How to use the visual mode in vim

The Vim editor provides a powerful feature known as visual mode, which allows users to select and manipulate text in a more interactive and precise manner.

In visual mode, users can easily highlight text by moving the cursor or using motion commands. This mode offers three variations: character-wise, line-wise, and block-wise visual modes. Character-wise visual mode selects text character by character, line-wise visual mode selects whole lines, and block-wise visual mode selects rectangular blocks of text. Once text is selected, various operations can be performed, such as copying, cutting, pasting, or applying commands to the selected text. Vim's visual mode offers a flexible and efficient way to manipulate and edit text, making it a valuable tool for users seeking fine-grained control over their editing tasks.

Visual Line Mode

The visual line mode is a versatile feature that allows users to select and manipulate entire lines of text in a convenient and efficient manner. By entering visual line mode, users can easily highlight one or multiple lines by moving the cursor or using motion commands. This mode provides a visual representation of the selected lines, making it easier to perform operations on a larger scale. Once lines are selected, various actions can be applied, such as copying, cutting, pasting, or applying commands to the selected lines. Visual line mode is particularly useful for editing tasks that involve modifying or rearranging blocks of code, making it a valuable tool for developers. With the visual line mode in Vim, users have fine-grained control over their editing operations, enhancing their productivity and providing a seamless editing experience.


Visual Column Mode

The visual block mode allows users to select and manipulate rectangular blocks of text. By entering visual block mode, users can easily highlight a specific area by moving the cursor or using motion commands. This mode provides a visual representation of the selected block, enabling precise editing of columns or specific portions within lines. Once the block is selected, users can perform a variety of actions, such as copying, cutting, pasting, or applying commands to the selected block. Visual block mode is particularly useful for tasks like inserting or deleting columns of text, aligning code, or making changes to a specific area within a set of lines. With the visual block mode in Vim, users have a powerful tool at their disposal, allowing for efficient and precise editing of rectangular blocks of text.


Visual Object Selection

Visual object selection in Vim is a versatile feature that allows users to quickly and precisely select text objects based on their syntactic structure. By using a combination of commands and motions, users can efficiently highlight entire objects such as words, sentences, paragraphs, or even larger blocks of code. Visual object selection is context-aware and operates based on the underlying syntax of the file being edited, making it highly intuitive and accurate. This feature is particularly useful when performing targeted modifications or applying operations to specific parts of the text. With visual object selection in Vim, users can effortlessly navigate and manipulate their code or text with a fine-grained level of control, enhancing productivity and facilitating efficient editing workflows.

Here are some examples:
  • vi{: select code between curly braces
  • vip: select paragraph
  • vw: select word
  • vt<char>: select till character

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