Vim is a customizable text editor that is used to edit and modify text. It comes as an additional tool with Linux systems and Apple OS X. This is available for different platforms across different operating systems.
Vim is just like Windows Notepad or like Sublime Text or any text editor; Vim is just another program that allows you to write and edit text. It can be easily integrated into any application and comes with an extensive find and replace feature for editing massive chunks of text.
Popularly known as a UNIX text editor, Vim is integrated with Linux and macOS applications. Vim is fast, efficient, and lightweight, and it can run as a standalone in a terminal. Editing looks very different in this compared to a Notepad in Windows, and it has more of the UNIX set up integrated into it. Also, the text editor allows sharing the entire screen where you can edit the text live.
Vim is mainly used by developers and coders to write and edit code files. This is an editor that helps to write code efficiently. Also, the best part of Vim is that you do not need a mouse and you can use the keyboard to carry on with the editing. The .vimrc file is the extension of the files created with Vim.
How to Exit Vim?
Vim is a terminal text editor with multiple features. Also, it is currently available across different platforms, including Linux, macOS, and Windows. In addition, it comes with several keyboard shortcuts that do not even require the presence of a mouse as mandatory. Today, we will learn once you have finished editing how you can come out of the Vim editing console.
Exit Vim by using the Esc key
If you want to leave the Vim, you can simply press the Esc key to exit from the Vim editor.
Exit Vim through commands
The following are a list of commands which you can use to exit from this text editor:
- :q – To leave the editor. If you have to exit the editor and have unsaved work, the editor will ask you if you would like to save your work.
- :q! – If there is something that urgently needs your attention and you also do not wish to save the file, then you can use this command to leave Vim. This does not save changes.
- :wq – This helps you to save all your changes and exit Vim.
Other optional ways
In Vim, there are several keyboard shortcuts that can help you save and exit from the editor. Here are the keyboard shortcuts that you can use:
- Esc + 😡 + Enter – This helps you to save your data file and exit from the work.
- Esc +: QA + Enter – This helps you to leave all the open editor files and exit.
- Esc + Shift ZZ – This is to save your data file, and then you can exit safely from the editor.
- Esc + Shift ZQ – This lets you leave the editor without saving the changes you made in the file.
Exiting from Vim has become a very popular topic, and there are several forums and threads where people have discussed the best practices of exiting from this editor. You can either opt-out of Vim by saving the data file or you can just leave the application without saving the data file, considering it is not that important.
Conclusion
We’ve provided the complete list of commands that you need to use to exit Vim. Use these commands wisely after knowing the proper functioning of each one from here. If you have any more commands to add to this list or have a query regarding the same, feel free to reach us through the comment box below. No matter whether you’re a Windows user or a Mac user, these commands are going to come in handy. That’s all.