02-Mar-2025

Vim operators are commands that perform an action on a piece of text. They are often combined with motions to specify the range of text to operate on. This combination of operators and motions is a key part of Vim’s efficiency. Think of it like a verb-noun pairing: the operator is the verb (the action), and the motion is the noun (what the action is performed on).

Let’s break down this powerful feature:

Common Operators:

• d (delete): Deletes the text specified by the motion.
• c (change): Deletes the text and enters insert mode.
• y (yank): Copies the text into the default register. You can then paste it using p (put).
• > (indent): Increases the indentation of the text.
• < (unindent): Decreases the indentation of the text.
• gU (uppercase): Converts the text to uppercase.
• gu (lowercase): Converts the text to lowercase.
• ! (filter): Filters the text through an external command.

Combining with Motions:

The true power comes when you combine these operators with motions. Here are a few examples:

• dw: Delete a word (d + w - word).
• d$: Delete to the end of the line (d + $ - end of line).
• d0: Delete to the beginning of the line (d + 0 - beginning of line).
• dd: Delete the entire current line (d + d - current line).
• ci(: Change the text inside the parentheses (c + i( - inside parentheses).
• yap: Yank the entire paragraph (y + ap - a paragraph).
• >>: Indent the current line ( > + > - current line, since > operates line-wise).
• guiw: Lowercase the current word (gu + iw - inner word).

Example - Formatting Code:

Imagine you have a block of JavaScript code:

function myFunction(  param1, param2 ) {
// Some code ...
    if (condition) {
// More code ...
}
}

You want to remove the extra spaces inside the parentheses. Instead of manually deleting them, you can use ci(. Place your cursor on any character within the parentheses, type ci(, and the spaces will be removed, leaving you in insert mode to add any replacement text if needed:

function myFunction(param1, param2) {
// Some code ...
    if (condition) {
// More code ...
}
}

Advanced Usage - Repeating and Combining:

Operators can be repeated using a number prefix. For example:

• 3dw: Deletes three words.
• 5dd: Deletes five lines.

You can also combine operators with other Vim features, such as visual mode. Select a block of text using visual mode (e.g., v), then press an operator like d or y to operate on the selected text.

By mastering Vim operators and motions, you can significantly speed up your editing workflow. They provide a concise and powerful way to manipulate text within Vim, reducing reliance on the mouse and improving efficiency.