vi is visual terminal based text editor for linux. vi can open, create and modify. To use vi text editor in Linux you have to enter vi in status line below text of file. To exit from command mode and enter in text input mode press I. Pressing Escape will make you exit from input mode. Here we have top 20 commands used frequently in vi text editor.
Contents – Top 20 commands vi text editor in Linux
- Open File in vi text editor
- Modify or Edit files in vi text editor
- Exit from editing mode in vi text editor
- Create new lines in vi text editor
- Copy Line (Single / Multiple) or Word on vi text editor
- Paste in vi text editor
- Delete line or word in vi text editor
- Undo or redo last change in vi text text editor
- Navigate in a document in vi text editor
- Show or Hide line number in vi text editor
- Save and Exit from vi text editor
Top 20 command of vi text editor in Linux
Open File in vi text editor
To open a file in vi text editor in current folder type vi filename
In case file exists in different location type path to file followed by file name.
Syntax
vi /path to file/filename
Modify or Edit files in vi text editor
To enter in Edit mode press i in command mode vi editor. On pressing i you will enter editing mode.
Exit editing mode of vi text editor
Once you are through with editing of File, press Escape key. On pressing Escape key you will enter command mode of vi text editor.
Create new lines in vi text editor
While editing a file using vi text editor in Linux you may need to create a new line, so in order to create new line below cursor enter o in command mode. If you want to create line above cursor press shift+o in command mode.
Syntax
Create line below cursor
o
Create line above cursor
Shift + o
Copy Line (Single / Multiple) or Word on vi text editor
vi text editor provides option for coping line from command mode. First take your cursor to Line or word you want to copy.
Syntax
Copy Line
yy
Copy word
yw
Copy multiple lines
Number of lines yy
Example
To copy 5 line use below command
5 yy
Paste in vi text editor
To Paste content copied earlier, first take your cursor to point where you want to paste text.
Syntax
To paste copied text in next line press
p
To paste copied text in line above cursor
Shift + p
Delete line or word in vi text editor
You can delete a line or word from command mode of vi text editor, like before bring your cursor to point you want to delete any content.
Syntax
To delete a line below cursor
dd
To delete a word press
dw
Undo or redo last change in vi text text editor
Like any other editing application vi text editor also has undo and redo option just enter in command mode vi text editor.
Syntax
Undo last change
u
redo last change
Control + r
Navigate in a document in vi text editor
To navigate across file use below commands
Go to end of file press
Shift + g
To go to Start of file press
gg
To go to beginning of a line
o (Zero)
To go to end of line
$
Show or Hide line number in vi text editor
While scripting its useful have line numbers displayed while you are working on your file.
Syntax
Show line number
se nu
Hide line numbers
se nonu
Save and Exit from vi text editor
Once you are through with editing of your document in vi text editor, you will need to save before exiting vi text editor. Enter in command mode and use below commands at prompt.
Syntax
Save file
w
Save file and quit
wq
quit without saving
q
Force save and quit
wq!
These are few of frequently used commands.
Follow below link for detailed guide on use vi text editor
