Select all in Vim Text Editor

How do I select all text in Vim?

To select all text in Vim, press “Esc” to enter normal mode, then type “:1,$” and press “Enter” to select all lines in the file. You can also use “Shift + V” to enter visual mode and highlight the entire text.

Can I select specific portions of text in Vim?

Yes, in visual mode, you can use movement commands (e.g., arrow keys, “hjkl“) to select specific portions of text before performing editing or copying operations.

What if I want to copy the selected text in Vim?

After selecting text in visual mode, press “y” to copy the selected text to Vim’s clipboard. You can then paste it elsewhere using the “p” command.

How do I deselect text in Vim?

To deselect text in Vim, press “Esc” to exit visual mode, or press “Ctrl + ]” to clear the current selection.

Can I undo a selection in Vim?

Yes, you can undo a selection by pressing “u” in normal mode to revert the last change, including the selection of text.

Selecting all text in Vim is a fundamental operation that streamlines editing tasks. It’s essential for efficiently working with large files or making universal changes across a document. By mastering this command, users can boost their productivity and effectively manage their text editing workflows. This skill is particularly valuable for developers, writers, and anyone who frequently works with text-based files in Vim.

In this short tutorial, we will be showing you how to select all in the Vim editor in Linux using keyboard shortcuts.