Search and search-and-replace in Vim
The Basics and Beyond
We show you how to build on the basic functionality of Vim by introducing some useful search commands.
As a descendant of vi, a text editor written in 1976, Vim could be the oldest application on any Linux system. Most distributions include it by default, and few users have never been exposed to it. However, very few learn more than the basics of functioning within Vim. To most, intricacies like the different ways to search remain forever mysteries.
Staying at this level of knowledge is in some ways understandable. With its dozens of commands and plugins, Vim can feel less like a text editor than a choice of lifestyle (even if you don't get involved in the traditional rivalry with Emacs). However, confining yourself to searching by eye and arrow keys is needlessly limited. You can easily choose your level of knowledge by learning a handful of additional search commands, by using Vim's internal version of grep, or even by adding a few plugins to enhance the control you have. Many of the commands are organized so that you can remember their variations easily.
Basic Search Options
As you probably know, Vim uses two basic modes: Command and Insert. You start in Command mode, and press the i key to switch to Insert mode, from which you can add text. To return to Command mode after adding text, press the Esc key. Status messages appear at the bottom of the window to orient you.
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