Vim

paulpetelski's avatar
paulpetelski's avatar
paulpetelski
Published Mar 23, 2022Updated Mar 18, 2025
Contribute to Docs

Vim is a screen-based text editor that is free, open-source, and based on the vi editor that was originally created for the Unix operating system. However, it can be run on other systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux, or Android.

Many plugins are available to add to the many features built into Vim. Developers will find it useful for working on source code or scripting files. Vim is ideal for editing configuration files when working from the terminal.

Features

This section describes some important features of the Vim editor.

  • It has text completion for faster editing.
  • It is able to compare differences between files and merge them.
  • It can search with regular expressions.
  • Users can perform a wide range of tasks such as navigating to specific locations within a document, or replacing specific text, using a suite of commands.
  • Users can open files in multiple tabs.
  • Users can create macros to execute a sequence of commands.

Vim Modes

Vim has four modes of operation:

  • NORMAL MODE : Used for editor commands like navigation, deletion, and copy-paste. This is the default mode, and pressing Esc returns to it.
  • COMMAND MODE : Provides a single line input at the bottom of the Vim window. Commands (beginning with :) and some other keys for specific actions (including pattern search and the filter command) activate this mode. On completion of the command, Vim returns to the previous mode.
  • INSERT MODE : Allows to type and edit text. Entered via i, a, o, etc.
  • VISUAL MODE : Used for highlighting, selecting, and manipulating text. Sub-modes include character (v), line (V), and block (Ctrl+v) selection.

Launching Vim

Vim can be launched directly from the terminal by running the vim command. The start screen will look like this:

Vim terminal screenshot

The following command is commonly used for exiting Vim on the terminal:

~
~
~
:q!

While this will close the current buffer, it will not save any changes made in the file. Here are some recommended safeguards:

Command Description
:!wq Closes the current file buffer and saves the changes.
:!xa Saves all changes and exits Vim.
!wqa Works the same as the :!xa command.
:!qa Closes Vim without warning by ending all file buffers and not saving their changes.
:qa Will not close Vim if there are any unsaved changes.

A file named filename.txt can be opened in the Vim editor. If filename.txt does not exist, the file will be created:

vim filename.txt

Vim Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Vim is also available as a GUI application:

Vim gui screenshot

All contributors

Contribute to Docs

Learn Command Line on Codecademy