Neovim Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Leader Key: Space ( )

This guide covers all shortcuts from your Neovim configuration, from basic Vim motions to custom plugin keybindings.

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📑 Table of Contents

• Core Vim Motions & Text Objects
• Insert Mode Basics
• Visual Mode
• Copy, Paste & Delete
• Search & Replace
• Navigation & Movement
• Custom Keybindings
• Window & Tab Management
• File Explorer (nvim-tree)
• Fuzzy Finding (Telescope)
• LSP (Language Server)
• Git Integration (Gitsigns)
• Code Editing Plugins
• Autocompletion
• Other Plugins

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Core Vim Motions & Text Objects

Basic Movement

Shortcut	Description
h	Move left
j	Move down
k	Move up
l	Move right
w	Move forward to start of next word
W	Move forward to start of next WORD (whitespace-separated)
b	Move backward to start of previous word
B	Move backward to start of previous WORD
e	Move to end of current/next word
E	Move to end of current/next WORD
ge	Move to end of previous word
0	Move to start of line (column 0)
^	Move to first non-blank character of line
$	Move to end of line
gg	Go to first line of file
G	Go to last line of file
{number}G	Go to line {number}
{number}gg	Go to line {number}
%	Jump to matching bracket/parenthesis

Screen Movement

Shortcut	Description
H	Move to top of screen
M	Move to middle of screen
L	Move to bottom of screen
Ctrl-u	Scroll up half page
Ctrl-d	Scroll down half page
Ctrl-b	Scroll up full page
Ctrl-f	Scroll down full page
zz	Center screen on cursor
zt	Move cursor line to top of screen
zb	Move cursor line to bottom of screen

Text Objects

Text objects are used with operators (like d, c, y) to act on specific parts of text.

Shortcut	Description
iw	Inner word (without surrounding whitespace)
aw	A word (with surrounding whitespace)
iW	Inner WORD
aW	A WORD
is	Inner sentence
as	A sentence
ip	Inner paragraph
ap	A paragraph
i"	Inner double quotes
a"	A double quotes (including quotes)
i'	Inner single quotes
a'	A single quotes (including quotes)
`i``	Inner backticks
`a``	A backticks (including backticks)
i( or i) or ib	Inner parentheses
a( or a) or ab	A parentheses (including parens)
i{ or i} or iB	Inner curly braces
a{ or a} or aB	A curly braces (including braces)
i[ or i]	Inner square brackets
a[ or a]	A square brackets (including brackets)
i< or i>	Inner angle brackets
a< or a>	A angle brackets (including brackets)
it	Inner HTML/XML tag
at	A HTML/XML tag (including tags)

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Insert Mode Basics

Entering Insert Mode

Shortcut	Description
i	Insert before cursor
I	Insert at beginning of line
a	Insert after cursor (append)
A	Insert at end of line
o	Insert new line below and enter insert mode
O	Insert new line above and enter insert mode
s	Delete character under cursor and enter insert mode
S	Delete entire line and enter insert mode
C	Delete from cursor to end of line and enter insert mode
cc	Delete entire line and enter insert mode (same as S)
cw	Change word (delete word and enter insert mode)
jk	Custom: Exit insert mode (alternative to Esc)

In Insert Mode

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl-h	Delete character before cursor (backspace)
Ctrl-w	Delete word before cursor
Ctrl-u	Delete all characters before cursor on line
Ctrl-t	Indent current line
Ctrl-d	Unindent current line

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Visual Mode

Entering Visual Mode

Shortcut	Description
v	Enter character-wise visual mode
V	Enter line-wise visual mode
Ctrl-v	Enter block-wise (column) visual mode
gv	Reselect last visual selection

In Visual Mode

Shortcut	Description
o	Move to other end of selection
O	Move to other corner of block (block mode)
>	Indent selection
<	Unindent selection
=	Auto-indent selection
~	Toggle case of selection
u	Make selection lowercase
U	Make selection uppercase

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Copy, Paste & Delete

Yanking (Copying)

Shortcut	Description
yy	Yank (copy) entire line
Y	Yank from cursor to end of line
yw	Yank word
yiw	Yank inner word (without whitespace)
yaw	Yank a word (with whitespace)
y$	Yank to end of line
y^	Yank to start of line
yG	Yank to end of file
ygg	Yank to start of file
yi"	Yank inside double quotes
yi'	Yank inside single quotes
yi(	Yank inside parentheses
yi{	Yank inside braces
yi[	Yank inside brackets
{visual}y	Yank selected text (in visual mode)

Pasting

Shortcut	Description
p	Paste after cursor/line
P	Paste before cursor/line
gp	Paste after cursor and move cursor after pasted text
gP	Paste before cursor and move cursor after pasted text
]p	Paste after cursor and adjust indentation
[p	Paste before cursor and adjust indentation

Deleting

Shortcut	Description
x	Delete character under cursor
X	Delete character before cursor
dd	Delete entire line
D	Delete from cursor to end of line
dw	Delete word
diw	Delete inner word
daw	Delete a word (with whitespace)
d$	Delete to end of line
d^	Delete to start of line
dG	Delete to end of file
dgg	Delete to start of file
di"	Delete inside double quotes
di'	Delete inside single quotes
di(	Delete inside parentheses
di{	Delete inside braces
di[	Delete inside brackets
{visual}d	Delete selected text (in visual mode)

Changing (Delete + Insert)

Shortcut	Description
cc	Change entire line
C	Change from cursor to end of line
cw	Change word
ciw	Change inner word
caw	Change a word (with whitespace)
c$	Change to end of line
ci"	Change inside double quotes
ci'	Change inside single quotes
ci(	Change inside parentheses
ci{	Change inside braces
ci[	Change inside brackets
{visual}c	Change selected text (in visual mode)

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Search & Replace

Searching

Shortcut	Description
/pattern	Search forward for pattern
?pattern	Search backward for pattern
n	Go to next search match
N	Go to previous search match
*	Search forward for word under cursor
#	Search backward for word under cursor
g*	Search forward for partial word under cursor
g#	Search backward for partial word under cursor
Space nh	Custom: Clear search highlights

Find & Replace

Shortcut	Description
:s/old/new/	Replace first occurrence on current line
:s/old/new/g	Replace all occurrences on current line
:%s/old/new/g	Replace all occurrences in entire file
:%s/old/new/gc	Replace all with confirmation
:'<,'>s/old/new/g	Replace all in visual selection
:1,10s/old/new/g	Replace all in lines 1-10

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Navigation & Movement

File Navigation

Shortcut	Description
Ctrl-o	Jump to previous location in jump list
Ctrl-i	Jump to next location in jump list
``	Jump to last position before jump
'.	Jump to last modified line
g;	Jump to previous change
g,	Jump to next change

Mark Navigation

Shortcut	Description
m{a-z}	Set local mark (lowercase = buffer-local)
m{A-Z}	Set global mark (uppercase = across files)
'{a-z}	Jump to mark (line)
`{a-z}	Jump to mark (exact position)
:marks	Show all marks

Paragraph & Sentence Navigation

Shortcut	Description
{	Move to previous paragraph/block
}	Move to next paragraph/block
(	Move to previous sentence
)	Move to next sentence

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Custom Keybindings

General Custom Shortcuts

Shortcut	Description	Mode
Space	Leader key	Normal
jk	Exit insert mode	Insert
Space nh	Clear search highlights	Normal
Space +	Increment number under cursor	Normal
Space -	Decrement number under cursor	Normal

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Window & Tab Management

Window Splits

Shortcut	Description
Space sv	Split window vertically
Space sh	Split window horizontally
Space se	Make splits equal size
Space sx	Close current split
Ctrl-w h	Move to left split
Ctrl-w j	Move to bottom split
Ctrl-w k	Move to top split
Ctrl-w l	Move to right split
Ctrl-w w	Cycle through windows
Ctrl-w =	Make all windows equal size
Ctrl-w _	Maximize current window height
`Ctrl-w	`

Tab Management

Shortcut	Description
Space to	Open new tab
Space tx	Close current tab
Space tn	Go to next tab
Space tp	Go to previous tab
Space tf	Open current buffer in new tab

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File Explorer (nvim-tree)

Shortcut	Description
Space ee	Toggle file explorer
Space ef	Toggle file explorer on current file
Space ec	Collapse file explorer
Space er	Refresh file explorer

Inside nvim-tree

Shortcut	Description
a	Create new file/directory
d	Delete file/directory
r	Rename file/directory
x	Cut file/directory
c	Copy file/directory
p	Paste file/directory
y	Copy name
Y	Copy relative path
gy	Copy absolute path
o	Open file/directory
<CR>	Open file/directory
<Tab>	Preview file
R	Refresh
H	Toggle hidden files
I	Toggle gitignore files
-	Navigate up to parent directory
s	Open file in vertical split
i	Open file in horizontal split
t	Open file in new tab

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Fuzzy Finding (Telescope)

Shortcut	Description
Space ff	Find files in current working directory
Space fr	Find recent files
Space fs	Find string (live grep) in cwd
Space fc	Find string under cursor in cwd
Space ft	Find TODO comments

Inside Telescope

Shortcut	Description	Mode
Ctrl-k	Move to previous result	Insert
Ctrl-j	Move to next result	Insert
Ctrl-q	Send selected to quickfix list	Insert
<CR>	Open selected file	Insert/Normal
Ctrl-x	Open in horizontal split	Insert/Normal
Ctrl-v	Open in vertical split	Insert/Normal
Ctrl-t	Open in new tab	Insert/Normal
Esc	Close telescope	Insert

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LSP (Language Server)

Code Navigation

Shortcut	Description
gd	Go to definition
gD	Go to declaration
gi	Go to implementation
gt	Go to type definition
gR	Show all references
K	Show hover documentation

Code Actions

Shortcut	Description	Mode
Space ca	Show code actions	Normal/Visual
Space rn	Smart rename symbol
Space D	Show buffer diagnostics
Space d	Show line diagnostics
[d	Go to previous diagnostic
]d	Go to next diagnostic
Space rs	Restart LSP

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Git Integration (Gitsigns)

Hunk Navigation

Shortcut	Description
]h	Next git hunk
[h	Previous git hunk

Hunk Actions

Shortcut	Description	Mode
Space hs	Stage hunk	Normal/Visual
Space hr	Reset hunk	Normal/Visual
Space hS	Stage entire buffer	Normal
Space hR	Reset entire buffer	Normal
Space hu	Undo stage hunk	Normal
Space hp	Preview hunk	Normal

Git Blame & Diff

Shortcut	Description
Space hb	Blame line (full)
Space hB	Toggle line blame
Space hd	Diff this
Space hD	Diff this ~

Text Object

Shortcut	Description	Mode
ih	Select hunk (text object)	Operator/Visual

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Code Editing Plugins

Commenting (Comment.nvim)

Uses default keybindings from Comment.nvim:

Shortcut	Description	Mode
gcc	Toggle line comment	Normal
gbc	Toggle block comment	Normal
gc{motion}	Toggle comment (with motion)	Normal
gc	Toggle comment on selection	Visual
gb	Toggle block comment on selection	Visual

Examples:

• gcap - Comment a paragraph
• gc3j - Comment current line + 3 lines below
• gcG - Comment from cursor to end of file

Surround (nvim-surround)

Uses default keybindings from nvim-surround:

Shortcut	Description	Mode
ys{motion}{char}	Add surround	Normal
yss{char}	Surround entire line	Normal
yS{motion}{char}	Add surround (with newlines)	Normal
ds{char}	Delete surround	Normal
cs{old}{new}	Change surround	Normal
S{char}	Surround selection	Visual

Examples:

• ysiw" - Surround word with double quotes
• yss) - Surround line with parentheses
• ds" - Delete surrounding double quotes
• cs"' - Change double quotes to single quotes
• cs'{ - Change single quotes to braces (with spaces)
• cs'[ - Change single quotes to brackets

Substitute (substitute.nvim)

Shortcut	Description	Mode
s{motion}	Substitute with motion	Normal
ss	Substitute entire line	Normal
S	Substitute to end of line	Normal
s	Substitute selection	Visual

Examples:

• siw - Substitute inner word (yanked text replaces word)
• s$ - Substitute to end of line

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Autocompletion

Completion Menu (nvim-cmp)

Shortcut	Description	Mode
Ctrl-k	Previous suggestion	Insert
Ctrl-j	Next suggestion	Insert
Ctrl-b	Scroll docs up	Insert
Ctrl-f	Scroll docs down	Insert
Ctrl-Space	Show completion suggestions	Insert
Ctrl-e	Abort/close completion	Insert
<CR>	Confirm selection	Insert

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Other Plugins

LazyGit

Shortcut	Description
Space lg	Open LazyGit

TODO Comments

Shortcut	Description
]t	Next TODO comment
[t	Previous TODO comment

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Useful Undo/Redo

Shortcut	Description
u	Undo
Ctrl-r	Redo
U	Undo all changes on line

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Miscellaneous

Recording Macros

Shortcut	Description
q{a-z}	Start recording macro to register {a-z}
q	Stop recording macro
@{a-z}	Execute macro from register {a-z}
@@	Repeat last executed macro

Registers

Shortcut	Description
"{a-z}y	Yank to register {a-z}
"{a-z}p	Paste from register {a-z}
:reg	Show all registers
"0p	Paste from yank register (0)
"+y	Yank to system clipboard
"+p	Paste from system clipboard
"*y	Yank to selection clipboard
"*p	Paste from selection clipboard

Command Line

Shortcut	Description
:	Enter command-line mode
/	Search forward
?	Search backward
Ctrl-p	Previous command in history
Ctrl-n	Next command in history

Indentation

Shortcut	Description
>>	Indent line
<<	Unindent line
={motion}	Auto-indent
==	Auto-indent current line
gg=G	Auto-indent entire file

Joining Lines

Shortcut	Description
J	Join current line with next line
gJ	Join lines without adding space

Repeat Commands

Shortcut	Description
.	Repeat last change
;	Repeat last f/t/F/T motion
,	Repeat last f/t/F/T motion (opposite direction)

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Quick Reference: Common Workflows

Select and Copy a Word

yiw     # Copy inner word (without whitespace)
yaw     # Copy word with whitespace

Select and Copy a Line

yy      # Copy entire line
V       # Enter line visual mode, then y to copy

Delete a Line

dd      # Delete entire line
dj      # Delete current and next line
dk      # Delete current and previous line

Go to Top/Bottom of File

gg      # Go to top
G       # Go to bottom

Move Faster Between Words

w       # Next word start
b       # Previous word start
e       # Next word end
5w      # Move 5 words forward

Replace a Word in Current File

*       # Search for word under cursor
:%s//new_word/g    # Replace all occurrences

Replace a Word in Selection

v       # Visual mode, select text
:s/old/new/g       # Replace in selection

Find and Replace Across Project

Space fs    # Telescope live grep to find pattern
# Then use LSP rename or manual find/replace

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Tips

1. Use . to repeat: After any change operation, press . to repeat it
2. Combine numbers with motions: 5j moves down 5 lines, 3w moves 3 words forward
3. Text objects are powerful: ci" changes inside quotes, da{ deletes around braces
4. Visual mode for precision: Use v to select visually, then operate
5. Use marks for long jumps: ma to set mark 'a', 'a to jump back
6. System clipboard: Use "+y to copy to system clipboard, "+p to paste

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This cheat sheet is based on your Neovim configuration from subhdotsol/Dev-enviroment