Vim commands

Basic commands

Open a file in Normal Mode

vim file.name

Command Mode

Enter before a command

shift+:

Exit a Mode

To exit any mode

esc

Edit

Enter Insert Mode

i

Exit Insert Mode

esc

Save

w

Key Bindings

Move Right

h

Move Left

l

Move Up

k

Move Down

j

Move Foward a Word

w

Move Back a Word

b

Quit Vim

Quit

:q

Save and Quit

:wq

Visual Mode

To enter Visual Mode

v

To enter Visual Line Mode

shift+v

Open New File

Open blank New File

vim

Save As

:w FileName.txt

Editing

Delete a line

dd

Delete Line and Preserve Whitespace

shift+d

Delete a Word and Enter Insert Mode
At start of Word Type

cw

Edit Command Combinations Examples

Delete 5 Words

d5w

Change 3 Lines Down and Put into Insert Mode

c3j

Edit Commands - Action Location Context

Delete Text Within Tags

cit

Delete Text Within Curly Braces

ci{

Delete Text Within Double Quotes

ci"

Copy Commands

Enter Visual Mode

v

Then Highlight Line
Copy

y

Paste

p

Cut

dd

Configure VIM

Syntax Highlighting On

:syntax on

Syntax Highlighting Off

:syntax off

Line Numbers On

:set number

Line Numbers Off

:set nonumber

View All Options

:help option-list