Setting Options (`:set`)

How options work, and the conventions you'll see in every vimrc.

Keys: :set

:set toggles or assigns options. :set option turns it on; :set nooption turns it off; :set option! toggles; :set option=value assigns; :set option? queries.

Setting Options

Options are Vim's settings — Neovim ships 365, Vim 442, and they overlap heavily. Every vimrc is mostly :set calls. The syntax is consistent once you learn the conventions. For the full list of every option in both editors, see Complete Options Reference.

Form	Effect
`:set`	Show options that differ from defaults
`:set all`	Show all options
`:set nu`	Turn on option `nu` (number)
`:set nonu`	Turn off (prefix `no`)
`:set nu!`	Toggle
`:set nu?`	Query current value
`:set ts=4`	Assign 4 to numeric option `ts`
`:set fo+=t`	Append `t` to option `fo`
`:set fo-=t`	Remove `t`
`:set fo&`	Reset to default
`:setlocal nu`	Set for this buffer/window only
`:verbose set ts?`	Show value and where it was last set

Tip. When something behaves weirdly, run :verbose set whatever? — it tells you the script and line where the option was last set.

Watch

#0430 — :set list
#0430 — :set list

See also: Vim Configuration, Complete Options Reference