Tip 60: Grok Vim's Registers

Return to the top: <<Practical Vim>>

Addressing a Register

"{register}: specify a register

Vim's Terminology Versus the World

• "_d{motion}: true deletion

References

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

The Unnamed Register ("")

References

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

The Yank Register ("0)

When we use the y{motion} command, the specified text is copied not only into the unnamed register but also into the yank register.

References

# If you open the file in vim,
# then you can \"ayy@a the next line to execute the vim command: 
:h quote0

The Named Register ("a-"z)

When we address a named register with a lowercase letter, it overwrites the specified register, whereas when we use an uppercase letter, it appends to the specified register.

References

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

The Black Hole Register ("_)

References

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

The System Clipboard ("+) and Selection ("*) Registers

References

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

References

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

The Expression Register ("=)

References

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

More Registers

Read-only registers:

References

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

The "/ register can be set explicitly using the :let command.

References

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