VI Editor Complete Command Set

VI/VIM is often the only editor available on Linux servers. This page focuses on the commands engineers really use in production, with one-line explanations and examples.

Modes

Mode	Purpose
Normal mode	Navigation and editing commands
Insert mode	Typing text
Command mode	Save, quit, search, replace

Open Files

Command	What it does	Example
`vi file.txt`	Opens a file in vi.	`vi file.txt`
`vi +100 app.log`	Opens a file and jumps to line 100.	`vi +100 app.log`
`vi -R config.yml`	Opens a file in read-only mode.	`vi -R config.yml`

Insert Mode Commands

Command	What it does	Example
`i`	Starts typing before the cursor.	`i`
`I`	Starts typing at the beginning of the line.	`I`
`a`	Starts typing after the cursor.	`a`
`A`	Starts typing at the end of the line.	`A`
`o`	Creates a new line below and enters insert mode.	`o`
`O`	Creates a new line above and enters insert mode.	`O`
`Esc`	Leaves insert mode and returns to normal mode.	`Esc`

Save and Exit

Command	What it does	Example
`:w`	Saves the current file.	`:w`
`:q`	Quits the editor.	`:q`
`:wq`	Saves the file and quits.	`:wq`
`:x`	Saves and quits if changes exist.	`:x`
`:q!`	Quits without saving changes.	`:q!`

Navigation

Command	What it does	Example
`h j k l`	Moves left, down, up and right.	`j`
`gg`	Jumps to the top of the file.	`gg`
`G`	Jumps to the bottom of the file.	`G`
`:100`	Jumps to line 100.	`:100`
`Ctrl+d`	Moves half a page down.	`Ctrl+d`
`Ctrl+u`	Moves half a page up.	`Ctrl+u`
`0`	Moves to the start of the line.	`0`
`$`	Moves to the end of the line.	`$`
`w`	Moves to the next word.	`w`
`b`	Moves to the previous word.	`b`

Search, Edit, Copy and Replace

Command	What it does	Example
`/ERROR`	Searches forward for text.	`/ERROR`
`?ERROR`	Searches backward for text.	`?ERROR`
`n`	Moves to the next search match.	`n`
`N`	Moves to the previous search match.	`N`
`dd`	Deletes the current line.	`dd`
`5dd`	Deletes five lines from the current line.	`5dd`
`dw`	Deletes the current word.	`dw`
`x`	Deletes one character.	`x`
`u`	Undoes the last change.	`u`
`Ctrl+r`	Redoes the undone change.	`Ctrl+r`
`yy`	Copies the current line.	`yy`
`5yy`	Copies five lines.	`5yy`
`p`	Pastes below the cursor.	`p`
`P`	Pastes above the cursor.	`P`
`r`	Replaces one character.	`r`
`:s/old/new/g`	Replaces text in the current line.	`:s/old/new/g`
`:%s/old/new/g`	Replaces text in the whole file.	`:%s/old/new/g`
`v`	Starts visual selection by character.	`v`
`V`	Starts visual selection by line.	`V`

Minimal Survival Set

Command	What it does	Example
`i`	Start typing.	`i`
`Esc`	Stop typing and return to command mode.	`Esc`
`:wq`	Save and exit.	`:wq`
`:q!`	Exit without saving.	`:q!`
`/text`	Search for text.	`/ERROR`
`n`	Go to next match.	`n`
`dd`	Delete a line.	`dd`
`yy`	Copy a line.	`yy`
`p`	Paste copied text.	`p`