Linux/Unix - vi Editor Quick Reference Command List

vi editor quick reference command list covering search functions, move and insert text, save file and exit, control edit session, screen/line movement, word movement, search functions, delete text, cancel edit function, copy and insert text, add/append text, add new line, search functions and change text.

Command	Description
/text	Go forward to text
?text	Go backward to text
:2,6d	Delete line 2-6
:3,7m 10	Move line 3-7 to 10
:3,6t 12	Copy lines 3-6 to 12
:2,6w file	Write lines 2-6 to file
:w	Write to disk
:w file	Write to file
:w! file	Write absolutely
:wq	Write and quit editor
:q	Quit editor
:q!	Quit and discard
:e!	Discard buffer
:set nu	Display line number
:set nonu	Turn off line number
:set all	Show all settings
:set list	Display invisible characters
:set wm=3	Wrap line 3 spaces from right margin
j	Move cursor down
k	Move cursor up
h	Mover cursor left
l	Move cursor right
0	Go to line start (zero)
$	Go to line end
G	Go to last file line
w	Go to forward 1 word
b	Go to backward 1 word
n	Repeat previous search
N	Reverse previous search
x	Delete 1 character
dw	Delete 1 word
dd	Delete 1 line
D	Delete to end on line
d0	Delete to start of line
dG	Delete to end of file
u	Undo last change
.	Do last change again (period)
Y	Yank a copy
7Y	Yanka a copy of 7 lines
p	Put below cursor
P	Put above cursor
a	Append after cursor
A	Append at line end
i	Insert before cursor
3i	Insert text 3 times
I	Insert at beginning of line
o	Open a line below cursor
O	Open a line above cursor
cw	Change a word
5cw	Change 5 words
C	Change line
r	Replace one character
R	Replace/type over line