The classic first question. Press `Esc` to ensure you're in normal mode, then: `:q` to quit (if the file is unmodified); `:q!` to force quit (discard changes); `:wq` to save and quit; or `ZZ` as a shortcut for save-and-quit. If completely stuck, press `Ctrl+c` or `Esc` a few times, then enter `:qa!` to quit all open windows.

Vim Command Cheatsheet

Q: What's the difference between Vim and Neovim?

Neovim is a modern fork of Vim with key improvements: 1) Better async plugin support (no UI freezing); 2) Built-in LSP (Language Server Protocol) support; 3) First-class Lua configuration. 90% of daily editing is identical — same keybindings, same muscle memory. Neovim has become the go-to choice for new users, but classic Vim remains widely used.

Q: What are Vim's three main modes?

1) **Normal mode** — default for navigation and commands, press `Esc` or `Ctrl+[` to return. 2) **Insert mode** — for typing text, press `i` to enter, `Esc` to return. 3) **Visual mode** — for selecting text, `v` (character), `V` (line), `Ctrl+v` (block). There's also Command-line mode (`:` prefix).

Q: How do I do a find-and-replace in Vim?

Basic format: `:%s/old/new/g`. `%` means whole file, `g` means all matches on a line. Common variants: `:%s/foo/bar/gc` (confirm each replacement); `:5,20s/foo/bar/g` (lines 5-20 only); `:s/foo/bar/g` (current line only). Special characters in the pattern need `\` escaping.

Q: How do I use split windows in Vim?

Horizontal split: `:sp` or `:split`. Vertical split: `:vs` or `:vsplit`. Navigate between windows with `Ctrl+w` + `h/j/k/l`. Use `Ctrl+w` + `=` to equalize, `Ctrl+w` + `_` to maximize height, `Ctrl+w` + `|` to maximize width. Close the current window with `:q`.

Q: What are the essential Vimrc settings?

Edit `~/.vimrc` (Vim) or `~/.config/nvim/init.lua` (Neovim). Essentials: `set number` (line numbers), `set relativenumber` (relative line numbers), `set tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4` (tab width), `set expandtab` (spaces over tabs), `set hlsearch` (highlight search), `set ignorecase smartcase` (smart case search), `syntax on` (syntax highlighting).

Vim is synonymous with efficient text editing. This cheatsheet covers the most commonly used Vim commands — from basic operations to macro recording — each with practical examples. Whether you're new to Vim or looking to level up, this guide has you covered. Start with basic operations and cursor movement, then gradually explore search, windows, and advanced features.

Updated: 2026-07-16·42 commands

Quick Reference

Task	Key / Command

Start editing	`i` (insert before cursor)
Save file	`:w`
Save and quit	`:wq` or `ZZ`
Copy a line	`yy`
Delete a line	`dd`
Paste	`p` (after) / `P` (before)
Undo	`u`
Search	`/pattern`
Replace all	`:%s/old/new/g`
Split window	`:vs` (vertical) / `:sp` (horizontal)

Basic Operations

``bash # Mode switching i # Insert before cursor a # Insert after cursor o # Open new line below and insert I # Insert at line beginning A # Insert at line end O # Open new line above and insert Esc / Ctrl+[ # Return to normal mode

# File operations :e file.txt # Open a file :w # Save :q # Quit :wq / ZZ # Save and quit :q! # Force quit (discard changes) :e! # Reload file (undo all changes) :help topic # Open help`

`Cursor Movement`

`bash # Basic movement h # Left j # Down k # Up l # Right 5j # Move down 5 lines

# Word movement w # Forward to word start b # Backward to word start e # Forward to word end ge # Backward to word end 3w # Forward 3 words

# Line movement 0 # First column ^ # First non-blank character $ # End of line g_ # Last non-blank character

# File navigation gg # First line G # Last line 42G / :42 # Jump to line 42 Ctrl+d # Scroll down half page Ctrl+u # Scroll up half page Ctrl+f # Scroll down full page Ctrl+b # Scroll up full page

# Code blocks % # Matching bracket ( / ) # Previous/next sentence { / } # Previous/next paragraph

# Screen positioning zz # Center cursor on screen zt # Top of screen zb # Bottom of screen`

`Editing`

`bash # Delete x # Delete character under cursor X # Delete character before cursor 3x # Delete 3 characters dd # Delete current line 5dd # Delete 5 lines D # Delete to end of line dw # Delete to word end diw # Delete inner word daw # Delete a word (including space) di( # Delete inside parentheses da" # Delete around quotes

# Yank (Copy) yy # Yank current line 5yy # Yank 5 lines yiw # Yank inner word y$ # Yank to end of line

# Paste p # Paste after cursor P # Paste before cursor

# Change r # Replace character R # Enter replace mode ciw # Change inner word ci( # Change inside parentheses c$ # Change to end of line cc # Change entire line

# Undo & Repeat u # Undo Ctrl+r # Redo . # Repeat last change`

`Visual Mode`

`bash # Enter visual mode v # Character-wise visual V # Line-wise visual Ctrl+v # Block visual (column editing)

# Visual operations (select then press) d # Delete selection y # Yank (copy) selection > # Indent right < # Indent left ~ # Toggle case u # Lowercase U # Uppercase : # Execute command on selection

# Column editing trick Ctrl+v # Enter block select jjj # Select multiple lines downwards I # Insert at column start text # Type the text to insert Esc # Apply to all selected lines`

`Search & Replace`

`bash # Search /pattern # Search forward ?pattern # Search backward n # Next match N # Previous match * # Search word under cursor (forward) # # Search word under cursor (backward)

# Highlight control :nohlsearch # Clear search highlighting set hlsearch # Enable highlight set nohlsearch # Disable highlight

# Replace :s/old/new/ # Replace first match on current line :s/old/new/g # Replace all on current line :%s/old/new/g # Replace in whole file :%s/old/new/gc # Replace with confirmation :5,20s/old/new/g # Replace in lines 5-20 :%s/old/new/gn # Count matches (no actual replace)`

`Windows & Tabs`

`bash # Window management :sp [file] # Split horizontally :vs [file] # Split vertically Ctrl+w h # Go to left window Ctrl+w j # Go to window below Ctrl+w k # Go to window above Ctrl+w l # Go to right window Ctrl+w w # Cycle through windows Ctrl+w = # Equalize window sizes Ctrl+w _ # Maximize window height Ctrl+w | # Maximize window width Ctrl+w + # Increase height Ctrl+w - # Decrease height :q # Close current window :only # Close all but current

# Tab pages :tabnew [file] # Open in new tab gt # Next tab gT # Previous tab Ngt # Go to tab N :tabclose # Close current tab :tabonly # Close other tabs :tabmove +1 # Move tab right`

`Advanced Techniques`

`bash # Macros qa # Start recording macro 'a' ... # Perform your actions q # Stop recording @a # Play macro 'a' @@ # Repeat last macro 5@a # Play macro 'a' 5 times

# Registers "ayy # Yank current line to register 'a' "ap # Paste from register 'a' :reg # View all registers "+y # Yank to system clipboard "+p # Paste from system clipboard

# Marks ma # Set mark 'a' at cursora # Jump to mark 'a' 'a # Jump to line of mark 'a' :marks # List all marks

# Autocomplete (insert mode) Ctrl+p # Previous completion Ctrl+n # Next completion Ctrl+x Ctrl+l # Complete whole line Ctrl+x Ctrl+f # Complete filename Ctrl+x Ctrl+] # Complete tag

# Run shell commands from Vim :!ls # Run 'ls' command :!python % # Run current Python file :read !date # Insert command output :r !curl -s URL # Insert curl result ``

`Vim Configuration`

`vim " ~/.vimrc common settings

" Interface set number " Show line numbers set relativenumber " Show relative line numbers set cursorline " Highlight current line set showmode " Show current mode set showcmd " Show partial commands

" Indentation set tabstop=4 " Tab width: 4 set shiftwidth=4 " Indent width: 4 set expandtab " Use spaces instead of tabs set autoindent " Auto indent set smartindent " Smart indent

" Search set hlsearch " Highlight search results set incsearch " Incremental search set ignorecase " Ignore case set smartcase " Smart case sensitivity

" Editing set backspace=indent,eol,start " Allow backspace over anything set clipboard=unnamedplus " Use system clipboard syntax on " Enable syntax highlighting

" File type filetype plugin indent on " Load filetype-specific plugins`

`Vim Learning Path`

`Beginner → Basic operations + cursor movement (hjkl + counts) Daily use → Delete/yank/paste + search/replace + undo/redo Efficiency → Text objects (diw/ci(/da") + block visual mode Advanced → Macros + registers + multi-file editing + customization``

Basic(9)

Command	Level	Example
`i / a / o` Enter insert mode (before cursor / after cursor / new line)	Basic	`i`
`Esc / Ctrl+[` Return to normal mode	Basic	`<Esc>`
`:w` Save the file	Basic	`:w`
`:q` Quit Vim	Basic	`:q`
`:wq / ZZ` Save and quit	Basic	`:wq`
`:q!` Force quit (discard changes)	Basic	`:q!`
`:e <file>` Open a file	Basic	`:e ~/.vimrc`
`:help <topic>` Open Vim built-in help	Intermediate	`:help i_Ctrl-p`
`vimtutor` Launch the Vim interactive tutorial (best way for beginners)	Basic	`vimtutor`

Navigation(7)

Command	Level	Example
`h / j / k / l` Move left / down / up / right	Basic	`5j`
`w / b` Move forward / backward by word	Basic	`3w`
`0 / ^ / $` Move to line start (absolute / first non-blank) / line end	Basic	`0`
`gg / G` Jump to file start / file end	Basic	`gg`
`:<n>` Jump to line N	Basic	`:42`
`Ctrl+d / Ctrl+u` Scroll down / up half a page	Basic	`Ctrl+d`
`% / [ ] / { }` Jump to matching bracket / paragraph start-end / code block start-end	Intermediate	`% # 匹配的括号`

editing(7)

Command	Level	Example
`x / X` Delete character under cursor / before cursor	Basic	`3x`
`dd / yy / p / P` Delete line / yank line / paste after / paste before	Basic	`dd; 5yy; p`
`diw / ciw / yiw` Delete / change / yank inner word	Intermediate	`diw`
`da" / ci( / ya{` Delete / change / yank around quotes/brackets (including delimiters)	Intermediate	`da"`
`r<char>` Replace character under cursor	Basic	`ra`
`. (dot)` Repeat the last change	Intermediate	`.`
`u / Ctrl+r` Undo / redo	Basic	`u`

Visual Mode(3)

Command	Level	Example
`v / V / Ctrl+v` Character-wise / line-wise / block-wise visual mode	Intermediate	`Ctrl+v`
`> / <` Indent / unindent selected lines	Basic	`> # 向右缩进`
`~ / u / U` Toggle case / lowercase / uppercase	Basic

Search(5)

Command	Level	Example
`/<pattern> / ?<pattern>` Search forward / search backward	Basic	`/function`
`n / N` Jump to next / previous match	Basic	`n`
`* / #` Search word under cursor (forward / backward)	Basic	`* # 向下搜索当前词`
`:%s/<old>/<new>/g` Search and replace across entire file	Intermediate	`:%s/foo/bar/g`
`:%s/<old>/<new>/gc` Search and replace with confirmation	Intermediate	`:%s/foo/bar/gc`

Windows(5)

Command	Level	Example
`:sp <file> / :vs <file>` Split horizontally / vertically to open a file	Intermediate	`:vs ~/.vimrc`
`Ctrl+w h/j/k/l` Navigate to left / down / up / right window	Intermediate	`Ctrl+w l`
`Ctrl+w = / _ / \|` Equalize windows / maximize height / maximize width	Intermediate	`Ctrl+w =`
`:tabnew / gt / gT` New tab / next tab / previous tab	Intermediate	`gt`
`:tabm <n>` Move the current tab page to position N	Intermediate	`:tabm 0`

Advanced(6)

Command	Level	Example
`q<letter> ... q` Start recording a macro / stop recording	Expert	`qa`
`@<letter> / @@` Play a macro / repeat last macro	Expert	`@a # 播放宏 a`
`"<reg>p / "<reg>y` Paste / yank using a specific register	Expert	`"ayy # 复制到寄存器 a`
`m<letter> / '<letter>` Set a mark / jump to a mark	Intermediate	`ma; 'a`
`:!<command>` Execute a shell command from Vim	Intermediate	`:!ls -la`
`Ctrl+p / Ctrl+n` Autocomplete in insert mode (previous / next)	Intermediate	`Ctrl+p`

FAQ

How do I exit Vim?

What's the difference between Vim and Neovim?

What are Vim's three main modes?

How do I do a find-and-replace in Vim?

How do I use split windows in Vim?

What are the essential Vimrc settings?

This cheatsheet is compiled from official tool documentation. Last updated: 2026-07-16.