Vim Cheatsheet | Essential Vim Shortcuts

Vim Cheatsheet

Vim cheatsheet from core editing to advanced navigation and macros.

38/38 commands
TerminalAll Developers

This Vim cheatsheet covers both the daily essentials and high-impact advanced motions that make terminal editing much faster.

Modes and Navigation

Insert mode
i
Return to normal mode
Esc
Jump start/end of file
gg / G
Move by word
w / b / e
Line start and end
0 / ^ / $
Jump matching bracket
%
Find character on line
f<char> / t<char>

Text Objects and Editing

Delete word
dw
Delete inner word
diw
Change inner word
ciw
Change inside quotes
ci"
Delete around parentheses
da(
Yank inner paragraph
yip

Search and Replace

Search pattern
/<pattern>
Next and previous result
n / N
Replace in full file
:%s/<old>/<new>/g
Replace with confirmation
:%s/<old>/<new>/gc
Delete empty lines
:g/^$/d
Keep only matching lines
:v/<pattern>/d

Splits, Tabs, and Buffers

Vertical split
:vsplit <file>
Horizontal split
:split <file>
Move across splits
Ctrl-w h/j/k/l
Open new tab
:tabnew <file>
Next and previous buffer
:bnext / :bprev
List buffers
:ls

Macros and Bulk Editing

Start recording macro a
qa
Stop recording macro
q
Run macro a
@a
Repeat last macro
@@
Append text at end of selected lines
Visual Line (V) -> select lines -> A<text> -> Esc
Run normal mode command on all lines
:%normal I//

Save and Quit

Save
:w
Save all files
:wa
Quit
:q
Save and quit
:wq
Force quit
:q!
Yank to system clipboard
"+y
Paste from system clipboard
"+p

What Is Vim Cheatsheet?

This Vim cheatsheet covers both the daily essentials and high-impact advanced motions that make terminal editing much faster.

Core and advanced navigation

Text objects and replacement patterns

Macros, splits, and multi-file workflow commands

Key Features of Vim Cheatsheet

Core and advanced navigation

Text objects and replacement patterns

Macros, splits, and multi-file workflow commands

How to Use Vim Cheatsheet

Step 1

Start in normal mode and combine motion + operator commands

Step 2

Use text objects and substitution patterns for fast bulk edits

Step 3

Use splits, buffers, and macros for larger refactors

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Keep moving through related workflows without leaving the toolkit.

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Still need help?

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