Vim Cheatsheet: The Essential Commands and Shortcuts for Beginners
Vim Cheatsheet: The Essential Commands and Shortcuts for Beginners
Oct 14, 2023

Vim is a powerful text editor that has been around for decades and is widely used by programmers and system administrators. Despite its powerful features, Vim can be intimidating for new users, who often find it difficult to remember all the commands and shortcuts. To help users get started with Vim, we have created a Vim cheatsheet that contains some of the most commonly used commands and shortcuts.

1. Navigation:

  • h: move cursor one character to the left
  • j: move cursor one line down
  • k: move cursor one line up
  • l: move cursor one character to the right
  • w: move cursor to the beginning of the next word
  • b: move cursor to the beginning of the previous word
  • 0 (zero): move cursor to the beginning of the line
  • $: move cursor to the end of the line

2. Editing:

  • i: insert mode
  • I: insert mode at the beginning of the line
  • a: insert mode after the cursor
  • A: insert mode at the end of the line
  • o: insert mode on a new line below the current line
  • O: insert mode on a new line above the current line
  • x: delete character under the cursor
  • dd: delete the current line
  • u: undo
  • ctrl + r: redo

3. Search:

  • /: search forward
  • ?: search backward
  • n: go to next match
  • N: go to previous match

4. Visual Mode:

  • v: enter visual mode to select text
  • V: enter visual mode to select entire lines
  • d: delete selected text

5. Saving and Exiting:

  • :w: save changes
  • :wq: save changes and exit
  • :q: exit without saving changes
  • :q!: exit without saving changes even if changes have been made

These are just a few of the basic commands and shortcuts that can help you get started with Vim. Keep in mind that Vim is a highly customizable text editor, and you can create your own shortcuts and commands to suit your needs. Additionally, there are many online resources, tutorials, and forums where you can find more information about Vim, including advanced topics and tricks.In conclusion, Vim is a powerful and versatile text editor that can greatly enhance your productivity. With a little practice and by using the commands and shortcuts outlined in this cheatsheet, you can master Vim and make it an essential tool in your workflow.