Numbered Registers

The yank-and-delete backlog you didn't know you were keeping.

Keys: "0, "1, "9

"0 holds your most recent yank; it never updates on delete. "1 holds your most recent multi-character delete; "2 the one before, and so on through "9. They shift on every delete.

Vim quietly keeps a backlog of your recent yanks and deletes. "0 is your most recent yank. "1 through "9 are the last nine deletes — they shift down on each new one.

The numbered registers

Worked example — "1p and "2p

Walk back through deletion history.

Step 1 ·

[missing screenshot registers.numbered/frame_01.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

Step 2 · dd · dd — A goes to "1.

[missing screenshot registers.numbered/frame_02.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

Step 3 · dd · dd — B goes to "1, A pushed to "2.

[missing screenshot registers.numbered/frame_03.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

Step 4 · "1p · "1p — most recent (B) back.

[missing screenshot registers.numbered/frame_04.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

Step 5 · "2p · "2p — older one (A) back.

[missing screenshot registers.numbered/frame_05.color.svg — run python content/render_screenshots.py]

"1-"9 hold the last 9 line-deletes. They shift each time you delete.