Recording and Playing Macros

qa records into register a. q stops. @a plays.

Keys: qa, q, @a, @@

qa starts recording into register a; press q again to stop. @a plays back. @@ replays the most recent macro.

Macros are Vim's loop. Record a sequence of keystrokes once; replay it with one key. They're how you turn 100 lines of repetitive editing into 4 keystrokes.

Start recording into register a

Key	Note
`q`
`a`

Stop recording

Key	Note
`q`

Play macro a

Key	Note
`@`
`a`

Repeat last macro

Key	Note
`@`
`@`

qa — start recording

q — stop recording

@a — play macro

@@ — repeat last macro

Tip. While recording, the status line shows recording @a. Don't worry — the recording is just keystrokes-into-a-register; nothing is locked, nothing is precious. If you mess up, press q to stop, then qa to start fresh.

Worked example — qa ... q then @a

Record once, play forever.

Step 1 · `qa` · qa — start recording into a.

Step 3 · `j0` · Move to next line (recorded).

Step 5 · `@a @a` · @a twice — replays on the next two lines.

▶ Try this in the simulator