Visual Mode in Vim Editor in Linux

Visual mode in Vim empowers users to precisely select and manipulate text, offering flexibility in the types of selections made. Activated from Normal mode by pressing v, Visual mode provides several options for tailored text selection.

Basic Commands:

Character-wise Visual Mode:

v


Initiate character-wise Visual mode by pressing v. This enables you to make selections on a per-character basis, facilitating granular text manipulation.

Line-wise Visual Mode:

V

Press `V` in Normal mode to enter line-wise Visual mode. This allows for the selection of entire lines, streamlining operations that involve bulk manipulation or copying.

Block-wise Visual Mode:

Ctrl + v

For a more intricate selection approach, use Ctrl + v to enter block-wise Visual mode. This mode enables the creation of rectangular selections, particularly useful when dealing with tabular data or columns.

Performing Operations:

Once text is selected in Visual mode, various operations can be executed to modify the content. Common actions include:

  • Copying Selected Text:
    • After selection, press y to copy (yank) the text.
  • Cutting Selected Text:
    • Press d to cut the selected text.
  • Replacing Selected Text:
    • After selection, type to replace the highlighted text with new input.

The Six Modes of Vim Editor

Vim, short for “Vi Improved,” is a highly efficient and powerful text editor that is favored by many developers and system administrators. One of Vim’s distinguishing features is its unique approach to editing, which involves six distinct modes. Understanding these modes is crucial for mastering Vim and unleashing its full potential. In this article, we’ll explore each of the six modes in detail, providing examples and explanations to help you grasp their functionality.

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Conclusion

In this article we discussed Vim, the “Vi Improved” text editor which offers a robust editing experience through its six distinctive modes. From Normal mode’s navigation commands to Insert mode’s active text manipulation, and EX mode’s advanced line-oriented operations, Vim caters to diverse editing needs. Visual mode enhances precision in text selection, Command-Line mode handles complex commands, and Replace mode enables controlled text substitution. As users master these modes, Vim becomes a versatile tool, providing unparalleled efficiency and control for text editing....

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