIXME

n / N: Next / previous search match.

Example: press n

*: Search for the exact word under the cursor: the fastest search.

Example: place cursor on word, press *

:s/old/new/: Replace first occurrence on the current line.

Example: :s/foo/bar/

:s/old/new/g: Replace ALL occurrences on the current line.

Example: :s/foo/bar/g

:%s/old/new/g: Replace ALL occurrences in the whole file.

Example: :%s/foo/bar/g

:%s/old/new/gc: Replace globally with confirmation: review each change.

Example: :%s/foo/bar/gc

:s/old/new/gI: Case-insensitive replace.

Example: :s/foo/bar/gI

:%s/\<word\>/new/g: Whole-word replace: no partial matches.

Example: :%s/\<cat\>/dog/g

:g/pattern/d: Delete every line matching a pattern.

Example: :g/^\s*$/d removes blank lines

:v/pattern/d: Delete every line NOT matching: keep only matches.

Example: :v/ERROR/d

:%s/\d\+/NUM/g: Replace with regex: search patterns are regex.

Example: :%s/\d\+/N/g

Buffers, Windows & Tabs

:ls: List all open buffers.

Example: :ls

:bn / :bp: Go to the next / previous buffer.

Example: :bn

:b <name>: Jump to a buffer by name or number.

Example: :b main

:bd: Close the current buffer (file tab).

Example: :bd

:split: Split horizontally: two files stacked.

Example: :split src/main.ts

:vsplit: Split vertically: side-by-side diff view.

Example: :vsplit other.ts

Ctrl-w w: Cycle focus between split windows.

Example: press Ctrl-w w

Ctrl-w h/j/k/l: Move focus to the window in that direction.

Example: press Ctrl-w l

Ctrl-w _: Maximize the current window vertically.

Example: press Ctrl-w _

Ctrl-w =: Equalize all window sizes.

Example: press Ctrl-w =

Ctrl-w o: Close all other windows: focus only the current one.

Example: press Ctrl-w o

:tabnew <file>: Open a file in a new tab.

Example: :tabnew src/main.ts

gt / gT: Next / previous tab.

Example: press gt

:tabs: List all tabs.

Example: :tabs

Visual Mode

v: Character-wise visual mode: select exact characters.

Example: press v then move

V: Line-wise visual mode: select whole lines.

Example: press V then jjj

Ctrl-v: Block visual mode: select a rectangle. Multi-line column edits.

Example: Ctrl-v then select a column

viw: Select the word under the cursor.

Example: press viw

vip: Select the whole paragraph.

Example: press vip

vi" / vi( / vi{: Select inside quotes / parens / braces.

Example: press vi"

y (in visual): Yank the selection.

Example: select then press y

d (in visual): Delete the selection.

Example: select then press d

c (in visual): Change the selection: delete and enter insert mode.

Example: select then press c

> (in visual): Indent the selection.

Example: select then press >

u / U (in visual): Lowercase / uppercase the selection.

Example: select then press U

gv: Re-select the last visual selection.

Example: press gv

Macros, Marks & Folds

qa ... q: Record a macro into register a: press qa, do the actions, press q.

Example: qa then actions then q

@a: Play back macro a.

Example: press @a

10@a: Play macro a 10 times: repeat a transformation across lines.

Example: 10@a

ma: Set mark a at the cursor position.

Example: press ma

`a: Jump to mark a.

Example: press `a

:marks: List all marks.

Example: :marks

zf: Create a fold over the current motion (e.g. zfap for paragraph).

Example: press zfap

zo / zc: Open / close a fold.

Example: press zo

zR / zM: Open ALL / close ALL folds.

Example: press zR

:sort: Sort the current selection or file lines.

Example: :sort

:g/^/m0: Reverse the file: every line moved to the top in order.

Example: :g/^/m0

Frequently asked questions

How do I exit Vim?

Type :q to quit, :wq or ZZ to save and quit, :q! to quit without saving. If you are stuck in insert mode press Esc first. Vim keys: Esc returns to Normal mode, then use the colon commands.

What are Vim modes?

Normal mode is the default for navigation and commands (hjkl to move). Insert mode (i) types text. Visual mode (v) selects text for operations. Command-line mode (:) runs ex commands like :w and :%s.

How do I search and replace?

Search forward with /pattern and backward with ?pattern. Replace globally with :%s/old/new/g: add c for confirmation, use c for case-insensitive, and for word boundaries.

How do I copy and paste?

In Normal mode, yy copies a line, yw copies a word, and p pastes after the cursor. To copy between Vim sessions use the system clipboard: "+y to copy and "+p to paste.