Tip 36: Track Open Files with the Buffer List

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Understand the Distinction Between Files and Buffers

• buffer: in-memory representation of a file
• Most Vim commands operate on buffers, but a few operate on files, including the :write, :update and :saveas commands.

Meet the Buffer List

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :!

• <C-^>: toggle between the current and alternate files

Use the Buffer List

• :bprev: move backward
• :bnext: move forward
• :bfirst/:blast: jump to the start/end of the list
• :buffer N

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :b

• :buffer {bufname}
• :bufdo: execute an Ex command in all of the buffers

References:

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h :bufdo

Create Mappings to Quickly Traverse Vim's Lists

nnoremap <silent> [b :bprevious<CR>
nnoremap <silent> ]b :bnext<CR>
nnoremap <silent> [B :bfirst<CR>
nnoremap <silent> [B :blast<CR>

Deleting Buffers

• :bd[elete]

  :bdelete N1 N2 N3
  :N,M bdelete