Delete

d is the verb. Pair it with any motion.

Keys: x, X, d, dw, D, dd

d is the delete operator. It takes a motion: dw deletes a word, d$ deletes to end of line. Doubling the operator (dd) makes it linewise. x and X are convenience deletes for single characters.

d is the delete operator. It's a verb that needs a noun. The noun is any motion — and once you reach Text Objects, any text object as well. dw deletes a word. d$ deletes to end of line. dG deletes from the cursor to the end of the file. The grammar carries you here, and it keeps composing as you learn more nouns.

Delete character under cursor

Key	Note
`x`

Delete character before cursor

Key	Note
`X`

Delete a word

Key	Note
`d`
`w`

Delete to end of line

Key	Note
`d`
`$`

Delete to end of line (same as d$)

Key	Note
`D`

Delete the current line

Key	Note
`d`
`d`

x — delete a character

X — backspace-delete

dw — delete a word

D — delete to end of line

dd — delete a line

Reference

Key	Action
`x`	Delete char under cursor
`X`	Delete char before cursor
`d`{motion}	Delete what {motion} covers
`dd`	Delete current line (linewise)
`D`	Delete to end of line (same as `d$`)
`diw`	Delete inner word (text object; see Text Objects)
`dap`	Delete around paragraph (text object; see Text Objects)
{n}`dd`	Delete {n} lines

Worked example — x dw dd

Three deletes, three scopes.

Step 1 · Cursor on 'q'.

[missing screenshot editing.delete/frame_01.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

Step 2 · x · x — one char gone.

[missing screenshot editing.delete/frame_02.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

Step 3 · dw · dw — through next word boundary.

[missing screenshot editing.delete/frame_03.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

Step 4 · dd · dd — entire line.

[missing screenshot editing.delete/frame_04.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

d is the operator; x is sugar for dl. The deleted text goes to the unnamed register and the numbered register 1.