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Vim's Three Visual Modes

Three Modes

• Visual mode (v): Selects text chracter by character (line-wise).

  Characterwise: Paste goes into the current line, like inserting words.

• Visual Line mode (V): Selects entire lines.

  Linewise: Paste goes as full new lines, between existing lines.

• Visual Block mode (<C-v>): Selects text in a rectangular block, regardless of line breaks.

  Blockwise: Paste goes into a rectangle column.

Note

Linewise / characterwise / blockwise only changes how the text behaves when you PASTE.

Two Commands in Visual Block Mode

• I(Uppercase i): Insets text at the beginning of the block (the left edge) on every selected line.

• A(Uppercase a): Insets text at the end of the block (the right edge) on every selected line.

When to Use Visual Line Mode

Line mode exists to guarantee safe line-based operations:

• indenting

• moving code blocks

• yanking whole functions

• pasting without breaking lines