How to Delete Lines in Vim / Vi: 5 Easy Ways

Vim is a powerful and versatile text editor that comes pre-installed on most Linux distributions and macOS. It is a favorite among developers, system administrators, and anyone who frequently works with text files. Learning how to delete lines in Vim is an essential skill for efficiently editing files, whether you are removing unwanted content, cleaning up code, or modifying configurations. This article provides a detailed guide to help you master the process of deleting lines in Vim.

Understanding Modes in Vim

Before learning how to delete lines, it is important to understand Vim’s modes. Vim operates in several modes, but the two most commonly used are:

1. Normal Mode: This is the default mode, where you can navigate through the file and execute commands.
2. Insert Mode: This mode allows you to input or edit text.

To delete lines in Vim, you must be in normal mode. Press the Esc key at any time to switch back to normal mode.

How to Delete Lines in Vim / Vi

How to Delete a Single Line in Vim

The simplest way to delete a line in Vim is by using the dd command. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Esc key to ensure you are in normal mode.
2. Move the cursor to the line you want to delete.
3. Type dd and press Enter.

This will immediately remove the line where the cursor is located. If you accidentally delete a line, you can press u to undo the action.

How to Delete Multiple Lines in Vim

When working with multiple lines, Vim allows you to delete them quickly without manually repeating the dd command. You can achieve this by using a number prefix with the dd command. Here’s how:

1. Press the Esc key to enter normal mode.
2. Position the cursor on the first line you want to delete.
3. Type the number of lines to delete, followed by dd.

For example:

• 5dd deletes the current line and the next four lines, making a total of five lines removed.
• 10dd deletes ten lines starting from the current line.

This method is especially useful when dealing with large blocks of text.

Deleting a Range of Lines in Vim

In addition to deleting a specific number of lines, Vim enables you to delete a custom range of lines using the following syntax:

:[start],[end]d

Here’s a step-by-step explanation:

1. Press the Esc key to enter normal mode.
2. Type : to open the command prompt.
3. Specify the starting and ending line numbers, separated by a comma, followed by d.

Examples:

• :3,5d deletes lines 3 through 5.
• :10,15d deletes lines 10 through 15.

Special symbols can also be used to specify the range:

• . represents the current line.
• $ represents the last line in the file.
• % represents all lines in the file.

Additional examples:

• :.,$d deletes all lines from the current line to the end of the file.
• :1,.d deletes all lines from the beginning of the file to the current line.
• :%d deletes all lines in the file.

How to Delete Lines Containing Specific Patterns

One of Vim’s most powerful features is its ability to search for patterns and delete lines that match those patterns. This is done using the global command (g). The syntax is as follows:

:g//d

Steps to delete lines containing a specific pattern:

1. Press Esc to enter normal mode.
2. Type :g//d and press Enter.

Examples:

• :g/foo/d deletes all lines containing the word “foo.”
• :g/^#/d deletes all lines that begin with # (useful for removing comments in scripts).
• :g/^$/d deletes all blank lines.

To delete lines that do not match a pattern, add an exclamation mark (!) before the pattern:

• :g!//d

Examples:

• :g!/foo/d deletes all lines that do not contain the word “foo.”
• :g!/^#/d deletes all lines that are not comments.

For more complex cases, you can use regular expressions:

• :g/^\s*$/d deletes all blank lines, including those that contain whitespace characters.
• :g/[0-9]/d deletes all lines containing numbers.

Deleting All Lines in Vim

If you want to delete the entire contents of a file, Vim provides a simple and efficient way to do this. You can use either of the following commands:

1. %d
2. 1,$d

Steps:

1. Press the Esc key to enter normal mode.
2. Type either %d or :1,$d and press Enter.

This will delete all lines in the file, leaving it empty.

Undoing Deletions in Vim

Mistakes happen, and Vim provides a way to quickly undo deletions. To undo the most recent change, press u in normal mode. You can also redo an undone action by pressing Ctrl + r.

Tips for Efficient Line Deletion

• Practice navigation: Use Vim’s navigation keys (h, j, k, l) to position the cursor quickly.
• Combine commands: Learn to combine commands with numbers and ranges for greater efficiency.
• Leverage patterns: Use regular expressions to target specific lines for deletion.
• Use undo wisely: Don’t be afraid to experiment, as the u command can undo any mistakes.

Why Learn How to Delete Lines in Vim?

Knowing how to delete lines in Vim is an essential skill for anyone who uses this text editor. Whether you are editing configuration files, programming code, or cleaning up text, these commands save time and effort. Mastering these techniques allows you to work more efficiently and confidently with text files.

Conclusion

This article has provided a detailed explanation of how to delete lines in Vim, covering everything from single-line deletions to removing patterns and entire files. By practicing these commands and combining them with Vim’s other features, you can significantly enhance your text-editing efficiency.

If you are new to Vim, consider exploring interactive tutorials like Open Vim to further strengthen your skills. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or additional tips to share!