2024-11-25 Web Development, Productivity

How to Copy Text to the System Clipboard in Vim

By O. Wolfson

Vim is a powerful text editor, and knowing how to efficiently copy text to your system clipboard can greatly enhance your productivity. Here's a quick guide:

Using "+y to Copy to the Clipboard

The "+ command in Vim accesses the system clipboard. By combining it with the y (yank) command and motions, you can copy text to the clipboard for use in other applications.

Common Usage Examples:

  • Copy a Whole Line:
    Use "+yy to yank the current line into the clipboard.

  • Copy a Word:
    Use "+yw to yank the next word into the clipboard.

  • Copy to the End of the Document:
    Use "+yG to yank all text from the current cursor position to the bottom of the document.

These commands make it simple to transfer text from Vim to other applications. Happy editing!