# Neovim Editing

**Text insertion and deletion** are the core of editing in Neovim. Most operations combine a verb (operator) with a subject (motion or text object).

## Insert modes

`i` — insert before cursor, `a` — insert after cursor. `I` — insert at line start (first non-blank), `A` — insert at line end.

`o` — create new line below and insert, `O` — new line above and insert.

All insert modes exit with `Esc`. `Ctrl+C` also exits but is slightly different (doesn't set `.` for repeat).

```vim
i text <Esc>     " insert "text" before cursor
A ; <Esc>        " append semicolon at line end
o print("x") <Esc>  " new line, insert code
```

## Delete and change

`x` — delete char at cursor, `X` — delete char before cursor. Delete is quick removal without affecting position much.

`dd` — delete entire line, `d3d` or `3dd` — delete 3 lines. `D` — delete from cursor to end of line.

`dw` — delete word, `db` — delete to previous word boundary. `d$` — delete to end of line, `d^` — delete to first non-blank.

`c` — change (delete and insert). `cw` — change word, `cc` — change line, `c$` — change to end of line. After change, cursor enters insert mode automatically.

```vim
x              " delete char at cursor
dd             " delete line
dw             " delete word
c2w hello      " delete next 2 words, type "hello"
cw new_name <Esc>  " replace word at cursor
```

## Case and character replacement

`r` — replace one character. `rX` replaces char at cursor with `X`. `R` enters replace mode (like insert but overwrites).

`~` — toggle case of char at cursor (upper ↔ lower), `g~w` — toggle case of word, `guw` — lowercase word, `gUw` — uppercase word.

## Line operations

`J` — join next line to current (with space). `gJ` — join without adding space.

`u` — undo last change, `U` — undo all changes on current line (within one edit session). `Ctrl+R` — redo.

`.` — repeat last command. Extremely powerful: edit once, repeat with `.` on other lines.

```vim
J             " join lines
u             " undo
.             " repeat last edit
J . .         " join 3 lines quickly
```

## Indentation and shifting

`>>` — indent line right (by shiftwidth), `<<` — indent left. `>ip` — indent paragraph. `<` and `>` work with motions.

For multiple lines, select in visual mode then press `>` or `<`.