---
title: "Vim Commands Cheatsheet"
slug: "vim-commands"
category: "cheatsheets"
tags: ["cheatsheets", "vim", "editor", "cli", "reference", "terminal"]
status: "stable"
last_updated: 2026-05-14
summary: "Vim modes, motions, operators, registers, macros, and search/replace: the commands worth memorizing for efficient editing without a mouse."
related:
  [
    "[[cheatsheets/tmux-commands]]",
    "[[cheatsheets/bash-one-liners]]",
    "[[cheatsheets/find-grep-awk-sed]]",
    "[[cheatsheets/regex-patterns]]",
    "[[coding/shell]]",
    "[[cheatsheets/index|Cheatsheets]]",
  ]
---

## Overview

Vim's learning curve is real but front-loaded. Once the modal model clicks, editing speed compounds. This card covers the motions, operators, and commands worth internalizing. For terminal multiplexing alongside Vim, see [[cheatsheets/tmux-commands]].

## Modes

Every keystroke's meaning depends on the current mode.

| Mode | How to enter | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Normal | `Esc` or `Ctrl-[` | Navigate and operate. The default mode. |
| Insert | `i`, `a`, `o`, `I`, `A`, `O` | Type text. |
| Visual | `v` (char), `V` (line), `Ctrl-v` (block) | Select text for an operation. |
| Command | `:` | Enter ex commands (save, quit, substitute). |
| Replace | `R` | Overwrite characters in place. |

Return to Normal with `Esc` from any mode. When confused, press `Esc` twice.

## Motions

Motions move the cursor. Prefix with a count: `3w` moves three words forward.

| Motion | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `h` `j` `k` `l` | Left, down, up, right. |
| `w` / `W` | Forward one word / WORD (whitespace-delimited). |
| `b` / `B` | Back one word / WORD. |
| `e` / `E` | Forward to end of word / WORD. |
| `0` | Start of line. |
| `^` | First non-blank character of line. |
| `$` | End of line. |
| `gg` | First line of file. |
| `G` | Last line of file. |
| `{` / `}` | Previous / next empty line (paragraph). |
| `%` | Jump to matching bracket, paren, or brace. |
| `f{c}` / `F{c}` | Jump to next / previous occurrence of character `c` on the line. |
| `t{c}` / `T{c}` | Jump to just before / after `c`. |
| `Ctrl-d` / `Ctrl-u` | Scroll half page down / up. |
| `:42` | Jump to line 42. |

`f` then `;` to repeat the search forward; `,` to repeat backward.

## Operators

Operators act on a motion: `operator + motion` or `operator + text-object`.

| Operator | Action |
| --- | --- |
| `d` | Delete (cut). |
| `c` | Change (delete and enter Insert). |
| `y` | Yank (copy). |
| `>` / `<` | Indent / de-indent. |
| `=` | Auto-indent. |
| `gU` / `gu` | Uppercase / lowercase. |

Doubles apply to the whole line: `dd` deletes a line, `yy` yanks a line, `cc` changes a line.

Common text objects used with operators:

| Text object | Selects |
| --- | --- |
| `iw` / `aw` | Inner word / a word (includes surrounding space). |
| `i"` / `a"` | Inside / around double quotes. |
| `i(` / `a(` | Inside / around parentheses. |
| `i{` / `a{` | Inside / around braces. |
| `it` / `at` | Inside / around an HTML tag. |
| `ip` / `ap` | Inner / a paragraph. |

`ci"` changes everything inside double quotes. `da(` deletes a parenthesized expression including the parens.

## Search and replace

Search is a motion; use it to drive operators.

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `/pattern` | Search forward. `n` next, `N` previous. |
| `?pattern` | Search backward. |
| `*` / `#` | Search forward / backward for the word under cursor. |
| `:%s/old/new/g` | Replace all occurrences in the file. |
| `:%s/old/new/gc` | Replace with confirmation at each occurrence. |
| `:10,20s/old/new/g` | Replace in lines 10 to 20. |
| `:'<,'>s/old/new/g` | Replace in visual selection (populated automatically after `V`). |
| `:noh` | Clear search highlight. |

Patterns use Vim regex. Use `\v` (very magic mode) for PCRE-like syntax: `:%s/\v(\w+)@(\w+)/\1 at \2/g`.

## Registers and macros

Registers are named clipboards; macros record keystrokes into a register.

| Command | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `"ayy` | Yank a line into register `a`. |
| `"ap` | Paste from register `a`. |
| `"+y` | Yank to the system clipboard. |
| `"+p` | Paste from the system clipboard. |
| `:reg` | Show all register contents. |
| `qa` | Start recording a macro into register `a`. |
| `q` | Stop recording. |
| `@a` | Play macro `a`. |
| `10@a` | Play macro `a` ten times. |
| `@@` | Replay the last macro. |

Design macros to be repeatable: end with a motion that positions the cursor for the next invocation.

## Common gotchas

- Pressing `u` in Insert mode undoes a character; in Normal mode it undoes the last change. If your undos feel too granular, break insert sessions with `Esc` between logical chunks.
- `x` deletes into the unnamed register, overwriting your last yank. Yank into a named register (`"ay`) before deleting if you need to paste the yanked text later.
- `:q!` discards unsaved changes without confirmation. Use `:wqa` to write all buffers and quit.
- `dd` on a blank line still puts the newline in the register. `"_dd` sends the delete to the black-hole register and leaves the clipboard alone.
- Vim regex is not PCRE. `+` requires `\+` without `\v`. Use `\v` at the start of a pattern to enable very magic mode and write `+`, `()`, `|` without backslashes.
- `:set paste` before pasting from the system clipboard in Insert mode to prevent autoindent from mangling indentation. Reset with `:set nopaste`. Neovim does not need this.

## Related

- [[cheatsheets/tmux-commands]]
- [[cheatsheets/regex-patterns]]
- [[cheatsheets/bash-one-liners]]
- [[cheatsheets/find-grep-awk-sed]]
- [[coding/shell]]
- [[cheatsheets/index|Cheatsheets]]