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The Buffer List in Vim

Table of Contents

Buffer List

Use :ls (or :files, or :buffers) to see the buffer list.

In vim's buffer list (:ls), there's a current file and alternate file. * The current buffer is represented with %. * The alternate buffer is represented with #.

Alternate File in Vim

:h alternate-file

When there's more than one buffer loaded, you'll have an alternate file.

The CTRL-^ command toggles between the current and alternate file.

It can be represented with # on the command line.

File Name Replacements on the Command Line

  • #n (where n is a number) is replaced with the file name of buffer n.
    • #0 is the same as #.
  • ## Is replaced with all names in the argument list concatenated, separated by spaces.
  • #<n (where n is a number > 0) is replaced with old file name n.
    • See :oldfiles or v:oldfiles to get the number.

Buffer List Commands

  • :bad {fname} / :badd {fname}: Add a file to the buffer list without loading it, if it wasn't listed yet. (Pneumonic: Buffer Add)
    • You can specify a line number to go to when it's first entered.
    • :bad 16 file.txt will go to line 16 of file.txt when you first enter it.

  • :balt {fname}: Same as :badd, but also set the alternate file for the current window to {fname}. (Pneumonic: Buffer Alternate)

  • :b: Edit buffer given by number, name, or partial name.

  • :sb: Like :b but edit in a split.
  • :br/:bf: Go to the first buffer in the buffer list.
    • :sbr/:sbf: Same as above but do it in a split.
  • :bl: Go to the last buffer in the buffer list.
    • :sbl: Same as above but do it in a split.
  • :bm: Go to the next buffer that has been modified.
    • You can specify a number and go to the nth modified buffer.
    • Also finds buffers not in the buffer list.
  • :unhide: Rearranges the screen to open one window for each loaded buffer in the buffer list.
  • :ba/:ball Rearrange the screen to open one window for each buffer in the buffer list.
    • When a count is given, this is the maximum number of windows to open.

Buffer Types

There are different buffer types, here are a few: * quickfix * help * terminal * directory * scratch * unlisted