Line and Block Visual

V selects whole lines. Ctrl-V selects rectangles.

Keys: V, Ctrl-V

V enters linewise Visual: motions extend the selection by whole lines. Ctrl-V enters blockwise Visual: the selection is a rectangle, useful for column edits.

v selects characters. Two more visual modes select differently-shaped regions: V for whole lines, Ctrl-V for rectangles.

Linewise Visual
KeyNote
V
Blockwise Visual (rectangular)
KeyNote
Ctrl-V
V — linewise Visual
Ctrl-V — blockwise Visual
Block edits in action

Reference

Key Selection shape
v Characters from anchor to cursor
V Whole lines
Ctrl-V Rectangle (block)

Worked example — V and Ctrl-V

Linewise vs block visual.

Step 1 ·
visual.line-block
Step 2 · Vjj · V then jj — three full lines.
V then jj — three full lines.
Step 3 · Esc Ctrl-V jj l · Ctrl-V — block of just the digits.
Ctrl-V — block of just the digits.

Block mode operates on a rectangle — perfect for tabular data and column edits.

▶ Try this in the simulator

See also: Character Visual Mode, Block Insert and Append, Indent and Auto-Indent