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Neovim Cheatsheet

File Navigation

  • :e filename — open file
  • :Ex — open file explorer
  • :w — save
  • :q — quit

Scrolling

  • zz — scroll so current line is centered
  • zb — scroll so current line is at bottom
  • zt — scroll so current line is at top
  • fx / Fx — move to next/previous occurrence of x
  • tx / Tx — move right before next/previous occurrence of x
  • ; / , — repeat/unrepeat last f, F, t, or T motion

Mode Switching

  • <C-o> — switch to command mode temporarily for one command

Text Casing

  • ~ — invert case of the character under the cursor
  • g~ + range (e.g. g~e, g~$, g~iw, g~0) — invert case over a range
  • gu + range — lowercase over a range
  • gU + range — UPPERCASE over a range

Folding

  • zM — close all folds
  • zm — fold more (increase folding level)
  • zR — open all folds
  • zr — unfold one level
  • zO — open fold recursively under cursor
  • zo — open current fold

Multicursor Editing (Visual Block)

  1. <C-v> — enter Visual Block mode
  2. Use j / k to select multiple lines
  3. $ — move to end of each line
  4. A — append text at the end
  5. Type your text
  6. <Esc> — finish block insert

Replacing

  1. : %s/old_text/new_text/g Replace all occurrences in the current file

Surround (via nvim-surround)

  • ys{motion}{char} — add surrounding
  • ds{char} — delete surrounding
  • cs{target}{replacement} — change surrounding

Examples

Old Text Command New Text
surr*ound_words ysiw) (surround_words)
*make strings ys$" "make strings"
[delete ar*ound me!] ds] delete around me!
remove <b>HTML t*ags</b> dst remove HTML tags
'change quot*es' cs'" "change quotes"
<b>or tag* types</b> csth1<CR> <h1>or tag types</h1>
delete(functi*on calls) dsf function calls

✅ Tip: Install nvim-surround with a plugin manager like lazy.nvim, packer.nvim, or vim-plug to use the surround shortcuts.