(Day 57) Task : Getting Started with Vim: Essential Commands for Beginners

Updated November 13, 20263 min readMarkdown

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If you work on Linux, sooner or later you will have to edit a file in the terminal. That is where vi and vim come in. Vi (Visual editor) is a classic command-line text editor, and Vim (Vi IMproved) is its more powerful modern version. Both are pre-installed on almost every Linux system, which makes them worth learning even if you prefer other editors like Emacs or the graphical gedit.

Vim feels strange at first because you don't just start typing. This guide covers the three modes and the commands you'll use every day.

The Three Modes of Vim

Vim works in three modes:

Command mode: the default when you open a file. Keys are commands, not text.
Insert mode (edit mode): where you actually type text.
Extended command mode: where you run commands that start with :, such as saving and quitting.

To switch between them:

Press i in command mode to start inserting text.
Press Esc to return to command mode.
Press : in command mode to enter extended command mode.

Command Mode: Moving Around :

Command	What it does
`gg`	Go to the beginning of the file
`G`	Go to the end of the file
`w`	Move forward one word
`b`	Move backward one word
`nw`	Move forward n words (e.g. `5w`)
`nb`	Move backward n words (e.g. `5b`)

Undo and Redo :

Command	What it does
`u`	Undo the last change
`U`	Undo all changes on the current line
`Ctrl+R`	Redo the change you undid

Copy and Paste :

In Vim, copying is called "yanking".

Command	What it does
`yy`	Copy the current line
`nyy`	Copy n lines (e.g. `4yy`)
`p`	Paste below the cursor
`P`	Paste above the cursor

Deleting Text :

Command	What it does
`x`	Delete the character under the cursor (like the Delete key)
`X`	Delete the character before the cursor (like Backspace)
`dw`	Delete a word
`dd`	Delete the entire line
`ndd`	Delete n lines from the cursor (e.g. `5dd`)

For example, typing 3dd deletes three lines starting at the cursor. If you delete too much, press u to bring it back.

Searching :

Type / followed by a word and press Enter to search forward, for example /error. Press n to jump to the next match and N to go to the previous one.

Extended Command Mode: Save and Quit :

Command	What it does
`:w`	Save the file
`:q`	Quit
`:wq`	Save and quit
`:q!`	Quit without saving

The Question Every Beginner Asks: How Do I Exit?

If you are stuck, don't panic. Press Esc to make sure you are in command mode, then type :q! and press Enter to leave without saving. To keep your work, type :wq instead.

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