Vim Motions Cheat Sheet for Beginners
This is your quick reference guide to essential Vim motions. Bookmark this page and return whenever you need to look up a command. Whether you're editing code, writing documentation, or navigating config files, these motions will make you faster and more efficient.
Essential Navigation
These are the fundamental motions you'll use constantly. Master these first before moving to advanced commands.
| Command | Action | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| h | Move left | Practice |
| j | Move down | Practice |
| k | Move up | Practice |
| l | Move right | Practice |
| w | Move to start of next word | Practice |
| e | Move to end of word | Practice |
| b | Move to start of previous word | Practice |
| 0 | Move to start of line | Practice |
| ^ | Move to first non-blank character | Practice |
| $ | Move to end of line | Practice |
| gg | Jump to start of file | Practice |
| G | Jump to end of file | Practice |
| :42 | Jump to line 42 | Practice |
Editing Commands
Once you can navigate efficiently, these editing commands will make you productive.
| Command | Action | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| i | Insert before cursor | Practice |
| a | Insert after cursor | Practice |
| o | Insert new line below | Practice |
| O | Insert new line above | Practice |
| x | Delete character under cursor | Practice |
| dd | Delete entire line | Practice |
| dw | Delete word | Practice |
| d$ | Delete to end of line | Practice |
| c | Change (delete and enter insert) | Practice |
| s | Substitute character | Practice |
| y | Yank (copy) | Practice |
| p | Put (paste) after cursor | Practice |
| u | Undo | - |
| Ctrl+r | Redo | - |
Search and Jump Commands
These commands let you jump to specific locations instantly, making navigation effortless.
| Command | Action | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| /pattern | Search forward for pattern | Practice |
| ?pattern | Search backward for pattern | Practice |
| n | Jump to next match | Practice |
| N | Jump to previous match | Practice |
| f<char> | Find next occurrence of char in line | Practice |
| F<char> | Find previous occurrence of char | Practice |
| t<char> | Move cursor before next char | Practice |
| T<char> | Move cursor before previous char | Practice |
| * | Search for word under cursor | Practice |
| # | Search backward for word under cursor | Practice |
Visual Mode Selection
Visual mode lets you select text before applying a command. It's powerful for bulk operations.
| Command | Action | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| v | Enter character-wise visual mode | Practice |
| V | Enter line-wise visual mode | Practice |
| Ctrl+v | Enter block-wise visual mode | Practice |
| v + motion + d | Select and delete | Practice |
| v + motion + y | Select and yank (copy) | Practice |
Pro Tips for Maximum Efficiency
💡 Combine Numbers with Motions
Add a number before any motion to repeat it. Examples:
3w- Move forward 3 words5j- Move down 5 lines2dd- Delete 2 lines
⚡ The Dot Command
Press . to repeat your last change. This is one of Vim's most powerful features. Make a change once, then navigate and press . to repeat it elsewhere.
🎯 Most Used Shortcuts
These are the commands you'll use 80% of the time:
hjkl- Basic navigationw, b- Word navigation0, $- Line navigationi, a- Enter insert modedd, yy, p- Delete, copy, paste lines
Practice These Motions
Reading this cheat sheet is great for reference, but building muscle memory requires practice. Try these exercises to internalize the commands:
🎯 Beginner Exercises
Start with basic navigation (hjkl) and insert mode.
⚡ Intermediate Exercises
Practice word motions (w, e, b) and editing commands.
🚀 Advanced Exercises
Master search, find, and jump commands.
💪 Expert Exercises
Perfect visual mode and complex command combinations.
Ready to Master These Motions?
Turn this cheat sheet into muscle memory with our interactive exercises.
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