Pattern Search

Jump to any text in the buffer, then keep going with one keystroke.

Keys: /, ?, n, N

/{pattern} searches forward; ?{pattern} searches backward. n repeats the search in the original direction; N reverses it. Search is one of Vim's most powerful motions.

Vim's search is two-stage: type / (or ?) at the cursor's current line, type the pattern, press Enter. Cursor jumps to the first match. n for the next match, N for the previous.

Search forward

Key	Note
`/`
`{pattern}`
`Enter`

Search backward

Key	Note
`?`
`{pattern}`
`Enter`

Repeat search in same direction

Key	Note
`n`

Repeat search in opposite direction

Key	Note
`N`

/ — search forward

? — search backward

n — next match

N — previous match

Tip. The pattern is a regex, not a literal string. /foo.Enter matches foo followed by any character. To search for a literal ., escape it: /foo\.Enter. Or use the \V (very nomagic) prefix to disable regex meaning altogether: /\Vfoo.Enter.

Reference

Key	Action
`/`{pattern}`Enter`	Forward search
`?`{pattern}`Enter`	Backward search
`n` / `N`	Next / previous (in original direction)
`/Enter`	Repeat last search forward
`?Enter`	Repeat last search backward
``:noh``	Clear highlights
`Ctrl-O` / `Ctrl-I`	Jump back / forward (search jumps land here)

Worked example — /word and n / N

Forward search, then jump through hits.

Step 1 ·

Step 2 · /cat · / shows search prompt at the bottom.

Step 3 · Enter · Enter — first match highlighted.

Step 4 · n · n — next match.

N goes back. // repeats with the same pattern; ? searches backward.