How do I save and quit in Vim?

In Normal mode type :w to write (save), :q to quit, and :wq (or :x, or ZZ) to write and quit. Use :q! to quit without saving any changes.

How do I find and replace in Vim?

Use :%s/old/new/g to replace all occurrences of old with new across the file. Add a c flag (:%s/old/new/gc) to confirm each replacement individually.

How do I delete a whole line in Vim?

Press dd in Normal mode to delete (cut) the current line. dw deletes to the start of the next word and d$ deletes to the end of the line. yy copies (yanks) a line so you can paste it with p.

How do I exit Vim if I am stuck?

First press Esc to make sure you are in Normal mode, then type :q! and Enter to quit without saving, or :wq to save and quit. This is the most common Vim escape.

What are the main Vim modes?

Normal mode (the default, for navigation and commands), Insert mode (i, a, o to type text), Visual mode (v, V, Ctrl-v to select), and Command-line mode (commands starting with a colon). Esc always returns to Normal mode.

How do I jump to the top or bottom of a file?

gg goes to the first line and G goes to the last line. A number before G, such as 50G, jumps to that line number.

How do I move by words instead of characters?

w jumps to the start of the next word, b jumps back a word, and e goes to the end of the current word. These motions also combine with operators, e.g. dw deletes to the next word.

Is any data sent anywhere?

No — this is a static reference that runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Vim Commands Cheat Sheet

Vim is a modal text editor: the same keys do different things depending on the mode you are in. That power is what makes Vim fast once learned and bewildering at first. This searchable cheat sheet collects the most-used commands — entering modes, moving around, editing, searching and replacing, and managing files and windows — each paired with a plain-English description so you can find the keystroke you need in seconds.

How it works

The reference is grouped into five sections that mirror how you actually work in Vim:

Group	Covers
Modes	i, a, o, v, V, Ctrl-v, Esc
Motion	h j k l, w b e, gg, G, 0, $
Editing	x, dd, dw, d$, yy, p, u
Search & replace	/pattern, n, N, :%s/old/new/g
Files & windows	:w, :q, :wq, :q!, splits

Type a key or an action — for example delete, save, or search — into the search box and the list filters live to matching commands and descriptions.

Example

To save and quit, make sure you are in Normal mode (press Esc), then type :wq and Enter — or the shorthand :x or ZZ. To replace every occurrence of a word across the file, run :%s/old/new/g; add the c flag (:%s/old/new/gc) to confirm each change. To delete a line and paste it elsewhere, press dd to cut, move the cursor, then p to paste below.

Everything runs in your browser — this is a static reference and nothing is uploaded.