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Bram Moolenaard799daa2022-06-20 11:17:32 +01001*eval.txt* For Vim version 8.2. Last change: 2022 Jun 17
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002
3
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00004 VIM REFERENCE MANUAL by Bram Moolenaar
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005
6
7Expression evaluation *expression* *expr* *E15* *eval*
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00008 *E1002*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00009Using expressions is introduced in chapter 41 of the user manual |usr_41.txt|.
10
11Note: Expression evaluation can be disabled at compile time. If this has been
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +020012done, the features in this document are not available. See |+eval| and
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000013|no-eval-feature|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000014
Bram Moolenaar1cae5a02021-12-27 21:28:34 +000015This file is mainly about the backwards compatible (legacy) Vim script. For
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +000016specifics of Vim9 script, which can execute much faster, supports type
17checking and much more, see |vim9.txt|. Where the syntax or semantics differ
18a remark is given.
Bram Moolenaar8a7d6542020-01-26 15:56:19 +010019
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000201. Variables |variables|
21 1.1 Variable types
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +000022 1.2 Function references |Funcref|
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +000023 1.3 Lists |Lists|
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000024 1.4 Dictionaries |Dictionaries|
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +010025 1.5 Blobs |Blobs|
26 1.6 More about variables |more-variables|
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000272. Expression syntax |expression-syntax|
283. Internal variable |internal-variables|
294. Builtin Functions |functions|
305. Defining functions |user-functions|
316. Curly braces names |curly-braces-names|
327. Commands |expression-commands|
338. Exception handling |exception-handling|
349. Examples |eval-examples|
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02003510. Vim script version |vimscript-version|
3611. No +eval feature |no-eval-feature|
3712. The sandbox |eval-sandbox|
3813. Textlock |textlock|
Bram Moolenaared997ad2019-07-21 16:42:00 +020039
40Testing support is documented in |testing.txt|.
41Profiling is documented at |profiling|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000042
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000043==============================================================================
441. Variables *variables*
45
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000461.1 Variable types ~
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +000047 *E712* *E896* *E897* *E899* *E1098*
48 *E1107* *E1135* *E1138*
Bram Moolenaar06fe74a2019-08-31 16:20:32 +020049There are ten types of variables:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000050
Bram Moolenaar664f3cf2019-12-07 16:03:51 +010051 *Number* *Integer*
52Number A 32 or 64 bit signed number. |expr-number|
Bram Moolenaarf9706e92020-02-22 14:27:04 +010053 The number of bits is available in |v:numbersize|.
Bram Moolenaar6f02b002021-01-10 20:22:54 +010054 Examples: -123 0x10 0177 0o177 0b1011
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000055
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +000056Float A floating point number. |floating-point-format| *Float*
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +000057 {only when compiled with the |+float| feature} *E1076*
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +000058 Examples: 123.456 1.15e-6 -1.1e3
59
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000060String A NUL terminated string of 8-bit unsigned characters (bytes).
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +000061 |expr-string| Examples: "ab\txx\"--" 'x-z''a,c'
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000062
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +010063List An ordered sequence of items, see |List| for details.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +000064 Example: [1, 2, ['a', 'b']]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000065
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +000066Dictionary An associative, unordered array: Each entry has a key and a
67 value. |Dictionary|
Bram Moolenaard5abb4c2019-07-13 22:46:10 +020068 Examples:
69 {'blue': "#0000ff", 'red': "#ff0000"}
Bram Moolenaar4c6d9042019-07-16 22:04:02 +020070 #{blue: "#0000ff", red: "#ff0000"}
Bram Moolenaar39a58ca2005-06-27 22:42:44 +000071
Bram Moolenaar835dc632016-02-07 14:27:38 +010072Funcref A reference to a function |Funcref|.
73 Example: function("strlen")
Bram Moolenaar1d429612016-05-24 15:44:17 +020074 It can be bound to a dictionary and arguments, it then works
75 like a Partial.
76 Example: function("Callback", [arg], myDict)
Bram Moolenaar835dc632016-02-07 14:27:38 +010077
Bram Moolenaar02e83b42016-02-21 20:10:26 +010078Special |v:false|, |v:true|, |v:none| and |v:null|. *Special*
Bram Moolenaar835dc632016-02-07 14:27:38 +010079
Bram Moolenaarebf7dfa2016-04-14 12:46:51 +020080Job Used for a job, see |job_start()|. *Job* *Jobs*
Bram Moolenaar38a55632016-02-15 22:07:32 +010081
Bram Moolenaarebf7dfa2016-04-14 12:46:51 +020082Channel Used for a channel, see |ch_open()|. *Channel* *Channels*
Bram Moolenaar835dc632016-02-07 14:27:38 +010083
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +010084Blob Binary Large Object. Stores any sequence of bytes. See |Blob|
85 for details
Bram Moolenaar6e5ea8d2019-01-12 22:47:31 +010086 Example: 0zFF00ED015DAF
87 0z is an empty Blob.
88
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +000089The Number and String types are converted automatically, depending on how they
90are used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +000091
92Conversion from a Number to a String is by making the ASCII representation of
Bram Moolenaar24ea3ba2010-09-19 19:01:21 +020093the Number. Examples:
94 Number 123 --> String "123" ~
95 Number 0 --> String "0" ~
96 Number -1 --> String "-1" ~
Bram Moolenaar00a927d2010-05-14 23:24:24 +020097 *octal*
Bram Moolenaard43906d2020-07-20 21:31:32 +020098Conversion from a String to a Number only happens in legacy Vim script, not in
99Vim9 script. It is done by converting the first digits to a number.
100Hexadecimal "0xf9", Octal "017" or "0o17", and Binary "0b10"
Bram Moolenaar6f02b002021-01-10 20:22:54 +0100101numbers are recognized
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000102NOTE: when using |Vim9| script or |scriptversion-4| octal with a leading "0"
103is not recognized. The 0o notation requires patch 8.2.0886.
Bram Moolenaar6f02b002021-01-10 20:22:54 +0100104If the String doesn't start with digits, the result is zero.
Bram Moolenaarfa735342016-01-03 22:14:44 +0100105Examples:
Bram Moolenaar24ea3ba2010-09-19 19:01:21 +0200106 String "456" --> Number 456 ~
107 String "6bar" --> Number 6 ~
108 String "foo" --> Number 0 ~
109 String "0xf1" --> Number 241 ~
110 String "0100" --> Number 64 ~
Bram Moolenaarc17e66c2020-06-02 21:38:22 +0200111 String "0o100" --> Number 64 ~
Bram Moolenaarfa735342016-01-03 22:14:44 +0100112 String "0b101" --> Number 5 ~
Bram Moolenaar24ea3ba2010-09-19 19:01:21 +0200113 String "-8" --> Number -8 ~
114 String "+8" --> Number 0 ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000115
116To force conversion from String to Number, add zero to it: >
117 :echo "0100" + 0
Bram Moolenaar97b2ad32006-03-18 21:40:56 +0000118< 64 ~
119
120To avoid a leading zero to cause octal conversion, or for using a different
121base, use |str2nr()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000122
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +0100123 *TRUE* *FALSE* *Boolean*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000124For boolean operators Numbers are used. Zero is FALSE, non-zero is TRUE.
Bram Moolenaar6aa57292021-08-14 21:25:52 +0200125You can also use |v:false| and |v:true|, in Vim9 script |false| and |true|.
Bram Moolenaar1c6737b2020-09-07 22:18:52 +0200126When TRUE is returned from a function it is the Number one, FALSE is the
127number zero.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000128
Bram Moolenaare381d3d2016-07-07 14:50:41 +0200129Note that in the command: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000130 :if "foo"
Bram Moolenaare381d3d2016-07-07 14:50:41 +0200131 :" NOT executed
132"foo" is converted to 0, which means FALSE. If the string starts with a
133non-zero number it means TRUE: >
134 :if "8foo"
135 :" executed
136To test for a non-empty string, use empty(): >
Bram Moolenaar3a0d8092012-10-21 03:02:54 +0200137 :if !empty("foo")
Bram Moolenaar92f26c22020-10-03 20:17:30 +0200138
139< *falsy* *truthy*
140An expression can be used as a condition, ignoring the type and only using
141whether the value is "sort of true" or "sort of false". Falsy is:
142 the number zero
143 empty string, blob, list or dictionary
144Other values are truthy. Examples:
145 0 falsy
146 1 truthy
147 -1 truthy
148 0.0 falsy
149 0.1 truthy
150 '' falsy
151 'x' truthy
152 [] falsy
153 [0] truthy
154 {} falsy
155 #{x: 1} truthy
156 0z falsy
157 0z00 truthy
158
Bram Moolenaare381d3d2016-07-07 14:50:41 +0200159 *non-zero-arg*
160Function arguments often behave slightly different from |TRUE|: If the
161argument is present and it evaluates to a non-zero Number, |v:true| or a
Bram Moolenaar64d8e252016-09-06 22:12:34 +0200162non-empty String, then the value is considered to be TRUE.
Bram Moolenaar01164a62017-11-02 22:58:42 +0100163Note that " " and "0" are also non-empty strings, thus considered to be TRUE.
164A List, Dictionary or Float is not a Number or String, thus evaluate to FALSE.
Bram Moolenaare381d3d2016-07-07 14:50:41 +0200165
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +0000166 *E611* *E745* *E728* *E703* *E729* *E730* *E731* *E908* *E910*
167 *E913* *E974* *E975* *E976*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +0100168|List|, |Dictionary|, |Funcref|, |Job|, |Channel| and |Blob| types are not
169automatically converted.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000170
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000171 *E805* *E806* *E808*
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200172When mixing Number and Float the Number is converted to Float. Otherwise
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000173there is no automatic conversion of Float. You can use str2float() for String
174to Float, printf() for Float to String and float2nr() for Float to Number.
175
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +0000176 *E362* *E891* *E892* *E893* *E894* *E907* *E911* *E914*
Bram Moolenaar13d5aee2016-01-21 23:36:05 +0100177When expecting a Float a Number can also be used, but nothing else.
178
Bram Moolenaarf6f32c32016-03-12 19:03:59 +0100179 *no-type-checking*
180You will not get an error if you try to change the type of a variable.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000181
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000182
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001831.2 Function references ~
Dominique Pelle7765f5c2022-04-10 11:26:53 +0100184 *Funcref* *E695* *E718* *E1192*
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200185A Funcref variable is obtained with the |function()| function, the |funcref()|
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +0100186function, (in |Vim9| script) the name of a function, or created with the
187lambda expression |expr-lambda|. It can be used in an expression in the place
188of a function name, before the parenthesis around the arguments, to invoke the
189function it refers to. Example in |Vim9| script: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000190
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +0100191 :var Fn = MyFunc
192 :echo Fn()
193
194Legacy script: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000195 :let Fn = function("MyFunc")
196 :echo Fn()
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000197< *E704* *E705* *E707*
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +0000198A Funcref variable must start with a capital, "s:", "w:", "t:" or "b:". You
Bram Moolenaar7cba6c02013-09-05 22:13:31 +0200199can use "g:" but the following name must still start with a capital. You
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +0000200cannot have both a Funcref variable and a function with the same name.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000201
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000202A special case is defining a function and directly assigning its Funcref to a
203Dictionary entry. Example: >
204 :function dict.init() dict
205 : let self.val = 0
206 :endfunction
207
208The key of the Dictionary can start with a lower case letter. The actual
209function name is not used here. Also see |numbered-function|.
210
211A Funcref can also be used with the |:call| command: >
212 :call Fn()
213 :call dict.init()
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000214
215The name of the referenced function can be obtained with |string()|. >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000216 :let func = string(Fn)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000217
218You can use |call()| to invoke a Funcref and use a list variable for the
219arguments: >
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000220 :let r = call(Fn, mylist)
Bram Moolenaar1d429612016-05-24 15:44:17 +0200221<
222 *Partial*
223A Funcref optionally binds a Dictionary and/or arguments. This is also called
224a Partial. This is created by passing the Dictionary and/or arguments to
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200225function() or funcref(). When calling the function the Dictionary and/or
226arguments will be passed to the function. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar1d429612016-05-24 15:44:17 +0200227
228 let Cb = function('Callback', ['foo'], myDict)
Bram Moolenaarba3ff532018-11-04 14:45:49 +0100229 call Cb('bar')
Bram Moolenaar1d429612016-05-24 15:44:17 +0200230
231This will invoke the function as if using: >
Bram Moolenaarba3ff532018-11-04 14:45:49 +0100232 call myDict.Callback('foo', 'bar')
Bram Moolenaar1d429612016-05-24 15:44:17 +0200233
234This is very useful when passing a function around, e.g. in the arguments of
235|ch_open()|.
236
237Note that binding a function to a Dictionary also happens when the function is
238a member of the Dictionary: >
239
240 let myDict.myFunction = MyFunction
241 call myDict.myFunction()
242
243Here MyFunction() will get myDict passed as "self". This happens when the
244"myFunction" member is accessed. When making assigning "myFunction" to
245otherDict and calling it, it will be bound to otherDict: >
246
247 let otherDict.myFunction = myDict.myFunction
248 call otherDict.myFunction()
249
250Now "self" will be "otherDict". But when the dictionary was bound explicitly
251this won't happen: >
252
253 let myDict.myFunction = function(MyFunction, myDict)
254 let otherDict.myFunction = myDict.myFunction
255 call otherDict.myFunction()
256
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +0200257Here "self" will be "myDict", because it was bound explicitly.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000258
259
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00002601.3 Lists ~
Bram Moolenaar7e38ea22014-04-05 22:55:53 +0200261 *list* *List* *Lists* *E686*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000262A List is an ordered sequence of items. An item can be of any type. Items
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200263can be accessed by their index number. Items can be added and removed at any
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000264position in the sequence.
265
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000266
267List creation ~
268 *E696* *E697*
Bram Moolenaarcbaff5e2022-04-08 17:45:08 +0100269A List is created with a comma-separated list of items in square brackets.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000270Examples: >
271 :let mylist = [1, two, 3, "four"]
272 :let emptylist = []
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000273
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200274An item can be any expression. Using a List for an item creates a
Bram Moolenaarf9393ef2006-04-24 19:47:27 +0000275List of Lists: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000276 :let nestlist = [[11, 12], [21, 22], [31, 32]]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000277
278An extra comma after the last item is ignored.
279
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000280
281List index ~
282 *list-index* *E684*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000283An item in the List can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000284after the List. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first item has index zero. >
285 :let item = mylist[0] " get the first item: 1
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000286 :let item = mylist[2] " get the third item: 3
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000287
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000288When the resulting item is a list this can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000289 :let item = nestlist[0][1] " get the first list, second item: 12
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000290<
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000291A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last item in
292the List, -2 to the last but one item, etc. >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000293 :let last = mylist[-1] " get the last item: "four"
294
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000295To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function. When an item
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000296is not available it returns zero or the default value you specify: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000297 :echo get(mylist, idx)
298 :echo get(mylist, idx, "NONE")
299
300
301List concatenation ~
Bram Moolenaar34453202021-01-31 13:08:38 +0100302 *list-concatenation*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000303Two lists can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
304 :let longlist = mylist + [5, 6]
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000305 :let mylist += [7, 8]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000306
Bram Moolenaar34453202021-01-31 13:08:38 +0100307To prepend or append an item, turn the item into a list by putting [] around
308it. To change a list in-place, refer to |list-modification| below.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000309
310
311Sublist ~
Bram Moolenaarbc8801c2016-08-02 21:04:33 +0200312 *sublist*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000313A part of the List can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
314separated by a colon in square brackets: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000315 :let shortlist = mylist[2:-1] " get List [3, "four"]
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000316
317Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +0000318similar to -1. >
Bram Moolenaar540d6e32005-01-09 21:20:18 +0000319 :let endlist = mylist[2:] " from item 2 to the end: [3, "four"]
320 :let shortlist = mylist[2:2] " List with one item: [3]
321 :let otherlist = mylist[:] " make a copy of the List
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000322
Bram Moolenaar6601b622021-01-13 21:47:15 +0100323Notice that the last index is inclusive. If you prefer using an exclusive
324index use the |slice()| method.
325
Bram Moolenaarf9393ef2006-04-24 19:47:27 +0000326If the first index is beyond the last item of the List or the second item is
327before the first item, the result is an empty list. There is no error
328message.
329
330If the second index is equal to or greater than the length of the list the
331length minus one is used: >
Bram Moolenaar9e54a0e2006-04-14 20:42:25 +0000332 :let mylist = [0, 1, 2, 3]
333 :echo mylist[2:8] " result: [2, 3]
334
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +0000335NOTE: mylist[s:e] means using the variable "s:e" as index. Watch out for
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200336using a single letter variable before the ":". Insert a space when needed:
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +0000337mylist[s : e].
338
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +0000339
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000340List identity ~
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000341 *list-identity*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000342When variable "aa" is a list and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
343variables refer to the same list. Thus changing the list "aa" will also
344change "bb": >
345 :let aa = [1, 2, 3]
346 :let bb = aa
347 :call add(aa, 4)
348 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000349< [1, 2, 3, 4]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000350
351Making a copy of a list is done with the |copy()| function. Using [:] also
352works, as explained above. This creates a shallow copy of the list: Changing
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000353a list item in the list will also change the item in the copied list: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000354 :let aa = [[1, 'a'], 2, 3]
355 :let bb = copy(aa)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000356 :call add(aa, 4)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000357 :let aa[0][1] = 'aaa'
358 :echo aa
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000359< [[1, aaa], 2, 3, 4] >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000360 :echo bb
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000361< [[1, aaa], 2, 3]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000362
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000363To make a completely independent list use |deepcopy()|. This also makes a
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000364copy of the values in the list, recursively. Up to a hundred levels deep.
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000365
366The operator "is" can be used to check if two variables refer to the same
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000367List. "isnot" does the opposite. In contrast "==" compares if two lists have
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000368the same value. >
369 :let alist = [1, 2, 3]
370 :let blist = [1, 2, 3]
371 :echo alist is blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000372< 0 >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000373 :echo alist == blist
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000374< 1
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000375
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000376Note about comparing lists: Two lists are considered equal if they have the
377same length and all items compare equal, as with using "==". There is one
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000378exception: When comparing a number with a string they are considered
379different. There is no automatic type conversion, as with using "==" on
380variables. Example: >
381 echo 4 == "4"
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000382< 1 >
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000383 echo [4] == ["4"]
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000384< 0
385
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000386Thus comparing Lists is more strict than comparing numbers and strings. You
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000387can compare simple values this way too by putting them in a list: >
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000388
389 :let a = 5
390 :let b = "5"
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000391 :echo a == b
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000392< 1 >
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +0000393 :echo [a] == [b]
Bram Moolenaar7d1f5db2005-07-03 21:39:27 +0000394< 0
Bram Moolenaar9ba0eb82005-06-13 22:28:56 +0000395
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000396
397List unpack ~
398
399To unpack the items in a list to individual variables, put the variables in
400square brackets, like list items: >
401 :let [var1, var2] = mylist
402
403When the number of variables does not match the number of items in the list
404this produces an error. To handle any extra items from the list append ";"
405and a variable name: >
406 :let [var1, var2; rest] = mylist
407
408This works like: >
409 :let var1 = mylist[0]
410 :let var2 = mylist[1]
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000411 :let rest = mylist[2:]
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000412
413Except that there is no error if there are only two items. "rest" will be an
414empty list then.
415
416
417List modification ~
418 *list-modification*
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000419To change a specific item of a list use |:let| this way: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000420 :let list[4] = "four"
421 :let listlist[0][3] = item
422
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000423To change part of a list you can specify the first and last item to be
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000424modified. The value must at least have the number of items in the range: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000425 :let list[3:5] = [3, 4, 5]
426
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000427Adding and removing items from a list is done with functions. Here are a few
428examples: >
429 :call insert(list, 'a') " prepend item 'a'
430 :call insert(list, 'a', 3) " insert item 'a' before list[3]
431 :call add(list, "new") " append String item
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000432 :call add(list, [1, 2]) " append a List as one new item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000433 :call extend(list, [1, 2]) " extend the list with two more items
434 :let i = remove(list, 3) " remove item 3
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000435 :unlet list[3] " idem
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000436 :let l = remove(list, 3, -1) " remove items 3 to last item
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000437 :unlet list[3 : ] " idem
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000438 :call filter(list, 'v:val !~ "x"') " remove items with an 'x'
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000439
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000440Changing the order of items in a list: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000441 :call sort(list) " sort a list alphabetically
442 :call reverse(list) " reverse the order of items
Bram Moolenaar327aa022014-03-25 18:24:23 +0100443 :call uniq(sort(list)) " sort and remove duplicates
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000444
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000445
446For loop ~
447
Bram Moolenaar74e54fc2021-03-26 20:41:29 +0100448The |:for| loop executes commands for each item in a List, String or Blob.
449A variable is set to each item in sequence. Example with a List: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000450 :for item in mylist
451 : call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000452 :endfor
453
454This works like: >
455 :let index = 0
456 :while index < len(mylist)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000457 : let item = mylist[index]
458 : :call Doit(item)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000459 : let index = index + 1
460 :endwhile
461
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000462If all you want to do is modify each item in the list then the |map()|
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000463function will be a simpler method than a for loop.
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000464
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200465Just like the |:let| command, |:for| also accepts a list of variables. This
Bram Moolenaar74e54fc2021-03-26 20:41:29 +0100466requires the argument to be a List of Lists. >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000467 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 8], [3, 0]]
468 : call Doit(lnum, col)
469 :endfor
470
471This works like a |:let| command is done for each list item. Again, the types
472must remain the same to avoid an error.
473
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000474It is also possible to put remaining items in a List variable: >
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000475 :for [i, j; rest] in listlist
476 : call Doit(i, j)
477 : if !empty(rest)
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000478 : echo "remainder: " .. string(rest)
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000479 : endif
480 :endfor
481
Bram Moolenaar74e54fc2021-03-26 20:41:29 +0100482For a Blob one byte at a time is used.
483
484For a String one character, including any composing characters, is used as a
485String. Example: >
486 for c in text
487 echo 'This character is ' .. c
488 endfor
489
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000490
491List functions ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000492 *E714*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000493Functions that are useful with a List: >
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000494 :let r = call(funcname, list) " call a function with an argument list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000495 :if empty(list) " check if list is empty
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000496 :let l = len(list) " number of items in list
497 :let big = max(list) " maximum value in list
498 :let small = min(list) " minimum value in list
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +0000499 :let xs = count(list, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in list
500 :let i = index(list, 'x') " index of first 'x' in list
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000501 :let lines = getline(1, 10) " get ten text lines from buffer
502 :call append('$', lines) " append text lines in buffer
Bram Moolenaar5f2bb9f2005-01-11 21:29:04 +0000503 :let list = split("a b c") " create list from items in a string
504 :let string = join(list, ', ') " create string from list items
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000505 :let s = string(list) " String representation of list
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000506 :call map(list, '">> " .. v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000507
Bram Moolenaar0cb032e2005-04-23 20:52:00 +0000508Don't forget that a combination of features can make things simple. For
509example, to add up all the numbers in a list: >
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000510 :exe 'let sum = ' .. join(nrlist, '+')
Bram Moolenaar0cb032e2005-04-23 20:52:00 +0000511
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000512
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00005131.4 Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100514 *dict* *Dict* *Dictionaries* *Dictionary*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000515A Dictionary is an associative array: Each entry has a key and a value. The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000516entry can be located with the key. The entries are stored without a specific
517ordering.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000518
519
520Dictionary creation ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000521 *E720* *E721* *E722* *E723*
Bram Moolenaarcbaff5e2022-04-08 17:45:08 +0100522A Dictionary is created with a comma-separated list of entries in curly
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000523braces. Each entry has a key and a value, separated by a colon. Each key can
524only appear once. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000525 :let mydict = {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}
526 :let emptydict = {}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000527< *E713* *E716* *E717*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000528A key is always a String. You can use a Number, it will be converted to a
529String automatically. Thus the String '4' and the number 4 will find the same
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200530entry. Note that the String '04' and the Number 04 are different, since the
Bram Moolenaard899e512022-05-07 21:54:03 +0100531Number will be converted to the String '4', leading zeros are dropped. The
532empty string can also be used as a key.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000533
Bram Moolenaard799daa2022-06-20 11:17:32 +0100534In |Vim9| script a literal key can be used if it consists only of alphanumeric
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000535characters, underscore and dash, see |vim9-literal-dict|.
Bram Moolenaar56c860c2019-08-17 20:09:31 +0200536 *literal-Dict* *#{}*
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000537To avoid having to put quotes around every key the #{} form can be used in
538legacy script. This does require the key to consist only of ASCII letters,
539digits, '-' and '_'. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar10455d42019-11-21 15:36:18 +0100540 :let mydict = #{zero: 0, one_key: 1, two-key: 2, 333: 3}
Bram Moolenaar4c6d9042019-07-16 22:04:02 +0200541Note that 333 here is the string "333". Empty keys are not possible with #{}.
Bram Moolenaard899e512022-05-07 21:54:03 +0100542In |Vim9| script the #{} form cannot be used because it can be confused with
543the start of a comment.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000544
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200545A value can be any expression. Using a Dictionary for a value creates a
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000546nested Dictionary: >
547 :let nestdict = {1: {11: 'a', 12: 'b'}, 2: {21: 'c'}}
548
549An extra comma after the last entry is ignored.
550
551
552Accessing entries ~
553
554The normal way to access an entry is by putting the key in square brackets: >
555 :let val = mydict["one"]
556 :let mydict["four"] = 4
557
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000558You can add new entries to an existing Dictionary this way, unlike Lists.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000559
560For keys that consist entirely of letters, digits and underscore the following
561form can be used |expr-entry|: >
562 :let val = mydict.one
563 :let mydict.four = 4
564
565Since an entry can be any type, also a List and a Dictionary, the indexing and
566key lookup can be repeated: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000567 :echo dict.key[idx].key
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000568
569
570Dictionary to List conversion ~
571
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200572You may want to loop over the entries in a dictionary. For this you need to
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000573turn the Dictionary into a List and pass it to |:for|.
574
575Most often you want to loop over the keys, using the |keys()| function: >
576 :for key in keys(mydict)
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000577 : echo key .. ': ' .. mydict[key]
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000578 :endfor
579
580The List of keys is unsorted. You may want to sort them first: >
581 :for key in sort(keys(mydict))
582
583To loop over the values use the |values()| function: >
584 :for v in values(mydict)
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000585 : echo "value: " .. v
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000586 :endfor
587
588If you want both the key and the value use the |items()| function. It returns
Bram Moolenaard47d5222018-12-09 20:43:55 +0100589a List in which each item is a List with two items, the key and the value: >
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +0000590 :for [key, value] in items(mydict)
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000591 : echo key .. ': ' .. value
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000592 :endfor
593
594
595Dictionary identity ~
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +0000596 *dict-identity*
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000597Just like Lists you need to use |copy()| and |deepcopy()| to make a copy of a
598Dictionary. Otherwise, assignment results in referring to the same
599Dictionary: >
600 :let onedict = {'a': 1, 'b': 2}
601 :let adict = onedict
602 :let adict['a'] = 11
603 :echo onedict['a']
604 11
605
Bram Moolenaarf3bd51a2005-06-14 22:11:18 +0000606Two Dictionaries compare equal if all the key-value pairs compare equal. For
607more info see |list-identity|.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000608
609
610Dictionary modification ~
611 *dict-modification*
612To change an already existing entry of a Dictionary, or to add a new entry,
613use |:let| this way: >
614 :let dict[4] = "four"
615 :let dict['one'] = item
616
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +0000617Removing an entry from a Dictionary is done with |remove()| or |:unlet|.
618Three ways to remove the entry with key "aaa" from dict: >
619 :let i = remove(dict, 'aaa')
620 :unlet dict.aaa
621 :unlet dict['aaa']
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000622
623Merging a Dictionary with another is done with |extend()|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000624 :call extend(adict, bdict)
625This extends adict with all entries from bdict. Duplicate keys cause entries
626in adict to be overwritten. An optional third argument can change this.
Bram Moolenaar383f9bc2005-01-19 22:18:32 +0000627Note that the order of entries in a Dictionary is irrelevant, thus don't
628expect ":echo adict" to show the items from bdict after the older entries in
629adict.
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000630
631Weeding out entries from a Dictionary can be done with |filter()|: >
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +0000632 :call filter(dict, 'v:val =~ "x"')
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000633This removes all entries from "dict" with a value not matching 'x'.
Bram Moolenaar388a5d42020-05-26 21:20:45 +0200634This can also be used to remove all entries: >
635 call filter(dict, 0)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000636
637
638Dictionary function ~
Bram Moolenaar26402cb2013-02-20 21:26:00 +0100639 *Dictionary-function* *self* *E725* *E862*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000640When a function is defined with the "dict" attribute it can be used in a
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200641special way with a dictionary. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000642 :function Mylen() dict
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000643 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000644 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000645 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3], 'len': function("Mylen")}
646 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000647
648This is like a method in object oriented programming. The entry in the
649Dictionary is a |Funcref|. The local variable "self" refers to the dictionary
650the function was invoked from.
651
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000652It is also possible to add a function without the "dict" attribute as a
653Funcref to a Dictionary, but the "self" variable is not available then.
654
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +0000655 *numbered-function* *anonymous-function*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000656To avoid the extra name for the function it can be defined and directly
657assigned to a Dictionary in this way: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000658 :let mydict = {'data': [0, 1, 2, 3]}
Bram Moolenaar5a5f4592015-04-13 12:43:06 +0200659 :function mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000660 : return len(self.data)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000661 :endfunction
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000662 :echo mydict.len()
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000663
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000664The function will then get a number and the value of dict.len is a |Funcref|
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +0200665that references this function. The function can only be used through a
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000666|Funcref|. It will automatically be deleted when there is no |Funcref|
667remaining that refers to it.
668
669It is not necessary to use the "dict" attribute for a numbered function.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000670
Bram Moolenaar1affd722010-08-04 17:49:30 +0200671If you get an error for a numbered function, you can find out what it is with
672a trick. Assuming the function is 42, the command is: >
Bram Moolenaar34cc7d82021-09-21 20:09:51 +0200673 :function g:42
Bram Moolenaar1affd722010-08-04 17:49:30 +0200674
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000675
676Functions for Dictionaries ~
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +0000677 *E715*
678Functions that can be used with a Dictionary: >
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000679 :if has_key(dict, 'foo') " TRUE if dict has entry with key "foo"
680 :if empty(dict) " TRUE if dict is empty
681 :let l = len(dict) " number of items in dict
682 :let big = max(dict) " maximum value in dict
683 :let small = min(dict) " minimum value in dict
684 :let xs = count(dict, 'x') " count nr of times 'x' appears in dict
685 :let s = string(dict) " String representation of dict
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000686 :call map(dict, '">> " .. v:val') " prepend ">> " to each item
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000687
688
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +01006891.5 Blobs ~
690 *blob* *Blob* *Blobs* *E978*
Bram Moolenaaraff74912019-03-30 18:11:49 +0100691A Blob is a binary object. It can be used to read an image from a file and
692send it over a channel, for example.
693
694A Blob mostly behaves like a |List| of numbers, where each number has the
695value of an 8-bit byte, from 0 to 255.
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100696
697
698Blob creation ~
699
700A Blob can be created with a |blob-literal|: >
701 :let b = 0zFF00ED015DAF
Bram Moolenaar0d17f0d2019-01-22 22:20:38 +0100702Dots can be inserted between bytes (pair of hex characters) for readability,
703they don't change the value: >
704 :let b = 0zFF00.ED01.5DAF
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100705
706A blob can be read from a file with |readfile()| passing the {type} argument
707set to "B", for example: >
708 :let b = readfile('image.png', 'B')
709
710A blob can be read from a channel with the |ch_readblob()| function.
711
712
713Blob index ~
714 *blob-index* *E979*
715A byte in the Blob can be accessed by putting the index in square brackets
716after the Blob. Indexes are zero-based, thus the first byte has index zero. >
717 :let myblob = 0z00112233
718 :let byte = myblob[0] " get the first byte: 0x00
719 :let byte = myblob[2] " get the third byte: 0x22
720
721A negative index is counted from the end. Index -1 refers to the last byte in
722the Blob, -2 to the last but one byte, etc. >
723 :let last = myblob[-1] " get the last byte: 0x33
724
725To avoid an error for an invalid index use the |get()| function. When an item
726is not available it returns -1 or the default value you specify: >
727 :echo get(myblob, idx)
728 :echo get(myblob, idx, 999)
729
730
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +0100731Blob iteration ~
732
733The |:for| loop executes commands for each byte of a Blob. The loop variable is
734set to each byte in the Blob. Example: >
735 :for byte in 0z112233
736 : call Doit(byte)
737 :endfor
738This calls Doit() with 0x11, 0x22 and 0x33.
739
740
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100741Blob concatenation ~
742
743Two blobs can be concatenated with the "+" operator: >
744 :let longblob = myblob + 0z4455
745 :let myblob += 0z6677
746
747To change a blob in-place see |blob-modification| below.
748
749
750Part of a blob ~
751
752A part of the Blob can be obtained by specifying the first and last index,
753separated by a colon in square brackets: >
754 :let myblob = 0z00112233
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +0100755 :let shortblob = myblob[1:2] " get 0z1122
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100756 :let shortblob = myblob[2:-1] " get 0z2233
757
758Omitting the first index is similar to zero. Omitting the last index is
759similar to -1. >
760 :let endblob = myblob[2:] " from item 2 to the end: 0z2233
761 :let shortblob = myblob[2:2] " Blob with one byte: 0z22
762 :let otherblob = myblob[:] " make a copy of the Blob
763
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +0100764If the first index is beyond the last byte of the Blob or the second index is
Bram Moolenaaraa5df7e2019-02-03 14:53:10 +0100765before the first index, the result is an empty Blob. There is no error
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100766message.
767
768If the second index is equal to or greater than the length of the list the
769length minus one is used: >
770 :echo myblob[2:8] " result: 0z2233
771
772
773Blob modification ~
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +0000774 *blob-modification* *E1182* *E1184*
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100775To change a specific byte of a blob use |:let| this way: >
776 :let blob[4] = 0x44
777
778When the index is just one beyond the end of the Blob, it is appended. Any
779higher index is an error.
780
781To change a sequence of bytes the [:] notation can be used: >
782 let blob[1:3] = 0z445566
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +0100783The length of the replaced bytes must be exactly the same as the value
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100784provided. *E972*
785
786To change part of a blob you can specify the first and last byte to be
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +0100787modified. The value must have the same number of bytes in the range: >
788 :let blob[3:5] = 0z334455
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100789
790You can also use the functions |add()|, |remove()| and |insert()|.
791
792
793Blob identity ~
794
795Blobs can be compared for equality: >
796 if blob == 0z001122
797And for equal identity: >
798 if blob is otherblob
799< *blob-identity* *E977*
800When variable "aa" is a Blob and you assign it to another variable "bb", both
801variables refer to the same Blob. Then the "is" operator returns true.
802
803When making a copy using [:] or |copy()| the values are the same, but the
804identity is different: >
805 :let blob = 0z112233
806 :let blob2 = blob
807 :echo blob == blob2
808< 1 >
809 :echo blob is blob2
810< 1 >
811 :let blob3 = blob[:]
812 :echo blob == blob3
813< 1 >
814 :echo blob is blob3
815< 0
816
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +0100817Making a copy of a Blob is done with the |copy()| function. Using [:] also
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +0100818works, as explained above.
819
820
8211.6 More about variables ~
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +0000822 *more-variables*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000823If you need to know the type of a variable or expression, use the |type()|
824function.
825
826When the '!' flag is included in the 'viminfo' option, global variables that
827start with an uppercase letter, and don't contain a lowercase letter, are
828stored in the viminfo file |viminfo-file|.
829
830When the 'sessionoptions' option contains "global", global variables that
831start with an uppercase letter and contain at least one lowercase letter are
832stored in the session file |session-file|.
833
834variable name can be stored where ~
835my_var_6 not
836My_Var_6 session file
837MY_VAR_6 viminfo file
838
839
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000840In legacy script it is possible to form a variable name with curly braces, see
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000841|curly-braces-names|.
842
843==============================================================================
8442. Expression syntax *expression-syntax*
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +0000845 *E1143*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000846Expression syntax summary, from least to most significant:
847
Bram Moolenaar50ba5262016-09-22 22:33:02 +0200848|expr1| expr2
Bram Moolenaar89bcfda2016-08-30 23:26:57 +0200849 expr2 ? expr1 : expr1 if-then-else
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000850
Bram Moolenaar89bcfda2016-08-30 23:26:57 +0200851|expr2| expr3
Bram Moolenaar0f248b02019-04-04 15:36:05 +0200852 expr3 || expr3 ... logical OR
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000853
Bram Moolenaar89bcfda2016-08-30 23:26:57 +0200854|expr3| expr4
Bram Moolenaar0f248b02019-04-04 15:36:05 +0200855 expr4 && expr4 ... logical AND
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000856
Bram Moolenaar89bcfda2016-08-30 23:26:57 +0200857|expr4| expr5
858 expr5 == expr5 equal
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000859 expr5 != expr5 not equal
860 expr5 > expr5 greater than
861 expr5 >= expr5 greater than or equal
862 expr5 < expr5 smaller than
863 expr5 <= expr5 smaller than or equal
864 expr5 =~ expr5 regexp matches
865 expr5 !~ expr5 regexp doesn't match
866
867 expr5 ==? expr5 equal, ignoring case
868 expr5 ==# expr5 equal, match case
869 etc. As above, append ? for ignoring case, # for
870 matching case
871
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +0100872 expr5 is expr5 same |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob| instance
873 expr5 isnot expr5 different |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob|
874 instance
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +0000875
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +0100876|expr5| expr6 << expr6 bitwise left shift
877 expr6 >> expr6 bitwise right shift
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000878
Bram Moolenaar89bcfda2016-08-30 23:26:57 +0200879|expr6| expr7
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +0100880 expr7 + expr7 ... number addition, list or blob concatenation
881 expr7 - expr7 ... number subtraction
882 expr7 . expr7 ... string concatenation
883 expr7 .. expr7 ... string concatenation
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000884
Bram Moolenaar89bcfda2016-08-30 23:26:57 +0200885|expr7| expr8
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +0100886 expr8 * expr8 ... number multiplication
887 expr8 / expr8 ... number division
888 expr8 % expr8 ... number modulo
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000889
Bram Moolenaar89bcfda2016-08-30 23:26:57 +0200890|expr8| expr9
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +0100891 <type>expr9 type check and conversion (|Vim9| only)
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +0000892
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000893|expr9| expr10
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +0100894 ! expr9 logical NOT
895 - expr9 unary minus
896 + expr9 unary plus
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000897
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +0100898|expr10| expr11
899 expr10[expr1] byte of a String or item of a |List|
900 expr10[expr1 : expr1] substring of a String or sublist of a |List|
901 expr10.name entry in a |Dictionary|
902 expr10(expr1, ...) function call with |Funcref| variable
903 expr10->name(expr1, ...) |method| call
904
905|expr11| number number constant
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +0000906 "string" string constant, backslash is special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +0000907 'string' string constant, ' is doubled
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +0000908 [expr1, ...] |List|
909 {expr1: expr1, ...} |Dictionary|
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000910 #{key: expr1, ...} legacy |Dictionary|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000911 &option option value
912 (expr1) nested expression
913 variable internal variable
914 va{ria}ble internal variable with curly braces
915 $VAR environment variable
916 @r contents of register 'r'
917 function(expr1, ...) function call
918 func{ti}on(expr1, ...) function call with curly braces
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000919 {args -> expr1} legacy lambda expression
920 (args) => expr1 Vim9 lambda expression
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000921
922
Bram Moolenaar0f248b02019-04-04 15:36:05 +0200923"..." indicates that the operations in this level can be concatenated.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000924Example: >
925 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
926
927All expressions within one level are parsed from left to right.
928
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +0000929Expression nesting is limited to 1000 levels deep (300 when build with MSVC)
930to avoid running out of stack and crashing. *E1169*
931
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000932
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000933expr1 *expr1* *ternary* *falsy-operator* *??* *E109*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000934-----
935
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000936The ternary operator: expr2 ? expr1 : expr1
Bram Moolenaar92f26c22020-10-03 20:17:30 +0200937The falsy operator: expr2 ?? expr1
938
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +0000939Ternary operator ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000940
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000941In legacy script the expression before the '?' is evaluated to a number. If
942it evaluates to |TRUE|, the result is the value of the expression between the
943'?' and ':', otherwise the result is the value of the expression after the
944':'.
945
946In |Vim9| script the first expression must evaluate to a boolean, see
947|vim9-boolean|.
948
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000949Example: >
950 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum
951
952Since the first expression is an "expr2", it cannot contain another ?:. The
953other two expressions can, thus allow for recursive use of ?:.
954Example: >
955 :echo lnum == 1 ? "top" : lnum == 1000 ? "last" : lnum
956
957To keep this readable, using |line-continuation| is suggested: >
958 :echo lnum == 1
959 :\ ? "top"
960 :\ : lnum == 1000
961 :\ ? "last"
962 :\ : lnum
963
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +0000964You should always put a space before the ':', otherwise it can be mistaken for
965use in a variable such as "a:1".
966
Bram Moolenaar92f26c22020-10-03 20:17:30 +0200967Falsy operator ~
968
969This is also known as the "null coalescing operator", but that's too
970complicated, thus we just call it the falsy operator.
971
972The expression before the '??' is evaluated. If it evaluates to
973|truthy|, this is used as the result. Otherwise the expression after the '??'
974is evaluated and used as the result. This is most useful to have a default
975value for an expression that may result in zero or empty: >
976 echo theList ?? 'list is empty'
977 echo GetName() ?? 'unknown'
978
979These are similar, but not equal: >
980 expr2 ?? expr1
981 expr2 ? expr2 : expr1
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000982In the second line "expr2" is evaluated twice. And in |Vim9| script the type
983of expr2 before "?" must be a boolean.
Bram Moolenaar92f26c22020-10-03 20:17:30 +0200984
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000985
986expr2 and expr3 *expr2* *expr3*
987---------------
988
Bram Moolenaar04186092016-08-29 21:55:35 +0200989expr3 || expr3 .. logical OR *expr-barbar*
990expr4 && expr4 .. logical AND *expr-&&*
991
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000992The "||" and "&&" operators take one argument on each side.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +0000993
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +0000994In legacy script the arguments are (converted to) Numbers.
995
996In |Vim9| script the values must be boolean, see |vim9-boolean|. Use "!!" to
997convert any type to a boolean.
998
999The result is:
Bram Moolenaare381d3d2016-07-07 14:50:41 +02001000 input output ~
1001n1 n2 n1 || n2 n1 && n2 ~
1002|FALSE| |FALSE| |FALSE| |FALSE|
1003|FALSE| |TRUE| |TRUE| |FALSE|
1004|TRUE| |FALSE| |TRUE| |FALSE|
1005|TRUE| |TRUE| |TRUE| |TRUE|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001006
1007The operators can be concatenated, for example: >
1008
1009 &nu || &list && &shell == "csh"
1010
1011Note that "&&" takes precedence over "||", so this has the meaning of: >
1012
1013 &nu || (&list && &shell == "csh")
1014
1015Once the result is known, the expression "short-circuits", that is, further
1016arguments are not evaluated. This is like what happens in C. For example: >
1017
1018 let a = 1
1019 echo a || b
1020
Bram Moolenaare381d3d2016-07-07 14:50:41 +02001021This is valid even if there is no variable called "b" because "a" is |TRUE|,
1022so the result must be |TRUE|. Similarly below: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001023
1024 echo exists("b") && b == "yes"
1025
1026This is valid whether "b" has been defined or not. The second clause will
1027only be evaluated if "b" has been defined.
1028
1029
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00001030expr4 *expr4* *E1153*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001031-----
1032
1033expr5 {cmp} expr5
1034
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001035Compare two expr5 expressions. In legacy script the result is a 0 if it
1036evaluates to false, or 1 if it evaluates to true. In |Vim9| script the result
1037is |true| or |false|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001038
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001039 *expr-==* *expr-!=* *expr->* *expr->=*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001040 *expr-<* *expr-<=* *expr-=~* *expr-!~*
1041 *expr-==#* *expr-!=#* *expr->#* *expr->=#*
1042 *expr-<#* *expr-<=#* *expr-=~#* *expr-!~#*
1043 *expr-==?* *expr-!=?* *expr->?* *expr->=?*
1044 *expr-<?* *expr-<=?* *expr-=~?* *expr-!~?*
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001045 *expr-is* *expr-isnot* *expr-is#* *expr-isnot#*
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001046 *expr-is?* *expr-isnot?* *E1072*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001047 use 'ignorecase' match case ignore case ~
1048equal == ==# ==?
1049not equal != !=# !=?
1050greater than > ># >?
1051greater than or equal >= >=# >=?
1052smaller than < <# <?
1053smaller than or equal <= <=# <=?
1054regexp matches =~ =~# =~?
1055regexp doesn't match !~ !~# !~?
Bram Moolenaar251e1912011-06-19 05:09:16 +02001056same instance is is# is?
1057different instance isnot isnot# isnot?
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001058
1059Examples:
1060"abc" ==# "Abc" evaluates to 0
1061"abc" ==? "Abc" evaluates to 1
1062"abc" == "Abc" evaluates to 1 if 'ignorecase' is set, 0 otherwise
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001063NOTE: In |Vim9| script 'ignorecase' is not used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001064
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00001065 *E691* *E692*
Bram Moolenaar01164a62017-11-02 22:58:42 +01001066A |List| can only be compared with a |List| and only "equal", "not equal",
1067"is" and "isnot" can be used. This compares the values of the list,
1068recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing item values.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001069
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00001070 *E735* *E736*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001071A |Dictionary| can only be compared with a |Dictionary| and only "equal", "not
Bram Moolenaar01164a62017-11-02 22:58:42 +01001072equal", "is" and "isnot" can be used. This compares the key/values of the
1073|Dictionary| recursively. Ignoring case means case is ignored when comparing
1074item values.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00001075
Bram Moolenaaraa3b15d2016-04-21 08:53:19 +02001076 *E694*
Bram Moolenaare18dbe82016-07-02 21:42:23 +02001077A |Funcref| can only be compared with a |Funcref| and only "equal", "not
1078equal", "is" and "isnot" can be used. Case is never ignored. Whether
1079arguments or a Dictionary are bound (with a partial) matters. The
1080Dictionaries must also be equal (or the same, in case of "is") and the
1081arguments must be equal (or the same).
1082
1083To compare Funcrefs to see if they refer to the same function, ignoring bound
1084Dictionary and arguments, use |get()| to get the function name: >
1085 if get(Part1, 'name') == get(Part2, 'name')
1086 " Part1 and Part2 refer to the same function
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001087< *E1037*
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +01001088Using "is" or "isnot" with a |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob| checks whether
1089the expressions are referring to the same |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob|
1090instance. A copy of a |List| is different from the original |List|. When
1091using "is" without a |List|, |Dictionary| or |Blob|, it is equivalent to
1092using "equal", using "isnot" equivalent to using "not equal". Except that
1093a different type means the values are different: >
Bram Moolenaar86edef62016-03-13 18:07:30 +01001094 echo 4 == '4'
1095 1
1096 echo 4 is '4'
1097 0
1098 echo 0 is []
1099 0
1100"is#"/"isnot#" and "is?"/"isnot?" can be used to match and ignore case.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001101
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001102In legacy script, when comparing a String with a Number, the String is
1103converted to a Number, and the comparison is done on Numbers. This means
1104that: >
Bram Moolenaar86edef62016-03-13 18:07:30 +01001105 echo 0 == 'x'
1106 1
1107because 'x' converted to a Number is zero. However: >
1108 echo [0] == ['x']
1109 0
1110Inside a List or Dictionary this conversion is not used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001111
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001112In |Vim9| script the types must match.
1113
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001114When comparing two Strings, this is done with strcmp() or stricmp(). This
1115results in the mathematical difference (comparing byte values), not
1116necessarily the alphabetical difference in the local language.
1117
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001118When using the operators with a trailing '#', or the short version and
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00001119'ignorecase' is off, the comparing is done with strcmp(): case matters.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001120
1121When using the operators with a trailing '?', or the short version and
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00001122'ignorecase' is set, the comparing is done with stricmp(): case is ignored.
1123
1124'smartcase' is not used.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001125
1126The "=~" and "!~" operators match the lefthand argument with the righthand
1127argument, which is used as a pattern. See |pattern| for what a pattern is.
1128This matching is always done like 'magic' was set and 'cpoptions' is empty, no
1129matter what the actual value of 'magic' or 'cpoptions' is. This makes scripts
1130portable. To avoid backslashes in the regexp pattern to be doubled, use a
1131single-quote string, see |literal-string|.
1132Since a string is considered to be a single line, a multi-line pattern
1133(containing \n, backslash-n) will not match. However, a literal NL character
1134can be matched like an ordinary character. Examples:
1135 "foo\nbar" =~ "\n" evaluates to 1
1136 "foo\nbar" =~ "\\n" evaluates to 0
1137
1138
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001139expr5 *expr5* *bitwise-shift*
1140-----
1141expr6 << expr6 bitwise left shift *expr-<<*
1142expr6 >> expr6 bitwise right shift *expr->>*
1143 *E1282* *E1283*
1144The "<<" and ">>" operators can be used to perform bitwise left or right shift
1145of the left operand by the number of bits specified by the right operand. The
Bram Moolenaar338bf582022-05-22 20:16:32 +01001146operands are used as positive numbers. When shifting right with ">>" the
Bram Moolenaard592deb2022-06-17 15:42:40 +01001147topmost bit (sometimes called the sign bit) is cleared. If the right operand
Bram Moolenaar338bf582022-05-22 20:16:32 +01001148(shift amount) is more than the maximum number of bits in a number
1149(|v:numbersize|) the result is zero.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001150
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001151
1152expr6 and expr7 *expr6* *expr7* *E1036* *E1051*
1153---------------
1154expr7 + expr7 Number addition, |List| or |Blob| concatenation *expr-+*
1155expr7 - expr7 Number subtraction *expr--*
1156expr7 . expr7 String concatenation *expr-.*
1157expr7 .. expr7 String concatenation *expr-..*
1158
1159For |Lists| only "+" is possible and then both expr7 must be a list. The
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001160result is a new list with the two lists Concatenated.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001161
Bram Moolenaar0f248b02019-04-04 15:36:05 +02001162For String concatenation ".." is preferred, since "." is ambiguous, it is also
1163used for |Dict| member access and floating point numbers.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001164In |Vim9| script and when |vimscript-version| is 2 or higher, using "." is not
1165allowed.
1166
1167In |Vim9| script the arguments of ".." are converted to String for simple
1168types: Number, Float, Special and Bool. For other types |string()| should be
1169used.
Bram Moolenaar0f248b02019-04-04 15:36:05 +02001170
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001171expr8 * expr8 Number multiplication *expr-star*
1172expr8 / expr8 Number division *expr-/*
1173expr8 % expr8 Number modulo *expr-%*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001174
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001175In legacy script, for all operators except "." and "..", Strings are converted
1176to Numbers.
1177
Bram Moolenaard6e256c2011-12-14 15:32:50 +01001178For bitwise operators see |and()|, |or()| and |xor()|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001179
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001180Note the difference between "+" and ".." in legacy script:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001181 "123" + "456" = 579
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001182 "123" .. "456" = "123456"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001183
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001184Since '..' has the same precedence as '+' and '-', you need to read: >
1185 1 .. 90 + 90.0
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001186As: >
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001187 (1 .. 90) + 90.0
1188That works in legacy script, since the String "190" is automatically converted
1189to the Number 190, which can be added to the Float 90.0. However: >
1190 1 .. 90 * 90.0
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001191Should be read as: >
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001192 1 .. (90 * 90.0)
1193Since '..' has lower precedence than '*'. This does NOT work, since this
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001194attempts to concatenate a Float and a String.
1195
1196When dividing a Number by zero the result depends on the value:
1197 0 / 0 = -0x80000000 (like NaN for Float)
1198 >0 / 0 = 0x7fffffff (like positive infinity)
1199 <0 / 0 = -0x7fffffff (like negative infinity)
1200 (before Vim 7.2 it was always 0x7fffffff)
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00001201In |Vim9| script dividing a number by zero is an error. *E1154*
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001202
Bram Moolenaar22fcfad2016-07-01 18:17:26 +02001203When 64-bit Number support is enabled:
1204 0 / 0 = -0x8000000000000000 (like NaN for Float)
1205 >0 / 0 = 0x7fffffffffffffff (like positive infinity)
1206 <0 / 0 = -0x7fffffffffffffff (like negative infinity)
1207
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001208When the righthand side of '%' is zero, the result is 0.
1209
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001210None of these work for |Funcref|s.
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00001211
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001212".", ".." and "%" do not work for Float. *E804* *E1035*
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001213
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001214
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001215expr8 *expr8*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001216-----
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001217<type>expr9
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001218
1219This is only available in |Vim9| script, see |type-casting|.
1220
1221
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001222expr9 *expr9*
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001223-----
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001224! expr9 logical NOT *expr-!*
1225- expr9 unary minus *expr-unary--*
1226+ expr9 unary plus *expr-unary-+*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001227
Bram Moolenaare381d3d2016-07-07 14:50:41 +02001228For '!' |TRUE| becomes |FALSE|, |FALSE| becomes |TRUE| (one).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001229For '-' the sign of the number is changed.
Bram Moolenaar6f02b002021-01-10 20:22:54 +01001230For '+' the number is unchanged. Note: "++" has no effect.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001231
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001232In legacy script a String will be converted to a Number first. Note that if
1233the string does not start with a digit you likely don't get what you expect.
1234
1235In |Vim9| script an error is given when "-" or "+" is used and the type is not
1236a number.
1237
1238In |Vim9| script "!" can be used for any type and the result is always a
1239boolean. Use "!!" to convert any type to a boolean, according to whether the
1240value is |falsy|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001241
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001242These three can be repeated and mixed. Examples:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001243 !-1 == 0
1244 !!8 == 1
1245 --9 == 9
1246
1247
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001248expr10 *expr10*
1249------
1250This expression is either |expr11| or a sequence of the alternatives below,
Bram Moolenaarfc65cab2018-08-28 22:58:02 +02001251in any order. E.g., these are all possible:
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001252 expr10[expr1].name
1253 expr10.name[expr1]
1254 expr10(expr1, ...)[expr1].name
1255 expr10->(expr1, ...)[expr1]
Bram Moolenaarac92e252019-08-03 21:58:38 +02001256Evaluation is always from left to right.
Bram Moolenaarfc65cab2018-08-28 22:58:02 +02001257
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001258expr10[expr1] item of String or |List| *expr-[]* *E111*
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001259 *E909* *subscript* *E1062*
Bram Moolenaare3c37d82020-08-15 18:39:05 +02001260In legacy Vim script:
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001261If expr10 is a Number or String this results in a String that contains the
1262expr1'th single byte from expr10. expr10 is used as a String (a number is
Bram Moolenaare3c37d82020-08-15 18:39:05 +02001263automatically converted to a String), expr1 as a Number. This doesn't
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +02001264recognize multibyte encodings, see `byteidx()` for an alternative, or use
Bram Moolenaare3c37d82020-08-15 18:39:05 +02001265`split()` to turn the string into a list of characters. Example, to get the
1266byte under the cursor: >
Bram Moolenaar61660ea2006-04-07 21:40:07 +00001267 :let c = getline(".")[col(".") - 1]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001268
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00001269In |Vim9| script: *E1147* *E1148*
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001270If expr10 is a String this results in a String that contains the expr1'th
1271single character (including any composing characters) from expr10. To use byte
Bram Moolenaar02b4d9b2021-03-14 19:46:45 +01001272indexes use |strpart()|.
Bram Moolenaare3c37d82020-08-15 18:39:05 +02001273
1274Index zero gives the first byte or character. Careful: text column numbers
1275start with one!
1276
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001277If the length of the String is less than the index, the result is an empty
Bram Moolenaar85084ef2016-01-17 22:26:33 +01001278String. A negative index always results in an empty string (reason: backward
Bram Moolenaare3c37d82020-08-15 18:39:05 +02001279compatibility). Use [-1:] to get the last byte or character.
Bram Moolenaar6f02b002021-01-10 20:22:54 +01001280In Vim9 script a negative index is used like with a list: count from the end.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001281
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001282If expr10 is a |List| then it results the item at index expr1. See |list-index|
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001283for possible index values. If the index is out of range this results in an
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001284error. Example: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001285 :let item = mylist[-1] " get last item
1286
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001287Generally, if a |List| index is equal to or higher than the length of the
1288|List|, or more negative than the length of the |List|, this results in an
1289error.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001290
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001291
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001292expr10[expr1a : expr1b] substring or sublist *expr-[:]*
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001293
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001294If expr10 is a String this results in the substring with the bytes or
1295characters from expr1a to and including expr1b. expr10 is used as a String,
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +02001296expr1a and expr1b are used as a Number.
Bram Moolenaare3c37d82020-08-15 18:39:05 +02001297
1298In legacy Vim script the indexes are byte indexes. This doesn't recognize
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001299multibyte encodings, see |byteidx()| for computing the indexes. If expr10 is
Bram Moolenaare3c37d82020-08-15 18:39:05 +02001300a Number it is first converted to a String.
1301
Bram Moolenaar02b4d9b2021-03-14 19:46:45 +01001302In Vim9 script the indexes are character indexes and include composing
1303characters. To use byte indexes use |strpart()|. To use character indexes
1304without including composing characters use |strcharpart()|.
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001305
Bram Moolenaar6601b622021-01-13 21:47:15 +01001306The item at index expr1b is included, it is inclusive. For an exclusive index
1307use the |slice()| function.
1308
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001309If expr1a is omitted zero is used. If expr1b is omitted the length of the
1310string minus one is used.
1311
1312A negative number can be used to measure from the end of the string. -1 is
1313the last character, -2 the last but one, etc.
1314
1315If an index goes out of range for the string characters are omitted. If
1316expr1b is smaller than expr1a the result is an empty string.
1317
1318Examples: >
1319 :let c = name[-1:] " last byte of a string
Bram Moolenaar207f0092020-08-30 17:20:20 +02001320 :let c = name[0:-1] " the whole string
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001321 :let c = name[-2:-2] " last but one byte of a string
1322 :let s = line(".")[4:] " from the fifth byte to the end
1323 :let s = s[:-3] " remove last two bytes
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001324<
Bram Moolenaarbc8801c2016-08-02 21:04:33 +02001325 *slice*
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001326If expr10 is a |List| this results in a new |List| with the items indicated by
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001327the indexes expr1a and expr1b. This works like with a String, as explained
Bram Moolenaarbc8801c2016-08-02 21:04:33 +02001328just above. Also see |sublist| below. Examples: >
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00001329 :let l = mylist[:3] " first four items
1330 :let l = mylist[4:4] " List with one item
1331 :let l = mylist[:] " shallow copy of a List
1332
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001333If expr10 is a |Blob| this results in a new |Blob| with the bytes in the
Bram Moolenaar6e5ea8d2019-01-12 22:47:31 +01001334indexes expr1a and expr1b, inclusive. Examples: >
1335 :let b = 0zDEADBEEF
1336 :let bs = b[1:2] " 0zADBE
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01001337 :let bs = b[:] " copy of 0zDEADBEEF
Bram Moolenaar6e5ea8d2019-01-12 22:47:31 +01001338
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001339Using expr10[expr1] or expr10[expr1a : expr1b] on a |Funcref| results in an
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001340error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001341
Bram Moolenaarda440d22016-01-16 21:27:23 +01001342Watch out for confusion between a namespace and a variable followed by a colon
1343for a sublist: >
1344 mylist[n:] " uses variable n
1345 mylist[s:] " uses namespace s:, error!
1346
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001347
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001348expr10.name entry in a |Dictionary| *expr-entry*
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00001349 *E1203* *E1229*
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001350If expr10 is a |Dictionary| and it is followed by a dot, then the following
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001351name will be used as a key in the |Dictionary|. This is just like:
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001352expr10[name].
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001353
1354The name must consist of alphanumeric characters, just like a variable name,
1355but it may start with a number. Curly braces cannot be used.
1356
1357There must not be white space before or after the dot.
1358
1359Examples: >
1360 :let dict = {"one": 1, 2: "two"}
Bram Moolenaar68e65602019-05-26 21:33:31 +02001361 :echo dict.one " shows "1"
1362 :echo dict.2 " shows "two"
1363 :echo dict .2 " error because of space before the dot
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001364
1365Note that the dot is also used for String concatenation. To avoid confusion
1366always put spaces around the dot for String concatenation.
1367
1368
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001369expr10(expr1, ...) |Funcref| function call *E1085*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001370
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001371When expr10 is a |Funcref| type variable, invoke the function it refers to.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001372
1373
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001374expr10->name([args]) method call *method* *->*
1375expr10->{lambda}([args])
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00001376 *E260* *E276* *E1265*
Bram Moolenaar25e42232019-08-04 15:04:10 +02001377For methods that are also available as global functions this is the same as: >
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001378 name(expr10 [, args])
1379There can also be methods specifically for the type of "expr10".
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00001380
Bram Moolenaar51841322019-08-08 21:10:01 +02001381This allows for chaining, passing the value that one method returns to the
1382next method: >
Bram Moolenaar25e42232019-08-04 15:04:10 +02001383 mylist->filter(filterexpr)->map(mapexpr)->sort()->join()
1384<
Bram Moolenaar22a0c0c2019-08-09 23:25:08 +02001385Example of using a lambda: >
Bram Moolenaar02b31112019-08-31 22:16:38 +02001386 GetPercentage()->{x -> x * 100}()->printf('%d%%')
Bram Moolenaar56c860c2019-08-17 20:09:31 +02001387<
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001388When using -> the |expr9| operators will be applied first, thus: >
Bram Moolenaar93cf85f2019-08-17 21:36:28 +02001389 -1.234->string()
1390Is equivalent to: >
1391 (-1.234)->string()
1392And NOT: >
1393 -(1.234->string())
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001394
1395What comes after "->" can be a name, a simple expression (not containing any
Bram Moolenaar944697a2022-02-20 19:48:20 +00001396parenthesis), or any expression in parentheses: >
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001397 base->name(args)
1398 base->some.name(args)
1399 base->alist[idx](args)
1400 base->(getFuncRef())(args)
1401Note that in the last call the base is passed to the function resulting from
1402"(getFuncRef())", inserted before "args".
1403
Bram Moolenaar51841322019-08-08 21:10:01 +02001404 *E274*
1405"->name(" must not contain white space. There can be white space before the
1406"->" and after the "(", thus you can split the lines like this: >
1407 mylist
1408 \ ->filter(filterexpr)
1409 \ ->map(mapexpr)
1410 \ ->sort()
1411 \ ->join()
Bram Moolenaar56c860c2019-08-17 20:09:31 +02001412
1413When using the lambda form there must be no white space between the } and the
1414(.
1415
Bram Moolenaar25e42232019-08-04 15:04:10 +02001416
Yegappan Lakshmanana061f342022-05-22 19:13:49 +01001417 *expr11*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001418number
1419------
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +01001420number number constant *expr-number*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001421
Bram Moolenaar6f02b002021-01-10 20:22:54 +01001422 *0x* *hex-number* *0o* *octal-number* *binary-number*
Bram Moolenaar7571d552016-08-18 22:54:46 +02001423Decimal, Hexadecimal (starting with 0x or 0X), Binary (starting with 0b or 0B)
Bram Moolenaarc17e66c2020-06-02 21:38:22 +02001424and Octal (starting with 0, 0o or 0O).
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001425
Bram Moolenaar338bf582022-05-22 20:16:32 +01001426Assuming 64 bit numbers are used (see |v:numbersize|) an unsigned number is
1427truncated to 0x7fffffffffffffff or 9223372036854775807. You can use -1 to get
14280xffffffffffffffff.
1429
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001430 *floating-point-format*
1431Floating point numbers can be written in two forms:
1432
1433 [-+]{N}.{M}
Bram Moolenaar8a94d872015-01-25 13:02:57 +01001434 [-+]{N}.{M}[eE][-+]{exp}
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001435
1436{N} and {M} are numbers. Both {N} and {M} must be present and can only
Bram Moolenaar6aa57292021-08-14 21:25:52 +02001437contain digits, except that in |Vim9| script in {N} single quotes between
1438digits are ignored.
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001439[-+] means there is an optional plus or minus sign.
1440{exp} is the exponent, power of 10.
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001441Only a decimal point is accepted, not a comma. No matter what the current
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001442locale is.
1443{only when compiled with the |+float| feature}
1444
1445Examples:
1446 123.456
1447 +0.0001
1448 55.0
1449 -0.123
1450 1.234e03
1451 1.0E-6
1452 -3.1416e+88
1453
1454These are INVALID:
1455 3. empty {M}
1456 1e40 missing .{M}
1457
1458Rationale:
1459Before floating point was introduced, the text "123.456" was interpreted as
1460the two numbers "123" and "456", both converted to a string and concatenated,
1461resulting in the string "123456". Since this was considered pointless, and we
Bram Moolenaare37d50a2008-08-06 17:06:04 +00001462could not find it intentionally being used in Vim scripts, this backwards
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001463incompatibility was accepted in favor of being able to use the normal notation
1464for floating point numbers.
1465
Bram Moolenaard47d5222018-12-09 20:43:55 +01001466 *float-pi* *float-e*
1467A few useful values to copy&paste: >
1468 :let pi = 3.14159265359
1469 :let e = 2.71828182846
1470Or, if you don't want to write them in as floating-point literals, you can
1471also use functions, like the following: >
1472 :let pi = acos(-1.0)
1473 :let e = exp(1.0)
Bram Moolenaar98aefe72018-12-13 22:20:09 +01001474<
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001475 *floating-point-precision*
1476The precision and range of floating points numbers depends on what "double"
1477means in the library Vim was compiled with. There is no way to change this at
1478runtime.
1479
1480The default for displaying a |Float| is to use 6 decimal places, like using
1481printf("%g", f). You can select something else when using the |printf()|
1482function. Example: >
1483 :echo printf('%.15e', atan(1))
1484< 7.853981633974483e-01
1485
1486
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001487
Bram Moolenaar979243b2015-06-26 19:35:49 +02001488string *string* *String* *expr-string* *E114*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001489------
1490"string" string constant *expr-quote*
1491
1492Note that double quotes are used.
1493
1494A string constant accepts these special characters:
1495\... three-digit octal number (e.g., "\316")
1496\.. two-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
1497\. one-digit octal number (must be followed by non-digit)
1498\x.. byte specified with two hex numbers (e.g., "\x1f")
1499\x. byte specified with one hex number (must be followed by non-hex char)
1500\X.. same as \x..
1501\X. same as \x.
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001502\u.... character specified with up to 4 hex numbers, stored according to the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001503 current value of 'encoding' (e.g., "\u02a4")
Bram Moolenaar541f92d2015-06-19 13:27:23 +02001504\U.... same as \u but allows up to 8 hex numbers.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001505\b backspace <BS>
1506\e escape <Esc>
Bram Moolenaar6e649222021-10-04 21:32:54 +01001507\f formfeed 0x0C
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001508\n newline <NL>
1509\r return <CR>
1510\t tab <Tab>
1511\\ backslash
1512\" double quote
Bram Moolenaar00a927d2010-05-14 23:24:24 +02001513\<xxx> Special key named "xxx". e.g. "\<C-W>" for CTRL-W. This is for use
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001514 in mappings, the 0x80 byte is escaped.
1515 To use the double quote character it must be escaped: "<M-\">".
Bram Moolenaar6e649222021-10-04 21:32:54 +01001516 Don't use <Char-xxxx> to get a UTF-8 character, use \uxxxx as
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001517 mentioned above.
Bram Moolenaarfccd93f2020-05-31 22:06:51 +02001518\<*xxx> Like \<xxx> but prepends a modifier instead of including it in the
1519 character. E.g. "\<C-w>" is one character 0x17 while "\<*C-w>" is four
Bram Moolenaarebe9d342020-05-30 21:52:54 +02001520 bytes: 3 for the CTRL modifier and then character "W".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001521
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00001522Note that "\xff" is stored as the byte 255, which may be invalid in some
1523encodings. Use "\u00ff" to store character 255 according to the current value
1524of 'encoding'.
1525
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001526Note that "\000" and "\x00" force the end of the string.
1527
1528
Bram Moolenaard8968242019-01-15 22:51:57 +01001529blob-literal *blob-literal* *E973*
Bram Moolenaar6e5ea8d2019-01-12 22:47:31 +01001530------------
1531
1532Hexadecimal starting with 0z or 0Z, with an arbitrary number of bytes.
1533The sequence must be an even number of hex characters. Example: >
1534 :let b = 0zFF00ED015DAF
1535
1536
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001537literal-string *literal-string* *E115*
1538---------------
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +00001539'string' string constant *expr-'*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001540
1541Note that single quotes are used.
1542
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001543This string is taken as it is. No backslashes are removed or have a special
Bram Moolenaard8b02732005-01-14 21:48:43 +00001544meaning. The only exception is that two quotes stand for one quote.
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +00001545
1546Single quoted strings are useful for patterns, so that backslashes do not need
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001547to be doubled. These two commands are equivalent: >
Bram Moolenaar3fdfa4a2004-10-07 21:02:47 +00001548 if a =~ "\\s*"
1549 if a =~ '\s*'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001550
1551
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +01001552interpolated-string *$quote* *interp-string* *E256*
LemonBoy2eaef102022-05-06 13:14:50 +01001553--------------------
1554$"string" interpolated string constant *expr-$quote*
1555$'string' interpolated literal string constant *expr-$'*
1556
1557Interpolated strings are an extension of the |string| and |literal-string|,
1558allowing the inclusion of Vim script expressions (see |expr1|). Any
1559expression returning a value can be enclosed between curly braces. The value
1560is converted to a string. All the text and results of the expressions
1561are concatenated to make a new string.
Bram Moolenaar3f32a5f2022-05-12 20:34:15 +01001562 *E1278*
LemonBoy2eaef102022-05-06 13:14:50 +01001563To include an opening brace '{' or closing brace '}' in the string content
Bram Moolenaar3f32a5f2022-05-12 20:34:15 +01001564double it. For double quoted strings using a backslash also works. A single
1565closing brace '}' will result in an error.
LemonBoy2eaef102022-05-06 13:14:50 +01001566
1567Examples: >
1568 let your_name = input("What's your name? ")
Bram Moolenaar3f32a5f2022-05-12 20:34:15 +01001569< What's your name? Peter ~
1570>
1571 echo
LemonBoy2eaef102022-05-06 13:14:50 +01001572 echo $"Hello, {your_name}!"
Bram Moolenaar3f32a5f2022-05-12 20:34:15 +01001573< Hello, Peter! ~
1574>
1575 echo $"The square root of {{9}} is {sqrt(9)}"
1576< The square root of {9} is 3.0 ~
1577
LemonBoy2eaef102022-05-06 13:14:50 +01001578
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001579option *expr-option* *E112* *E113*
1580------
1581&option option value, local value if possible
1582&g:option global option value
1583&l:option local option value
1584
1585Examples: >
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00001586 echo "tabstop is " .. &tabstop
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001587 if &insertmode
1588
1589Any option name can be used here. See |options|. When using the local value
1590and there is no buffer-local or window-local value, the global value is used
1591anyway.
1592
1593
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00001594register *expr-register* *@r*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001595--------
1596@r contents of register 'r'
1597
1598The result is the contents of the named register, as a single string.
1599Newlines are inserted where required. To get the contents of the unnamed
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001600register use @" or @@. See |registers| for an explanation of the available
Bram Moolenaare7566042005-06-17 22:00:15 +00001601registers.
1602
1603When using the '=' register you get the expression itself, not what it
1604evaluates to. Use |eval()| to evaluate it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001605
1606
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00001607nesting *expr-nesting* *E110*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001608-------
1609(expr1) nested expression
1610
1611
1612environment variable *expr-env*
1613--------------------
1614$VAR environment variable
1615
1616The String value of any environment variable. When it is not defined, the
1617result is an empty string.
Bram Moolenaar691ddee2019-05-09 14:52:41 +02001618
1619The functions `getenv()` and `setenv()` can also be used and work for
1620environment variables with non-alphanumeric names.
1621The function `environ()` can be used to get a Dict with all environment
1622variables.
1623
1624
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001625 *expr-env-expand*
1626Note that there is a difference between using $VAR directly and using
1627expand("$VAR"). Using it directly will only expand environment variables that
1628are known inside the current Vim session. Using expand() will first try using
1629the environment variables known inside the current Vim session. If that
1630fails, a shell will be used to expand the variable. This can be slow, but it
1631does expand all variables that the shell knows about. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar34401cc2014-08-29 15:12:19 +02001632 :echo $shell
1633 :echo expand("$shell")
1634The first one probably doesn't echo anything, the second echoes the $shell
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001635variable (if your shell supports it).
1636
1637
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00001638internal variable *expr-variable* *E1015* *E1089*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001639-----------------
1640variable internal variable
1641See below |internal-variables|.
1642
1643
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00001644function call *expr-function* *E116* *E118* *E119* *E120*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001645-------------
1646function(expr1, ...) function call
1647See below |functions|.
1648
1649
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02001650lambda expression *expr-lambda* *lambda*
1651-----------------
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +00001652{args -> expr1} legacy lambda expression *E451*
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001653(args) => expr1 |Vim9| lambda expression
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02001654
1655A lambda expression creates a new unnamed function which returns the result of
Bram Moolenaar42ebd062016-07-17 13:35:14 +02001656evaluating |expr1|. Lambda expressions differ from |user-functions| in
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02001657the following ways:
1658
16591. The body of the lambda expression is an |expr1| and not a sequence of |Ex|
1660 commands.
Bram Moolenaar1e96d9b2016-07-29 22:15:09 +020016612. The prefix "a:" should not be used for arguments. E.g.: >
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02001662 :let F = {arg1, arg2 -> arg1 - arg2}
1663 :echo F(5, 2)
1664< 3
1665
1666The arguments are optional. Example: >
1667 :let F = {-> 'error function'}
Bram Moolenaar130cbfc2021-04-07 21:07:20 +02001668 :echo F('ignored')
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02001669< error function
Bram Moolenaar130cbfc2021-04-07 21:07:20 +02001670
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001671The |Vim9| lambda does not only use a different syntax, it also adds type
1672checking and can be split over multiple lines, see |vim9-lambda|.
Bram Moolenaar130cbfc2021-04-07 21:07:20 +02001673
Bram Moolenaar1e96d9b2016-07-29 22:15:09 +02001674 *closure*
1675Lambda expressions can access outer scope variables and arguments. This is
Bram Moolenaar50ba5262016-09-22 22:33:02 +02001676often called a closure. Example where "i" and "a:arg" are used in a lambda
Bram Moolenaar6bb2cdf2018-02-24 19:53:53 +01001677while they already exist in the function scope. They remain valid even after
1678the function returns: >
Bram Moolenaar1e96d9b2016-07-29 22:15:09 +02001679 :function Foo(arg)
1680 : let i = 3
1681 : return {x -> x + i - a:arg}
1682 :endfunction
1683 :let Bar = Foo(4)
1684 :echo Bar(6)
1685< 5
Bram Moolenaar437bafe2016-08-01 15:40:54 +02001686
Bram Moolenaar388a5d42020-05-26 21:20:45 +02001687Note that the variables must exist in the outer scope before the lambda is
Bram Moolenaar6bb2cdf2018-02-24 19:53:53 +01001688defined for this to work. See also |:func-closure|.
1689
1690Lambda and closure support can be checked with: >
Bram Moolenaar437bafe2016-08-01 15:40:54 +02001691 if has('lambda')
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02001692
1693Examples for using a lambda expression with |sort()|, |map()| and |filter()|: >
1694 :echo map([1, 2, 3], {idx, val -> val + 1})
1695< [2, 3, 4] >
1696 :echo sort([3,7,2,1,4], {a, b -> a - b})
1697< [1, 2, 3, 4, 7]
1698
1699The lambda expression is also useful for Channel, Job and timer: >
1700 :let timer = timer_start(500,
1701 \ {-> execute("echo 'Handler called'", "")},
1702 \ {'repeat': 3})
1703< Handler called
1704 Handler called
1705 Handler called
1706
Bram Moolenaar90df4b92021-07-07 20:26:08 +02001707Note that it is possible to cause memory to be used and not freed if the
1708closure is referenced by the context it depends on: >
1709 function Function()
1710 let x = 0
1711 let F = {-> x}
1712 endfunction
1713The closure uses "x" from the function scope, and "F" in that same scope
1714refers to the closure. This cycle results in the memory not being freed.
1715Recommendation: don't do this.
1716
1717Notice how execute() is used to execute an Ex command. That's ugly though.
Bram Moolenaar130cbfc2021-04-07 21:07:20 +02001718In Vim9 script you can use a command block, see |inline-function|.
Bram Moolenaar1e96d9b2016-07-29 22:15:09 +02001719
1720Lambda expressions have internal names like '<lambda>42'. If you get an error
1721for a lambda expression, you can find what it is with the following command: >
Bram Moolenaar6f02b002021-01-10 20:22:54 +01001722 :function <lambda>42
Bram Moolenaar1e96d9b2016-07-29 22:15:09 +02001723See also: |numbered-function|
1724
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001725==============================================================================
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +000017263. Internal variable *internal-variables* *E461* *E1001*
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02001727
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001728An internal variable name can be made up of letters, digits and '_'. But it
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +00001729cannot start with a digit. In legacy script it is also possible to use curly
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001730braces, see |curly-braces-names|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001731
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +00001732In legacy script an internal variable is created with the ":let" command
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001733|:let|. An internal variable is explicitly destroyed with the ":unlet"
1734command |:unlet|.
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00001735Using a name that is not an internal variable or refers to a variable that has
1736been destroyed results in an error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001737
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001738In |Vim9| script `:let` is not used and variables work differently, see |:var|.
1739
Bram Moolenaar65e0d772020-06-14 17:29:55 +02001740 *variable-scope*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001741There are several name spaces for variables. Which one is to be used is
1742specified by what is prepended:
1743
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001744 (nothing) In a function: local to the function;
1745 in a legacy script: global;
1746 in a |Vim9| script: local to the script
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001747|buffer-variable| b: Local to the current buffer.
1748|window-variable| w: Local to the current window.
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +00001749|tabpage-variable| t: Local to the current tab page.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001750|global-variable| g: Global.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001751|local-variable| l: Local to a function (only in a legacy function)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001752|script-variable| s: Local to a |:source|'ed Vim script.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001753|function-argument| a: Function argument (only in a legacy function).
Bram Moolenaar75b81562014-04-06 14:09:13 +02001754|vim-variable| v: Global, predefined by Vim.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001755
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00001756The scope name by itself can be used as a |Dictionary|. For example, to
1757delete all script-local variables: >
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00001758 :for k in keys(s:)
1759 : unlet s:[k]
1760 :endfor
Bram Moolenaar65e0d772020-06-14 17:29:55 +02001761
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00001762Note: in Vim9 script variables can also be local to a block of commands, see
1763|vim9-scopes|.
Bram Moolenaar531da592013-05-06 05:58:55 +02001764 *buffer-variable* *b:var* *b:*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001765A variable name that is preceded with "b:" is local to the current buffer.
1766Thus you can have several "b:foo" variables, one for each buffer.
1767This kind of variable is deleted when the buffer is wiped out or deleted with
1768|:bdelete|.
1769
1770One local buffer variable is predefined:
Bram Moolenaarbf884932013-04-05 22:26:15 +02001771 *b:changedtick* *changetick*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001772b:changedtick The total number of changes to the current buffer. It is
1773 incremented for each change. An undo command is also a change
Bram Moolenaarc024b462019-06-08 18:07:21 +02001774 in this case. Resetting 'modified' when writing the buffer is
1775 also counted.
1776 This can be used to perform an action only when the buffer has
1777 changed. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001778 :if my_changedtick != b:changedtick
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00001779 : let my_changedtick = b:changedtick
1780 : call My_Update()
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001781 :endif
Bram Moolenaar3df01732017-02-17 22:47:16 +01001782< You cannot change or delete the b:changedtick variable.
1783
Bram Moolenaar531da592013-05-06 05:58:55 +02001784 *window-variable* *w:var* *w:*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001785A variable name that is preceded with "w:" is local to the current window. It
1786is deleted when the window is closed.
1787
Bram Moolenaarad3b3662013-05-17 18:14:19 +02001788 *tabpage-variable* *t:var* *t:*
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +00001789A variable name that is preceded with "t:" is local to the current tab page,
1790It is deleted when the tab page is closed. {not available when compiled
Bram Moolenaardb84e452010-08-15 13:50:43 +02001791without the |+windows| feature}
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +00001792
Bram Moolenaar531da592013-05-06 05:58:55 +02001793 *global-variable* *g:var* *g:*
Bram Moolenaar04fb9162021-12-30 20:24:12 +00001794Inside functions and in |Vim9| script global variables are accessed with "g:".
1795Omitting this will access a variable local to a function or script. "g:"
1796can also be used in any other place if you like.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001797
Bram Moolenaar531da592013-05-06 05:58:55 +02001798 *local-variable* *l:var* *l:*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001799Inside functions local variables are accessed without prepending anything.
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00001800But you can also prepend "l:" if you like. However, without prepending "l:"
1801you may run into reserved variable names. For example "count". By itself it
1802refers to "v:count". Using "l:count" you can have a local variable with the
1803same name.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001804
1805 *script-variable* *s:var*
Bram Moolenaar04fb9162021-12-30 20:24:12 +00001806In a legacy Vim script variables starting with "s:" can be used. They cannot
1807be accessed from outside of the scripts, thus are local to the script.
1808In |Vim9| script the "s:" prefix can be omitted, variables are script-local by
1809default.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001810
1811They can be used in:
1812- commands executed while the script is sourced
1813- functions defined in the script
1814- autocommands defined in the script
1815- functions and autocommands defined in functions and autocommands which were
1816 defined in the script (recursively)
1817- user defined commands defined in the script
1818Thus not in:
1819- other scripts sourced from this one
1820- mappings
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001821- menus
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001822- etc.
1823
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00001824Script variables can be used to avoid conflicts with global variable names.
1825Take this example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001826
1827 let s:counter = 0
1828 function MyCounter()
1829 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1830 echo s:counter
1831 endfunction
1832 command Tick call MyCounter()
1833
1834You can now invoke "Tick" from any script, and the "s:counter" variable in
1835that script will not be changed, only the "s:counter" in the script where
1836"Tick" was defined is used.
1837
1838Another example that does the same: >
1839
1840 let s:counter = 0
1841 command Tick let s:counter = s:counter + 1 | echo s:counter
1842
1843When calling a function and invoking a user-defined command, the context for
Bram Moolenaar69a7cb42004-06-20 12:51:53 +00001844script variables is set to the script where the function or command was
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001845defined.
1846
1847The script variables are also available when a function is defined inside a
1848function that is defined in a script. Example: >
1849
1850 let s:counter = 0
1851 function StartCounting(incr)
1852 if a:incr
1853 function MyCounter()
1854 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
1855 endfunction
1856 else
1857 function MyCounter()
1858 let s:counter = s:counter - 1
1859 endfunction
1860 endif
1861 endfunction
1862
1863This defines the MyCounter() function either for counting up or counting down
1864when calling StartCounting(). It doesn't matter from where StartCounting() is
1865called, the s:counter variable will be accessible in MyCounter().
1866
1867When the same script is sourced again it will use the same script variables.
1868They will remain valid as long as Vim is running. This can be used to
1869maintain a counter: >
1870
1871 if !exists("s:counter")
1872 let s:counter = 1
1873 echo "script executed for the first time"
1874 else
1875 let s:counter = s:counter + 1
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00001876 echo "script executed " .. s:counter .. " times now"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001877 endif
1878
1879Note that this means that filetype plugins don't get a different set of script
1880variables for each buffer. Use local buffer variables instead |b:var|.
1881
1882
Bram Moolenaard47d5222018-12-09 20:43:55 +01001883PREDEFINED VIM VARIABLES *vim-variable* *v:var* *v:*
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00001884 *E963* *E1063*
Bram Moolenaard47d5222018-12-09 20:43:55 +01001885Some variables can be set by the user, but the type cannot be changed.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001886
Bram Moolenaar69bf6342019-10-29 04:16:57 +01001887 *v:argv* *argv-variable*
1888v:argv The command line arguments Vim was invoked with. This is a
1889 list of strings. The first item is the Vim command.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00001890 See |v:progpath| for the command with full path.
Bram Moolenaar69bf6342019-10-29 04:16:57 +01001891
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001892 *v:beval_col* *beval_col-variable*
1893v:beval_col The number of the column, over which the mouse pointer is.
1894 This is the byte index in the |v:beval_lnum| line.
1895 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1896
1897 *v:beval_bufnr* *beval_bufnr-variable*
1898v:beval_bufnr The number of the buffer, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1899 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1900
1901 *v:beval_lnum* *beval_lnum-variable*
1902v:beval_lnum The number of the line, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
1903 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1904
1905 *v:beval_text* *beval_text-variable*
Bram Moolenaar24bbcfe2005-06-28 23:32:02 +00001906v:beval_text The text under or after the mouse pointer. Usually a word as
1907 it is useful for debugging a C program. 'iskeyword' applies,
1908 but a dot and "->" before the position is included. When on a
1909 ']' the text before it is used, including the matching '[' and
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001910 word before it. When on a Visual area within one line the
Bram Moolenaarb4d5fba2017-09-11 19:31:28 +02001911 highlighted text is used. Also see |<cexpr>|.
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001912 Only valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option.
1913
1914 *v:beval_winnr* *beval_winnr-variable*
1915v:beval_winnr The number of the window, over which the mouse pointer is. Only
Bram Moolenaar00654022011-02-25 14:42:19 +01001916 valid while evaluating the 'balloonexpr' option. The first
1917 window has number zero (unlike most other places where a
1918 window gets a number).
Bram Moolenaare4efc3b2005-03-07 23:16:51 +00001919
Bram Moolenaar511972d2016-06-04 18:09:59 +02001920 *v:beval_winid* *beval_winid-variable*
Bram Moolenaar7571d552016-08-18 22:54:46 +02001921v:beval_winid The |window-ID| of the window, over which the mouse pointer
1922 is. Otherwise like v:beval_winnr.
Bram Moolenaar511972d2016-06-04 18:09:59 +02001923
Bram Moolenaarf193fff2006-04-27 00:02:13 +00001924 *v:char* *char-variable*
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01001925v:char Argument for evaluating 'formatexpr' and used for the typed
Bram Moolenaar945e2db2010-06-05 17:43:32 +02001926 character when using <expr> in an abbreviation |:map-<expr>|.
Bram Moolenaare6ae6222013-05-21 21:01:10 +02001927 It is also used by the |InsertCharPre| and |InsertEnter| events.
Bram Moolenaarf193fff2006-04-27 00:02:13 +00001928
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001929 *v:charconvert_from* *charconvert_from-variable*
1930v:charconvert_from
1931 The name of the character encoding of a file to be converted.
1932 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1933
1934 *v:charconvert_to* *charconvert_to-variable*
1935v:charconvert_to
1936 The name of the character encoding of a file after conversion.
1937 Only valid while evaluating the 'charconvert' option.
1938
1939 *v:cmdarg* *cmdarg-variable*
1940v:cmdarg This variable is used for two purposes:
1941 1. The extra arguments given to a file read/write command.
1942 Currently these are "++enc=" and "++ff=". This variable is
1943 set before an autocommand event for a file read/write
1944 command is triggered. There is a leading space to make it
1945 possible to append this variable directly after the
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02001946 read/write command. Note: The "+cmd" argument isn't
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001947 included here, because it will be executed anyway.
1948 2. When printing a PostScript file with ":hardcopy" this is
1949 the argument for the ":hardcopy" command. This can be used
1950 in 'printexpr'.
1951
1952 *v:cmdbang* *cmdbang-variable*
1953v:cmdbang Set like v:cmdarg for a file read/write command. When a "!"
1954 was used the value is 1, otherwise it is 0. Note that this
1955 can only be used in autocommands. For user commands |<bang>|
1956 can be used.
Bram Moolenaar84cf6bd2020-06-16 20:03:43 +02001957 *v:collate* *collate-variable*
1958v:collate The current locale setting for collation order of the runtime
1959 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
1960 current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of
1961 LC_COLLATE. When not using a locale the value is "C".
1962 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
1963 command.
1964 See |multi-lang|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00001965
Drew Vogele30d1022021-10-24 20:35:07 +01001966 *v:colornames*
1967v:colornames A dictionary that maps color names to hex color strings. These
1968 color names can be used with the |highlight-guifg|,
1969 |highlight-guibg|, and |highlight-guisp| parameters. Updating
1970 an entry in v:colornames has no immediate effect on the syntax
1971 highlighting. The highlight commands (probably in a
1972 colorscheme script) need to be re-evaluated in order to use
1973 the updated color values. For example: >
1974
1975 :let v:colornames['fuscia'] = '#cf3ab4'
1976 :let v:colornames['mauve'] = '#915f6d'
1977 :highlight Normal guifg=fuscia guibg=mauve
1978<
1979 This cannot be used to override the |cterm-colors| but it can
1980 be used to override other colors. For example, the X11 colors
1981 defined in the `colors/lists/default.vim` (previously defined
1982 in |rgb.txt|). When defining new color names in a plugin, the
1983 recommended practice is to set a color entry only when it does
1984 not already exist. For example: >
1985
1986 :call extend(v:colornames, {
1987 \ 'fuscia': '#cf3ab4',
1988 \ 'mauve': '#915f6d,
1989 \ }, 'keep')
1990<
Bram Moolenaar113cb512021-11-07 20:27:04 +00001991 Using |extend()| with the 'keep' option updates each color only
Drew Vogele30d1022021-10-24 20:35:07 +01001992 if it did not exist in |v:colornames|. Doing so allows the
1993 user to choose the precise color value for a common name
1994 by setting it in their |.vimrc|.
1995
1996 It is possible to remove entries from this dictionary but
Drew Vogela0fca172021-11-13 10:50:01 +00001997 doing so is NOT recommended, because it is disruptive to
Drew Vogele30d1022021-10-24 20:35:07 +01001998 other scripts. It is also unlikely to achieve the desired
Bram Moolenaar113cb512021-11-07 20:27:04 +00001999 result because the |:colorscheme| and |:highlight| commands will
Drew Vogele30d1022021-10-24 20:35:07 +01002000 both automatically load all `colors/lists/default.vim` color
2001 scripts.
2002
Bram Moolenaar42a45122015-07-10 17:56:23 +02002003 *v:completed_item* *completed_item-variable*
2004v:completed_item
2005 |Dictionary| containing the |complete-items| for the most
2006 recently completed word after |CompleteDone|. The
2007 |Dictionary| is empty if the completion failed.
2008
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002009 *v:count* *count-variable*
2010v:count The count given for the last Normal mode command. Can be used
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002011 to get the count before a mapping. Read-only. Example: >
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00002012 :map _x :<C-U>echo "the count is " .. v:count<CR>
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002013< Note: The <C-U> is required to remove the line range that you
2014 get when typing ':' after a count.
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01002015 When there are two counts, as in "3d2w", they are multiplied,
2016 just like what happens in the command, "d6w" for the example.
Bram Moolenaar1d2ba7f2006-02-14 22:29:30 +00002017 Also used for evaluating the 'formatexpr' option.
Bram Moolenaard2e716e2019-04-20 14:39:52 +02002018 "count" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless
2019 |scriptversion| is 3 or higher.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002020
2021 *v:count1* *count1-variable*
2022v:count1 Just like "v:count", but defaults to one when no count is
2023 used.
2024
2025 *v:ctype* *ctype-variable*
2026v:ctype The current locale setting for characters of the runtime
2027 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
2028 current locale encoding. Technical: it's the value of
2029 LC_CTYPE. When not using a locale the value is "C".
2030 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
2031 command.
2032 See |multi-lang|.
2033
2034 *v:dying* *dying-variable*
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002035v:dying Normally zero. When a deadly signal is caught it's set to
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002036 one. When multiple signals are caught the number increases.
2037 Can be used in an autocommand to check if Vim didn't
2038 terminate normally. {only works on Unix}
2039 Example: >
2040 :au VimLeave * if v:dying | echo "\nAAAAaaaarrrggghhhh!!!\n" | endif
Bram Moolenaar0e1e25f2010-05-28 21:07:08 +02002041< Note: if another deadly signal is caught when v:dying is one,
2042 VimLeave autocommands will not be executed.
2043
Bram Moolenaarf0068c52020-11-30 17:42:10 +01002044 *v:exiting* *exiting-variable*
2045v:exiting Vim exit code. Normally zero, non-zero when something went
2046 wrong. The value is v:null before invoking the |VimLeavePre|
2047 and |VimLeave| autocmds. See |:q|, |:x| and |:cquit|.
2048 Example: >
2049 :au VimLeave * echo "Exit value is " .. v:exiting
2050<
Bram Moolenaar37f4cbd2019-08-23 20:58:45 +02002051 *v:echospace* *echospace-variable*
2052v:echospace Number of screen cells that can be used for an `:echo` message
2053 in the last screen line before causing the |hit-enter-prompt|.
2054 Depends on 'showcmd', 'ruler' and 'columns'. You need to
2055 check 'cmdheight' for whether there are full-width lines
2056 available above the last line.
2057
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002058 *v:errmsg* *errmsg-variable*
2059v:errmsg Last given error message. It's allowed to set this variable.
2060 Example: >
2061 :let v:errmsg = ""
2062 :silent! next
2063 :if v:errmsg != ""
2064 : ... handle error
Bram Moolenaard2e716e2019-04-20 14:39:52 +02002065< "errmsg" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless
2066 |scriptversion| is 3 or higher.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002067
Bram Moolenaar65a54642018-04-28 16:56:53 +02002068 *v:errors* *errors-variable* *assert-return*
Bram Moolenaar683fa182015-11-30 21:38:24 +01002069v:errors Errors found by assert functions, such as |assert_true()|.
Bram Moolenaar43345542015-11-29 17:35:35 +01002070 This is a list of strings.
2071 The assert functions append an item when an assert fails.
Bram Moolenaar65a54642018-04-28 16:56:53 +02002072 The return value indicates this: a one is returned if an item
2073 was added to v:errors, otherwise zero is returned.
Bram Moolenaar43345542015-11-29 17:35:35 +01002074 To remove old results make it empty: >
2075 :let v:errors = []
2076< If v:errors is set to anything but a list it is made an empty
2077 list by the assert function.
2078
Bram Moolenaar7e1652c2017-12-16 18:27:02 +01002079 *v:event* *event-variable*
2080v:event Dictionary containing information about the current
Bram Moolenaar560979e2020-02-04 22:53:05 +01002081 |autocommand|. See the specific event for what it puts in
2082 this dictionary.
Bram Moolenaar2c7f8c52020-04-20 19:52:53 +02002083 The dictionary is emptied when the |autocommand| finishes,
2084 please refer to |dict-identity| for how to get an independent
2085 copy of it. Use |deepcopy()| if you want to keep the
2086 information after the event triggers. Example: >
2087 au TextYankPost * let g:foo = deepcopy(v:event)
2088<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002089 *v:exception* *exception-variable*
2090v:exception The value of the exception most recently caught and not
2091 finished. See also |v:throwpoint| and |throw-variables|.
2092 Example: >
2093 :try
2094 : throw "oops"
2095 :catch /.*/
Bram Moolenaar54775062019-07-31 21:07:14 +02002096 : echo "caught " .. v:exception
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002097 :endtry
2098< Output: "caught oops".
2099
Bram Moolenaar520e1e42016-01-23 19:46:28 +01002100 *v:false* *false-variable*
2101v:false A Number with value zero. Used to put "false" in JSON. See
Bram Moolenaar6463ca22016-02-13 17:04:46 +01002102 |json_encode()|.
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002103 When used as a string this evaluates to "v:false". >
Bram Moolenaar705ada12016-01-24 17:56:50 +01002104 echo v:false
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002105< v:false ~
2106 That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same
Bram Moolenaardf48fb42016-07-22 21:50:18 +02002107 value. Read-only.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00002108 In |Vim9| script "false" can be used which has a boolean type.
Bram Moolenaar520e1e42016-01-23 19:46:28 +01002109
Bram Moolenaar19a09a12005-03-04 23:39:37 +00002110 *v:fcs_reason* *fcs_reason-variable*
2111v:fcs_reason The reason why the |FileChangedShell| event was triggered.
2112 Can be used in an autocommand to decide what to do and/or what
2113 to set v:fcs_choice to. Possible values:
2114 deleted file no longer exists
2115 conflict file contents, mode or timestamp was
2116 changed and buffer is modified
2117 changed file contents has changed
2118 mode mode of file changed
2119 time only file timestamp changed
2120
2121 *v:fcs_choice* *fcs_choice-variable*
2122v:fcs_choice What should happen after a |FileChangedShell| event was
2123 triggered. Can be used in an autocommand to tell Vim what to
2124 do with the affected buffer:
2125 reload Reload the buffer (does not work if
2126 the file was deleted).
Rob Pilling8196e942022-02-11 15:12:10 +00002127 edit Reload the buffer and detect the
2128 values for options such as
2129 'fileformat', 'fileencoding', 'binary'
2130 (does not work if the file was
2131 deleted).
Bram Moolenaar19a09a12005-03-04 23:39:37 +00002132 ask Ask the user what to do, as if there
2133 was no autocommand. Except that when
2134 only the timestamp changed nothing
2135 will happen.
2136 <empty> Nothing, the autocommand should do
2137 everything that needs to be done.
2138 The default is empty. If another (invalid) value is used then
2139 Vim behaves like it is empty, there is no warning message.
2140
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +02002141 *v:fname* *fname-variable*
Bram Moolenaar90df4b92021-07-07 20:26:08 +02002142v:fname When evaluating 'includeexpr': the file name that was
2143 detected. Empty otherwise.
Bram Moolenaar4c295022021-05-02 17:19:11 +02002144
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002145 *v:fname_in* *fname_in-variable*
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00002146v:fname_in The name of the input file. Valid while evaluating:
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002147 option used for ~
2148 'charconvert' file to be converted
2149 'diffexpr' original file
2150 'patchexpr' original file
2151 'printexpr' file to be printed
Bram Moolenaar2c7a29c2005-12-12 22:02:31 +00002152 And set to the swap file name for |SwapExists|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002153
2154 *v:fname_out* *fname_out-variable*
2155v:fname_out The name of the output file. Only valid while
2156 evaluating:
2157 option used for ~
2158 'charconvert' resulting converted file (*)
2159 'diffexpr' output of diff
2160 'patchexpr' resulting patched file
2161 (*) When doing conversion for a write command (e.g., ":w
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002162 file") it will be equal to v:fname_in. When doing conversion
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002163 for a read command (e.g., ":e file") it will be a temporary
2164 file and different from v:fname_in.
2165
2166 *v:fname_new* *fname_new-variable*
2167v:fname_new The name of the new version of the file. Only valid while
2168 evaluating 'diffexpr'.
2169
2170 *v:fname_diff* *fname_diff-variable*
2171v:fname_diff The name of the diff (patch) file. Only valid while
2172 evaluating 'patchexpr'.
2173
2174 *v:folddashes* *folddashes-variable*
2175v:folddashes Used for 'foldtext': dashes representing foldlevel of a closed
2176 fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002177 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002178
2179 *v:foldlevel* *foldlevel-variable*
2180v:foldlevel Used for 'foldtext': foldlevel of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002181 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002182
2183 *v:foldend* *foldend-variable*
2184v:foldend Used for 'foldtext': last line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002185 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002186
2187 *v:foldstart* *foldstart-variable*
2188v:foldstart Used for 'foldtext': first line of closed fold.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00002189 Read-only in the |sandbox|. |fold-foldtext|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002190
Bram Moolenaar817a8802013-11-09 01:44:43 +01002191 *v:hlsearch* *hlsearch-variable*
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +01002192v:hlsearch Variable that indicates whether search highlighting is on.
Bram Moolenaar76440e22014-11-27 19:14:49 +01002193 Setting it makes sense only if 'hlsearch' is enabled which
2194 requires |+extra_search|. Setting this variable to zero acts
Bram Moolenaar705ada12016-01-24 17:56:50 +01002195 like the |:nohlsearch| command, setting it to one acts like >
Bram Moolenaar817a8802013-11-09 01:44:43 +01002196 let &hlsearch = &hlsearch
Bram Moolenaar86ae7202015-07-10 19:31:35 +02002197< Note that the value is restored when returning from a
2198 function. |function-search-undo|.
2199
Bram Moolenaar843ee412004-06-30 16:16:41 +00002200 *v:insertmode* *insertmode-variable*
2201v:insertmode Used for the |InsertEnter| and |InsertChange| autocommand
2202 events. Values:
2203 i Insert mode
2204 r Replace mode
2205 v Virtual Replace mode
2206
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002207 *v:key* *key-variable*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002208v:key Key of the current item of a |Dictionary|. Only valid while
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002209 evaluating the expression used with |map()| and |filter()|.
2210 Read-only.
2211
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002212 *v:lang* *lang-variable*
2213v:lang The current locale setting for messages of the runtime
2214 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
2215 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_MESSAGES.
2216 The value is system dependent.
2217 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
2218 command.
2219 It can be different from |v:ctype| when messages are desired
2220 in a different language than what is used for character
2221 encoding. See |multi-lang|.
2222
2223 *v:lc_time* *lc_time-variable*
2224v:lc_time The current locale setting for time messages of the runtime
2225 environment. This allows Vim scripts to be aware of the
2226 current language. Technical: it's the value of LC_TIME.
2227 This variable can not be set directly, use the |:language|
2228 command. See |multi-lang|.
2229
2230 *v:lnum* *lnum-variable*
Bram Moolenaar368373e2010-07-19 20:46:22 +02002231v:lnum Line number for the 'foldexpr' |fold-expr|, 'formatexpr' and
2232 'indentexpr' expressions, tab page number for 'guitablabel'
2233 and 'guitabtooltip'. Only valid while one of these
2234 expressions is being evaluated. Read-only when in the
2235 |sandbox|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002236
naohiro ono56200ee2022-01-01 14:59:44 +00002237 *v:maxcol* *maxcol-variable*
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +00002238v:maxcol Maximum line length. Depending on where it is used it can be
Bram Moolenaar944697a2022-02-20 19:48:20 +00002239 screen columns, characters or bytes. The value currently is
2240 2147483647 on all systems.
naohiro ono56200ee2022-01-01 14:59:44 +00002241
Bram Moolenaar219b8702006-11-01 14:32:36 +00002242 *v:mouse_win* *mouse_win-variable*
2243v:mouse_win Window number for a mouse click obtained with |getchar()|.
2244 First window has number 1, like with |winnr()|. The value is
2245 zero when there was no mouse button click.
2246
Bram Moolenaar511972d2016-06-04 18:09:59 +02002247 *v:mouse_winid* *mouse_winid-variable*
2248v:mouse_winid Window ID for a mouse click obtained with |getchar()|.
2249 The value is zero when there was no mouse button click.
2250
Bram Moolenaar219b8702006-11-01 14:32:36 +00002251 *v:mouse_lnum* *mouse_lnum-variable*
2252v:mouse_lnum Line number for a mouse click obtained with |getchar()|.
2253 This is the text line number, not the screen line number. The
2254 value is zero when there was no mouse button click.
2255
2256 *v:mouse_col* *mouse_col-variable*
2257v:mouse_col Column number for a mouse click obtained with |getchar()|.
2258 This is the screen column number, like with |virtcol()|. The
2259 value is zero when there was no mouse button click.
2260
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002261 *v:none* *none-variable* *None*
Bram Moolenaar520e1e42016-01-23 19:46:28 +01002262v:none An empty String. Used to put an empty item in JSON. See
Bram Moolenaar6463ca22016-02-13 17:04:46 +01002263 |json_encode()|.
Bram Moolenaar2547aa92020-07-26 17:00:44 +02002264 This can also be used as a function argument to use the
2265 default value, see |none-function_argument|.
Bram Moolenaar705ada12016-01-24 17:56:50 +01002266 When used as a number this evaluates to zero.
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002267 When used as a string this evaluates to "v:none". >
Bram Moolenaar705ada12016-01-24 17:56:50 +01002268 echo v:none
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002269< v:none ~
2270 That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same
Bram Moolenaardf48fb42016-07-22 21:50:18 +02002271 value. Read-only.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00002272 Note that using `== v:none` and `!= v:none` will often give
2273 an error. Instead, use `is v:none` and `isnot v:none` .
Bram Moolenaar520e1e42016-01-23 19:46:28 +01002274
2275 *v:null* *null-variable*
2276v:null An empty String. Used to put "null" in JSON. See
Bram Moolenaar6463ca22016-02-13 17:04:46 +01002277 |json_encode()|.
Bram Moolenaar705ada12016-01-24 17:56:50 +01002278 When used as a number this evaluates to zero.
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002279 When used as a string this evaluates to "v:null". >
Bram Moolenaar705ada12016-01-24 17:56:50 +01002280 echo v:null
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002281< v:null ~
2282 That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same
Bram Moolenaardf48fb42016-07-22 21:50:18 +02002283 value. Read-only.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00002284 In |Vim9| script `null` can be used without "v:".
2285 In some places `v:null` and `null` can be used for a List,
2286 Dict, Job, etc. that is not set. That is slightly different
2287 than an empty List, Dict, etc.
Bram Moolenaar520e1e42016-01-23 19:46:28 +01002288
Bram Moolenaar57d5a012021-01-21 21:42:31 +01002289 *v:numbermax* *numbermax-variable*
2290v:numbermax Maximum value of a number.
2291
Bram Moolenaare0e39172021-01-25 21:14:57 +01002292 *v:numbermin* *numbermin-variable*
Bram Moolenaar2346a632021-06-13 19:02:49 +02002293v:numbermin Minimum value of a number (negative).
Bram Moolenaar57d5a012021-01-21 21:42:31 +01002294
Bram Moolenaarf9706e92020-02-22 14:27:04 +01002295 *v:numbersize* *numbersize-variable*
2296v:numbersize Number of bits in a Number. This is normally 64, but on some
Bram Moolenaarbc93ceb2020-02-26 13:36:21 +01002297 systems it may be 32.
Bram Moolenaarf9706e92020-02-22 14:27:04 +01002298
Bram Moolenaard812df62008-11-09 12:46:09 +00002299 *v:oldfiles* *oldfiles-variable*
2300v:oldfiles List of file names that is loaded from the |viminfo| file on
2301 startup. These are the files that Vim remembers marks for.
2302 The length of the List is limited by the ' argument of the
2303 'viminfo' option (default is 100).
Bram Moolenaar8d043172014-01-23 14:24:41 +01002304 When the |viminfo| file is not used the List is empty.
Bram Moolenaard812df62008-11-09 12:46:09 +00002305 Also see |:oldfiles| and |c_#<|.
2306 The List can be modified, but this has no effect on what is
2307 stored in the |viminfo| file later. If you use values other
2308 than String this will cause trouble.
Bram Moolenaardb84e452010-08-15 13:50:43 +02002309 {only when compiled with the |+viminfo| feature}
Bram Moolenaard812df62008-11-09 12:46:09 +00002310
Bram Moolenaar53744302015-07-17 17:38:22 +02002311 *v:option_new*
2312v:option_new New value of the option. Valid while executing an |OptionSet|
2313 autocommand.
2314 *v:option_old*
2315v:option_old Old value of the option. Valid while executing an |OptionSet|
Bram Moolenaard7c96872019-06-15 17:12:48 +02002316 autocommand. Depending on the command used for setting and the
2317 kind of option this is either the local old value or the
2318 global old value.
2319 *v:option_oldlocal*
2320v:option_oldlocal
2321 Old local value of the option. Valid while executing an
2322 |OptionSet| autocommand.
2323 *v:option_oldglobal*
2324v:option_oldglobal
2325 Old global value of the option. Valid while executing an
2326 |OptionSet| autocommand.
Bram Moolenaar53744302015-07-17 17:38:22 +02002327 *v:option_type*
2328v:option_type Scope of the set command. Valid while executing an
2329 |OptionSet| autocommand. Can be either "global" or "local"
Bram Moolenaard7c96872019-06-15 17:12:48 +02002330 *v:option_command*
2331v:option_command
2332 Command used to set the option. Valid while executing an
2333 |OptionSet| autocommand.
2334 value option was set via ~
2335 "setlocal" |:setlocal| or ":let l:xxx"
2336 "setglobal" |:setglobal| or ":let g:xxx"
2337 "set" |:set| or |:let|
2338 "modeline" |modeline|
Bram Moolenaar8af1fbf2008-01-05 12:35:21 +00002339 *v:operator* *operator-variable*
2340v:operator The last operator given in Normal mode. This is a single
2341 character except for commands starting with <g> or <z>,
2342 in which case it is two characters. Best used alongside
2343 |v:prevcount| and |v:register|. Useful if you want to cancel
2344 Operator-pending mode and then use the operator, e.g.: >
2345 :omap O <Esc>:call MyMotion(v:operator)<CR>
2346< The value remains set until another operator is entered, thus
2347 don't expect it to be empty.
2348 v:operator is not set for |:delete|, |:yank| or other Ex
2349 commands.
2350 Read-only.
2351
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002352 *v:prevcount* *prevcount-variable*
2353v:prevcount The count given for the last but one Normal mode command.
2354 This is the v:count value of the previous command. Useful if
Bram Moolenaar8af1fbf2008-01-05 12:35:21 +00002355 you want to cancel Visual or Operator-pending mode and then
2356 use the count, e.g.: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002357 :vmap % <Esc>:call MyFilter(v:prevcount)<CR>
2358< Read-only.
2359
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00002360 *v:profiling* *profiling-variable*
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002361v:profiling Normally zero. Set to one after using ":profile start".
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00002362 See |profiling|.
2363
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002364 *v:progname* *progname-variable*
2365v:progname Contains the name (with path removed) with which Vim was
Bram Moolenaard38b0552012-04-25 19:07:41 +02002366 invoked. Allows you to do special initialisations for |view|,
2367 |evim| etc., or any other name you might symlink to Vim.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002368 Read-only.
2369
Bram Moolenaara1706c92014-04-01 19:55:49 +02002370 *v:progpath* *progpath-variable*
Bram Moolenaar56c860c2019-08-17 20:09:31 +02002371v:progpath Contains the command with which Vim was invoked, in a form
2372 that when passed to the shell will run the same Vim executable
2373 as the current one (if $PATH remains unchanged).
2374 Useful if you want to message a Vim server using a
Bram Moolenaara1706c92014-04-01 19:55:49 +02002375 |--remote-expr|.
Bram Moolenaarc7f02552014-04-01 21:00:59 +02002376 To get the full path use: >
2377 echo exepath(v:progpath)
Bram Moolenaar56c860c2019-08-17 20:09:31 +02002378< If the command has a relative path it will be expanded to the
2379 full path, so that it still works after `:cd`. Thus starting
2380 "./vim" results in "/home/user/path/to/vim/src/vim".
2381 On Linux and other systems it will always be the full path.
2382 On Mac it may just be "vim" and using exepath() as mentioned
2383 above should be used to get the full path.
Bram Moolenaar08cab962017-03-04 14:37:18 +01002384 On MS-Windows the executable may be called "vim.exe", but the
2385 ".exe" is not added to v:progpath.
Bram Moolenaara1706c92014-04-01 19:55:49 +02002386 Read-only.
2387
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002388 *v:register* *register-variable*
Bram Moolenaard58e9292011-02-09 17:07:58 +01002389v:register The name of the register in effect for the current normal mode
Bram Moolenaard38b0552012-04-25 19:07:41 +02002390 command (regardless of whether that command actually used a
2391 register). Or for the currently executing normal mode mapping
2392 (use this in custom commands that take a register).
2393 If none is supplied it is the default register '"', unless
2394 'clipboard' contains "unnamed" or "unnamedplus", then it is
2395 '*' or '+'.
Bram Moolenaard58e9292011-02-09 17:07:58 +01002396 Also see |getreg()| and |setreg()|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002397
Bram Moolenaar1c7715d2005-10-03 22:02:18 +00002398 *v:scrollstart* *scrollstart-variable*
2399v:scrollstart String describing the script or function that caused the
2400 screen to scroll up. It's only set when it is empty, thus the
2401 first reason is remembered. It is set to "Unknown" for a
2402 typed command.
2403 This can be used to find out why your script causes the
2404 hit-enter prompt.
2405
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002406 *v:servername* *servername-variable*
Bram Moolenaarc2ce52c2017-08-01 18:35:38 +02002407v:servername The resulting registered |client-server-name| if any.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002408 Read-only.
2409
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +01002410
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00002411v:searchforward *v:searchforward* *searchforward-variable*
2412 Search direction: 1 after a forward search, 0 after a
2413 backward search. It is reset to forward when directly setting
2414 the last search pattern, see |quote/|.
2415 Note that the value is restored when returning from a
2416 function. |function-search-undo|.
2417 Read-write.
2418
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002419 *v:shell_error* *shell_error-variable*
2420v:shell_error Result of the last shell command. When non-zero, the last
2421 shell command had an error. When zero, there was no problem.
2422 This only works when the shell returns the error code to Vim.
2423 The value -1 is often used when the command could not be
2424 executed. Read-only.
2425 Example: >
2426 :!mv foo bar
2427 :if v:shell_error
2428 : echo 'could not rename "foo" to "bar"!'
2429 :endif
Bram Moolenaard2e716e2019-04-20 14:39:52 +02002430< "shell_error" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless
2431 |scriptversion| is 3 or higher.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002432
Bram Moolenaar113cb512021-11-07 20:27:04 +00002433 *v:sizeofint* *sizeofint-variable*
2434v:sizeofint Number of bytes in an int. Depends on how Vim was compiled.
2435 This is only useful for deciding whether a test will give the
2436 expected result.
2437
2438 *v:sizeoflong* *sizeoflong-variable*
2439v:sizeoflong Number of bytes in a long. Depends on how Vim was compiled.
2440 This is only useful for deciding whether a test will give the
2441 expected result.
2442
2443 *v:sizeofpointer* *sizeofpointer-variable*
2444v:sizeofpointer Number of bytes in a pointer. Depends on how Vim was compiled.
2445 This is only useful for deciding whether a test will give the
2446 expected result.
2447
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002448 *v:statusmsg* *statusmsg-variable*
2449v:statusmsg Last given status message. It's allowed to set this variable.
2450
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00002451 *v:swapname* *swapname-variable*
2452v:swapname Only valid when executing |SwapExists| autocommands: Name of
2453 the swap file found. Read-only.
2454
2455 *v:swapchoice* *swapchoice-variable*
2456v:swapchoice |SwapExists| autocommands can set this to the selected choice
2457 for handling an existing swap file:
2458 'o' Open read-only
2459 'e' Edit anyway
2460 'r' Recover
2461 'd' Delete swapfile
2462 'q' Quit
2463 'a' Abort
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002464 The value should be a single-character string. An empty value
Bram Moolenaar4e330bb2005-12-07 21:04:31 +00002465 results in the user being asked, as would happen when there is
2466 no SwapExists autocommand. The default is empty.
2467
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00002468 *v:swapcommand* *swapcommand-variable*
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00002469v:swapcommand Normal mode command to be executed after a file has been
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00002470 opened. Can be used for a |SwapExists| autocommand to have
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002471 another Vim open the file and jump to the right place. For
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00002472 example, when jumping to a tag the value is ":tag tagname\r".
Bram Moolenaar1f35bf92006-03-07 22:38:47 +00002473 For ":edit +cmd file" the value is ":cmd\r".
Bram Moolenaarb3480382005-12-11 21:33:32 +00002474
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002475 *v:t_TYPE* *v:t_bool* *t_bool-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002476v:t_bool Value of |Boolean| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002477 *v:t_channel* *t_channel-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002478v:t_channel Value of |Channel| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002479 *v:t_dict* *t_dict-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002480v:t_dict Value of |Dictionary| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002481 *v:t_float* *t_float-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002482v:t_float Value of |Float| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002483 *v:t_func* *t_func-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002484v:t_func Value of |Funcref| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002485 *v:t_job* *t_job-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002486v:t_job Value of |Job| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002487 *v:t_list* *t_list-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002488v:t_list Value of |List| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002489 *v:t_none* *t_none-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002490v:t_none Value of |None| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002491 *v:t_number* *t_number-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002492v:t_number Value of |Number| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaard823fa92016-08-12 16:29:27 +02002493 *v:t_string* *t_string-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002494v:t_string Value of |String| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaar6e5ea8d2019-01-12 22:47:31 +01002495 *v:t_blob* *t_blob-variable*
Bram Moolenaard09091d2019-01-17 16:07:22 +01002496v:t_blob Value of |Blob| type. Read-only. See: |type()|
Bram Moolenaarf562e722016-07-19 17:25:25 +02002497
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002498 *v:termresponse* *termresponse-variable*
2499v:termresponse The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RV|
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002500 termcap entry. It is set when Vim receives an escape sequence
Bram Moolenaarb4230122019-05-30 18:40:53 +02002501 that starts with ESC [ or CSI, then '>' or '?' and ends in a
2502 'c', with only digits and ';' in between.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002503 When this option is set, the TermResponse autocommand event is
2504 fired, so that you can react to the response from the
Bram Moolenaar0c0eddd2020-06-13 15:47:25 +02002505 terminal. You can use |terminalprops()| to see what Vim
2506 figured out about the terminal.
Bram Moolenaarb4230122019-05-30 18:40:53 +02002507 The response from a new xterm is: "<Esc>[> Pp ; Pv ; Pc c". Pp
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002508 is the terminal type: 0 for vt100 and 1 for vt220. Pv is the
2509 patch level (since this was introduced in patch 95, it's
Bram Moolenaarfa3b7232021-12-24 13:18:38 +00002510 always 95 or higher). Pc is always zero.
2511 If Pv is 141 or higher then Vim will try to request terminal
2512 codes. This only works with xterm |xterm-codes|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002513 {only when compiled with |+termresponse| feature}
2514
Bram Moolenaarf3af54e2017-08-30 14:53:06 +02002515 *v:termblinkresp*
2516v:termblinkresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RC|
2517 termcap entry. This is used to find out whether the terminal
2518 cursor is blinking. This is used by |term_getcursor()|.
2519
2520 *v:termstyleresp*
2521v:termstyleresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RS|
2522 termcap entry. This is used to find out what the shape of the
2523 cursor is. This is used by |term_getcursor()|.
2524
Bram Moolenaar65e4c4f2017-10-14 23:24:25 +02002525 *v:termrbgresp*
2526v:termrbgresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RB|
Bram Moolenaarf3af54e2017-08-30 14:53:06 +02002527 termcap entry. This is used to find out what the terminal
2528 background color is, see 'background'.
2529
Bram Moolenaar65e4c4f2017-10-14 23:24:25 +02002530 *v:termrfgresp*
2531v:termrfgresp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_RF|
2532 termcap entry. This is used to find out what the terminal
2533 foreground color is.
2534
Bram Moolenaarf3af54e2017-08-30 14:53:06 +02002535 *v:termu7resp*
2536v:termu7resp The escape sequence returned by the terminal for the |t_u7|
2537 termcap entry. This is used to find out what the terminal
2538 does with ambiguous width characters, see 'ambiwidth'.
2539
Bram Moolenaarebf7dfa2016-04-14 12:46:51 +02002540 *v:testing* *testing-variable*
Bram Moolenaar8e8df252016-05-25 21:23:21 +02002541v:testing Must be set before using `test_garbagecollect_now()`.
Bram Moolenaar036986f2017-03-16 17:41:02 +01002542 Also, when set certain error messages won't be shown for 2
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +01002543 seconds. (e.g. "'dictionary' option is empty")
Bram Moolenaarebf7dfa2016-04-14 12:46:51 +02002544
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002545 *v:this_session* *this_session-variable*
2546v:this_session Full filename of the last loaded or saved session file. See
2547 |:mksession|. It is allowed to set this variable. When no
2548 session file has been saved, this variable is empty.
Bram Moolenaard2e716e2019-04-20 14:39:52 +02002549 "this_session" also works, for backwards compatibility, unless
2550 |scriptversion| is 3 or higher
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002551
2552 *v:throwpoint* *throwpoint-variable*
2553v:throwpoint The point where the exception most recently caught and not
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002554 finished was thrown. Not set when commands are typed. See
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002555 also |v:exception| and |throw-variables|.
2556 Example: >
2557 :try
2558 : throw "oops"
2559 :catch /.*/
2560 : echo "Exception from" v:throwpoint
2561 :endtry
2562< Output: "Exception from test.vim, line 2"
2563
Bram Moolenaar520e1e42016-01-23 19:46:28 +01002564 *v:true* *true-variable*
2565v:true A Number with value one. Used to put "true" in JSON. See
Bram Moolenaar6463ca22016-02-13 17:04:46 +01002566 |json_encode()|.
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002567 When used as a string this evaluates to "v:true". >
Bram Moolenaar705ada12016-01-24 17:56:50 +01002568 echo v:true
Bram Moolenaarc95a3022016-06-12 23:01:46 +02002569< v:true ~
2570 That is so that eval() can parse the string back to the same
Bram Moolenaardf48fb42016-07-22 21:50:18 +02002571 value. Read-only.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00002572 In |Vim9| script "true" can be used which has a boolean type.
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002573 *v:val* *val-variable*
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002574v:val Value of the current item of a |List| or |Dictionary|. Only
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002575 valid while evaluating the expression used with |map()| and
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002576 |filter()|. Read-only.
2577
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002578 *v:version* *version-variable*
2579v:version Version number of Vim: Major version number times 100 plus
Bram Moolenaar9b283522019-06-17 22:19:33 +02002580 minor version number. Version 5.0 is 500. Version 5.1
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002581 is 501. Read-only. "version" also works, for backwards
Bram Moolenaard2e716e2019-04-20 14:39:52 +02002582 compatibility, unless |scriptversion| is 3 or higher.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002583 Use |has()| to check if a certain patch was included, e.g.: >
Bram Moolenaar6716d9a2014-04-02 12:12:08 +02002584 if has("patch-7.4.123")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002585< Note that patch numbers are specific to the version, thus both
2586 version 5.0 and 5.1 may have a patch 123, but these are
2587 completely different.
2588
Bram Moolenaar37df9a42019-06-14 14:39:51 +02002589 *v:versionlong* *versionlong-variable*
Bram Moolenaar9b283522019-06-17 22:19:33 +02002590v:versionlong Like v:version, but also including the patchlevel in the last
2591 four digits. Version 8.1 with patch 123 has value 8010123.
2592 This can be used like this: >
2593 if v:versionlong >= 8010123
Bram Moolenaar37df9a42019-06-14 14:39:51 +02002594< However, if there are gaps in the list of patches included
2595 this will not work well. This can happen if a recent patch
2596 was included into an older version, e.g. for a security fix.
2597 Use the has() function to make sure the patch is actually
2598 included.
2599
Bram Moolenaar14735512016-03-26 21:00:08 +01002600 *v:vim_did_enter* *vim_did_enter-variable*
2601v:vim_did_enter Zero until most of startup is done. It is set to one just
2602 before |VimEnter| autocommands are triggered.
2603
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002604 *v:warningmsg* *warningmsg-variable*
2605v:warningmsg Last given warning message. It's allowed to set this variable.
2606
Bram Moolenaar727c8762010-10-20 19:17:48 +02002607 *v:windowid* *windowid-variable*
2608v:windowid When any X11 based GUI is running or when running in a
2609 terminal and Vim connects to the X server (|-X|) this will be
Bram Moolenaar264e9fd2010-10-27 12:33:17 +02002610 set to the window ID.
2611 When an MS-Windows GUI is running this will be set to the
2612 window handle.
2613 Otherwise the value is zero.
Bram Moolenaar7571d552016-08-18 22:54:46 +02002614 Note: for windows inside Vim use |winnr()| or |win_getid()|,
2615 see |window-ID|.
Bram Moolenaar727c8762010-10-20 19:17:48 +02002616
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002617==============================================================================
26184. Builtin Functions *functions*
2619
2620See |function-list| for a list grouped by what the function is used for.
2621
Bram Moolenaar1cae5a02021-12-27 21:28:34 +00002622The alphabetic list of all builtin functions and details are in a separate
2623help file: |builtin-functions|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002624
2625==============================================================================
26265. Defining functions *user-functions*
2627
2628New functions can be defined. These can be called just like builtin
2629functions. The function executes a sequence of Ex commands. Normal mode
2630commands can be executed with the |:normal| command.
2631
Bram Moolenaar8a7d6542020-01-26 15:56:19 +01002632This section is about the legacy functions. For the Vim9 functions, which
2633execute much faster, support type checking and more, see |vim9.txt|.
2634
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002635The function name must start with an uppercase letter, to avoid confusion with
2636builtin functions. To prevent from using the same name in different scripts
2637avoid obvious, short names. A good habit is to start the function name with
2638the name of the script, e.g., "HTMLcolor()".
2639
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00002640In legacy script it is also possible to use curly braces, see
2641|curly-braces-names|.
2642The |autoload| facility is useful to define a function only when it's called.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002643
2644 *local-function*
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00002645A function local to a legacy script must start with "s:". A local script
2646function can only be called from within the script and from functions, user
2647commands and autocommands defined in the script. It is also possible to call
2648the function from a mapping defined in the script, but then |<SID>| must be
2649used instead of "s:" when the mapping is expanded outside of the script.
Bram Moolenaarbcb98982014-05-01 14:08:19 +02002650There are only script-local functions, no buffer-local or window-local
2651functions.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002652
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00002653In |Vim9| script functions are local to the script by default, prefix "g:" to
2654define a global function.
2655
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +00002656 *:fu* *:function* *E128* *E129* *E123* *E454*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002657:fu[nction] List all functions and their arguments.
2658
2659:fu[nction] {name} List function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002660 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
2661 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002662 :function dict.init
Bram Moolenaar92d640f2005-09-05 22:11:52 +00002663
2664:fu[nction] /{pattern} List functions with a name matching {pattern}.
2665 Example that lists all functions ending with "File": >
2666 :function /File$
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00002667<
2668 *:function-verbose*
2669When 'verbose' is non-zero, listing a function will also display where it was
2670last defined. Example: >
2671
2672 :verbose function SetFileTypeSH
2673 function SetFileTypeSH(name)
2674 Last set from /usr/share/vim/vim-7.0/filetype.vim
2675<
Bram Moolenaar8aff23a2005-08-19 20:40:30 +00002676See |:verbose-cmd| for more information.
Bram Moolenaar5b8d8fd2005-08-16 23:01:50 +00002677
Bram Moolenaarbcb98982014-05-01 14:08:19 +02002678 *E124* *E125* *E853* *E884*
Bram Moolenaar10ce39a2016-07-29 22:37:06 +02002679:fu[nction][!] {name}([arguments]) [range] [abort] [dict] [closure]
Bram Moolenaar01164a62017-11-02 22:58:42 +01002680 Define a new function by the name {name}. The body of
2681 the function follows in the next lines, until the
2682 matching |:endfunction|.
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +01002683
Bram Moolenaar01164a62017-11-02 22:58:42 +01002684 The name must be made of alphanumeric characters and
2685 '_', and must start with a capital or "s:" (see
2686 above). Note that using "b:" or "g:" is not allowed.
2687 (since patch 7.4.260 E884 is given if the function
2688 name has a colon in the name, e.g. for "foo:bar()".
2689 Before that patch no error was given).
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002690
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002691 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
2692 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002693 :function dict.init(arg)
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002694< "dict" must be an existing dictionary. The entry
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002695 "init" is added if it didn't exist yet. Otherwise [!]
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002696 is required to overwrite an existing function. The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002697 result is a |Funcref| to a numbered function. The
2698 function can only be used with a |Funcref| and will be
2699 deleted if there are no more references to it.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002700 *E127* *E122*
2701 When a function by this name already exists and [!] is
Bram Moolenaarded5f1b2018-11-10 17:33:29 +01002702 not used an error message is given. There is one
2703 exception: When sourcing a script again, a function
2704 that was previously defined in that script will be
2705 silently replaced.
2706 When [!] is used, an existing function is silently
2707 replaced. Unless it is currently being executed, that
2708 is an error.
Bram Moolenaarf8be4612017-06-23 20:52:40 +02002709 NOTE: Use ! wisely. If used without care it can cause
2710 an existing function to be replaced unexpectedly,
2711 which is hard to debug.
Bram Moolenaar388a5d42020-05-26 21:20:45 +02002712 NOTE: In Vim9 script script-local functions cannot be
2713 deleted or redefined.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00002714
2715 For the {arguments} see |function-argument|.
2716
Bram Moolenaar8d043172014-01-23 14:24:41 +01002717 *:func-range* *a:firstline* *a:lastline*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002718 When the [range] argument is added, the function is
2719 expected to take care of a range itself. The range is
2720 passed as "a:firstline" and "a:lastline". If [range]
2721 is excluded, ":{range}call" will call the function for
2722 each line in the range, with the cursor on the start
2723 of each line. See |function-range-example|.
Bram Moolenaar2df58b42012-11-28 18:21:11 +01002724 The cursor is still moved to the first line of the
2725 range, as is the case with all Ex commands.
Bram Moolenaar8d043172014-01-23 14:24:41 +01002726 *:func-abort*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002727 When the [abort] argument is added, the function will
2728 abort as soon as an error is detected.
Bram Moolenaar8d043172014-01-23 14:24:41 +01002729 *:func-dict*
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002730 When the [dict] argument is added, the function must
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002731 be invoked through an entry in a |Dictionary|. The
Bram Moolenaar2fda12f2005-01-15 22:14:15 +00002732 local variable "self" will then be set to the
2733 dictionary. See |Dictionary-function|.
Bram Moolenaar10ce39a2016-07-29 22:37:06 +02002734 *:func-closure* *E932*
2735 When the [closure] argument is added, the function
2736 can access variables and arguments from the outer
2737 scope. This is usually called a closure. In this
2738 example Bar() uses "x" from the scope of Foo(). It
2739 remains referenced even after Foo() returns: >
2740 :function! Foo()
2741 : let x = 0
2742 : function! Bar() closure
2743 : let x += 1
2744 : return x
2745 : endfunction
Bram Moolenaarbc8801c2016-08-02 21:04:33 +02002746 : return funcref('Bar')
Bram Moolenaar10ce39a2016-07-29 22:37:06 +02002747 :endfunction
2748
2749 :let F = Foo()
2750 :echo F()
2751< 1 >
2752 :echo F()
2753< 2 >
2754 :echo F()
2755< 3
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002756
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00002757 *function-search-undo*
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00002758 The last used search pattern and the redo command "."
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00002759 will not be changed by the function. This also
2760 implies that the effect of |:nohlsearch| is undone
2761 when the function returns.
Bram Moolenaar98692072006-02-04 00:57:42 +00002762
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00002763 *:endf* *:endfunction* *E126* *E193* *W22* *E1151*
Bram Moolenaar663bb232017-06-22 19:12:10 +02002764:endf[unction] [argument]
2765 The end of a function definition. Best is to put it
2766 on a line by its own, without [argument].
2767
2768 [argument] can be:
2769 | command command to execute next
2770 \n command command to execute next
2771 " comment always ignored
Bram Moolenaarf8be4612017-06-23 20:52:40 +02002772 anything else ignored, warning given when
2773 'verbose' is non-zero
Bram Moolenaar663bb232017-06-22 19:12:10 +02002774 The support for a following command was added in Vim
2775 8.0.0654, before that any argument was silently
2776 ignored.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002777
Bram Moolenaarf8be4612017-06-23 20:52:40 +02002778 To be able to define a function inside an `:execute`
2779 command, use line breaks instead of |:bar|: >
2780 :exe "func Foo()\necho 'foo'\nendfunc"
2781<
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00002782 *:delf* *:delfunction* *E131* *E933* *E1084*
Bram Moolenaar663bb232017-06-22 19:12:10 +02002783:delf[unction][!] {name}
2784 Delete function {name}.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002785 {name} can also be a |Dictionary| entry that is a
2786 |Funcref|: >
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002787 :delfunc dict.init
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002788< This will remove the "init" entry from "dict". The
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00002789 function is deleted if there are no more references to
2790 it.
Bram Moolenaar663bb232017-06-22 19:12:10 +02002791 With the ! there is no error if the function does not
2792 exist.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002793 *:retu* *:return* *E133*
2794:retu[rn] [expr] Return from a function. When "[expr]" is given, it is
2795 evaluated and returned as the result of the function.
2796 If "[expr]" is not given, the number 0 is returned.
2797 When a function ends without an explicit ":return",
2798 the number 0 is returned.
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00002799 In a :def function *E1095* is given if unreachable
2800 code follows after the `:return`.
2801 In legacy script there is no check for unreachable
2802 lines, thus there is no warning if commands follow
2803 `:return`.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002804
2805 If the ":return" is used after a |:try| but before the
2806 matching |:finally| (if present), the commands
2807 following the ":finally" up to the matching |:endtry|
2808 are executed first. This process applies to all
2809 nested ":try"s inside the function. The function
2810 returns at the outermost ":endtry".
2811
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00002812 *function-argument* *a:var*
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002813An argument can be defined by giving its name. In the function this can then
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00002814be used as "a:name" ("a:" for argument).
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002815 *a:0* *a:1* *a:000* *E740* *...*
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00002816Up to 20 arguments can be given, separated by commas. After the named
2817arguments an argument "..." can be specified, which means that more arguments
2818may optionally be following. In the function the extra arguments can be used
2819as "a:1", "a:2", etc. "a:0" is set to the number of extra arguments (which
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00002820can be 0). "a:000" is set to a |List| that contains these arguments. Note
2821that "a:1" is the same as "a:000[0]".
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00002822 *E742* *E1090*
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00002823The a: scope and the variables in it cannot be changed, they are fixed.
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02002824However, if a composite type is used, such as |List| or |Dictionary| , you can
2825change their contents. Thus you can pass a |List| to a function and have the
2826function add an item to it. If you want to make sure the function cannot
2827change a |List| or |Dictionary| use |:lockvar|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002828
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00002829It is also possible to define a function without any arguments. You must
Bram Moolenaar01164a62017-11-02 22:58:42 +01002830still supply the () then.
2831
Bram Moolenaar98ef2332018-03-18 14:44:37 +01002832It is allowed to define another function inside a function body.
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00002833
Bram Moolenaar42ae78c2019-05-09 21:08:58 +02002834 *optional-function-argument*
2835You can provide default values for positional named arguments. This makes
2836them optional for function calls. When a positional argument is not
2837specified at a call, the default expression is used to initialize it.
Bram Moolenaard1caa942020-04-10 22:10:56 +02002838This only works for functions declared with `:function` or `:def`, not for
2839lambda expressions |expr-lambda|.
Bram Moolenaar42ae78c2019-05-09 21:08:58 +02002840
2841Example: >
2842 function Something(key, value = 10)
Bram Moolenaar8aad88d2019-05-12 13:53:50 +02002843 echo a:key .. ": " .. a:value
Bram Moolenaar42ae78c2019-05-09 21:08:58 +02002844 endfunction
2845 call Something('empty') "empty: 10"
Bram Moolenaar8aad88d2019-05-12 13:53:50 +02002846 call Something('key', 20) "key: 20"
Bram Moolenaar42ae78c2019-05-09 21:08:58 +02002847
2848The argument default expressions are evaluated at the time of the function
2849call, not definition. Thus it is possible to use an expression which is
Bram Moolenaar68e65602019-05-26 21:33:31 +02002850invalid the moment the function is defined. The expressions are also only
Bram Moolenaar42ae78c2019-05-09 21:08:58 +02002851evaluated when arguments are not specified during a call.
Bram Moolenaar2547aa92020-07-26 17:00:44 +02002852 *none-function_argument*
Bram Moolenaar42ae78c2019-05-09 21:08:58 +02002853You can pass |v:none| to use the default expression. Note that this means you
2854cannot pass v:none as an ordinary value when an argument has a default
2855expression.
2856
2857Example: >
2858 function Something(a = 10, b = 20, c = 30)
2859 endfunction
2860 call Something(1, v:none, 3) " b = 20
2861<
2862 *E989*
2863Optional arguments with default expressions must occur after any mandatory
2864arguments. You can use "..." after all optional named arguments.
2865
2866It is possible for later argument defaults to refer to prior arguments,
2867but not the other way around. They must be prefixed with "a:", as with all
2868arguments.
2869
2870Example that works: >
2871 :function Okay(mandatory, optional = a:mandatory)
2872 :endfunction
2873Example that does NOT work: >
2874 :function NoGood(first = a:second, second = 10)
2875 :endfunction
2876<
Bram Moolenaard1caa942020-04-10 22:10:56 +02002877When not using "...", the number of arguments in a function call must be at
2878least equal to the number of mandatory named arguments. When using "...", the
2879number of arguments may be larger than the total of mandatory and optional
2880arguments.
Bram Moolenaar42ae78c2019-05-09 21:08:58 +02002881
Bram Moolenaar8f999f12005-01-25 22:12:55 +00002882 *local-variables*
Bram Moolenaar069c1e72016-07-15 21:25:08 +02002883Inside a function local variables can be used. These will disappear when the
2884function returns. Global variables need to be accessed with "g:".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002885
2886Example: >
2887 :function Table(title, ...)
2888 : echohl Title
2889 : echo a:title
2890 : echohl None
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00002891 : echo a:0 .. " items:"
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002892 : for s in a:000
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00002893 : echon ' ' .. s
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002894 : endfor
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002895 :endfunction
2896
2897This function can then be called with: >
Bram Moolenaar677ee682005-01-27 14:41:15 +00002898 call Table("Table", "line1", "line2")
2899 call Table("Empty Table")
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002900
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002901To return more than one value, return a |List|: >
2902 :function Compute(n1, n2)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002903 : if a:n2 == 0
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002904 : return ["fail", 0]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002905 : endif
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002906 : return ["ok", a:n1 / a:n2]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002907 :endfunction
2908
2909This function can then be called with: >
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002910 :let [success, div] = Compute(102, 6)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002911 :if success == "ok"
2912 : echo div
2913 :endif
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002914<
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00002915 *:cal* *:call* *E107*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002916:[range]cal[l] {name}([arguments])
2917 Call a function. The name of the function and its arguments
Bram Moolenaar68e65602019-05-26 21:33:31 +02002918 are as specified with `:function`. Up to 20 arguments can be
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002919 used. The returned value is discarded.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00002920 In |Vim9| script using `:call` is optional, these two lines do
2921 the same thing: >
2922 call SomeFunc(arg)
2923 SomeFunc(arg)
2924< Without a range and for functions that accept a range, the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002925 function is called once. When a range is given the cursor is
2926 positioned at the start of the first line before executing the
2927 function.
2928 When a range is given and the function doesn't handle it
2929 itself, the function is executed for each line in the range,
2930 with the cursor in the first column of that line. The cursor
2931 is left at the last line (possibly moved by the last function
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002932 call). The arguments are re-evaluated for each line. Thus
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002933 this works:
2934 *function-range-example* >
2935 :function Mynumber(arg)
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00002936 : echo line(".") .. " " .. a:arg
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002937 :endfunction
2938 :1,5call Mynumber(getline("."))
2939<
2940 The "a:firstline" and "a:lastline" are defined anyway, they
2941 can be used to do something different at the start or end of
2942 the range.
2943
2944 Example of a function that handles the range itself: >
2945
2946 :function Cont() range
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00002947 : execute (a:firstline + 1) .. "," .. a:lastline .. 's/^/\t\\ '
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002948 :endfunction
2949 :4,8call Cont()
2950<
2951 This function inserts the continuation character "\" in front
2952 of all the lines in the range, except the first one.
2953
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00002954 When the function returns a composite value it can be further
2955 dereferenced, but the range will not be used then. Example: >
2956 :4,8call GetDict().method()
2957< Here GetDict() gets the range but method() does not.
2958
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00002959 *E117*
2960When a function cannot be found the error "E117: Unknown function" will be
2961given. If the function was using an autoload path or an autoload import and
2962the script is a |Vim9| script, this may also be caused by the function not
2963being exported.
2964
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002965 *E132*
2966The recursiveness of user functions is restricted with the |'maxfuncdepth'|
2967option.
2968
Bram Moolenaar25e42232019-08-04 15:04:10 +02002969It is also possible to use `:eval`. It does not support a range, but does
2970allow for method chaining, e.g.: >
2971 eval GetList()->Filter()->append('$')
2972
Bram Moolenaar088e8e32019-08-08 22:15:18 +02002973A function can also be called as part of evaluating an expression or when it
2974is used as a method: >
2975 let x = GetList()
2976 let y = GetList()->Filter()
2977
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00002978
2979AUTOMATICALLY LOADING FUNCTIONS ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002980 *autoload-functions*
2981When using many or large functions, it's possible to automatically define them
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00002982only when they are used. There are two methods: with an autocommand and with
2983the "autoload" directory in 'runtimepath'.
2984
2985
2986Using an autocommand ~
2987
Bram Moolenaar30ab04e2022-05-14 13:33:50 +01002988This is introduced in the user manual, section |51.4|.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00002989
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00002990The autocommand is useful if you have a plugin that is a long Vim script file.
Bram Moolenaar68e65602019-05-26 21:33:31 +02002991You can define the autocommand and quickly quit the script with `:finish`.
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02002992That makes Vim startup faster. The autocommand should then load the same file
Bram Moolenaar68e65602019-05-26 21:33:31 +02002993again, setting a variable to skip the `:finish` command.
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00002994
2995Use the FuncUndefined autocommand event with a pattern that matches the
2996function(s) to be defined. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00002997
2998 :au FuncUndefined BufNet* source ~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim
2999
3000The file "~/vim/bufnetfuncs.vim" should then define functions that start with
3001"BufNet". Also see |FuncUndefined|.
3002
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003003
3004Using an autoload script ~
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003005 *autoload* *E746*
Bram Moolenaarcfa8f9a2022-06-03 21:59:47 +01003006This is introduced in the user manual, section |52.2|.
Bram Moolenaar05159a02005-02-26 23:04:13 +00003007
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003008Using a script in the "autoload" directory is simpler, but requires using
3009exactly the right file name. A function that can be autoloaded has a name
3010like this: >
3011
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00003012 :call filename#funcname()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003013
Bram Moolenaar65e0d772020-06-14 17:29:55 +02003014These functions are always global, in Vim9 script "g:" needs to be used: >
3015 :call g:filename#funcname()
3016
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003017When such a function is called, and it is not defined yet, Vim will search the
3018"autoload" directories in 'runtimepath' for a script file called
3019"filename.vim". For example "~/.vim/autoload/filename.vim". That file should
3020then define the function like this: >
3021
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00003022 function filename#funcname()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003023 echo "Done!"
3024 endfunction
3025
Bram Moolenaar60a795a2005-09-16 21:55:43 +00003026The file name and the name used before the # in the function must match
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003027exactly, and the defined function must have the name exactly as it will be
Bram Moolenaar65e0d772020-06-14 17:29:55 +02003028called. In Vim9 script the "g:" prefix must be used: >
3029 function g:filename#funcname()
3030
3031or for a compiled function: >
3032 def g:filename#funcname()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003033
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00003034It is possible to use subdirectories. Every # in the function name works like
3035a path separator. Thus when calling a function: >
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003036
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00003037 :call foo#bar#func()
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003038
3039Vim will look for the file "autoload/foo/bar.vim" in 'runtimepath'.
3040
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003041This also works when reading a variable that has not been set yet: >
3042
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00003043 :let l = foo#bar#lvar
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003044
Bram Moolenaara5792f52005-11-23 21:25:05 +00003045However, when the autoload script was already loaded it won't be loaded again
3046for an unknown variable.
3047
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003048When assigning a value to such a variable nothing special happens. This can
3049be used to pass settings to the autoload script before it's loaded: >
3050
Bram Moolenaara7fc0102005-05-18 22:17:12 +00003051 :let foo#bar#toggle = 1
3052 :call foo#bar#func()
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003053
Bram Moolenaar4399ef42005-02-12 14:29:27 +00003054Note that when you make a mistake and call a function that is supposed to be
3055defined in an autoload script, but the script doesn't actually define the
Bram Moolenaarcb80aa22020-10-26 21:12:46 +01003056function, you will get an error message for the missing function. If you fix
3057the autoload script it won't be automatically loaded again. Either restart
3058Vim or manually source the script.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003059
3060Also note that if you have two script files, and one calls a function in the
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003061other and vice versa, before the used function is defined, it won't work.
Bram Moolenaar26a60b42005-02-22 08:49:11 +00003062Avoid using the autoload functionality at the toplevel.
Bram Moolenaar7c626922005-02-07 22:01:03 +00003063
Bram Moolenaar944697a2022-02-20 19:48:20 +00003064In |Vim9| script you will get error *E1263* if you define a function with
3065a "#" character in the name. You should use a name without "#" and use
3066`:export`.
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00003067
Bram Moolenaar433f7c82006-03-21 21:29:36 +00003068Hint: If you distribute a bunch of scripts you can pack them together with the
3069|vimball| utility. Also read the user manual |distribute-script|.
3070
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003071==============================================================================
30726. Curly braces names *curly-braces-names*
3073
Bram Moolenaar84f72352012-03-11 15:57:40 +01003074In most places where you can use a variable, you can use a "curly braces name"
3075variable. This is a regular variable name with one or more expressions
3076wrapped in braces {} like this: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003077 my_{adjective}_variable
3078
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00003079This only works in legacy Vim script, not in |Vim9| script.
3080
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003081When Vim encounters this, it evaluates the expression inside the braces, puts
3082that in place of the expression, and re-interprets the whole as a variable
3083name. So in the above example, if the variable "adjective" was set to
3084"noisy", then the reference would be to "my_noisy_variable", whereas if
3085"adjective" was set to "quiet", then it would be to "my_quiet_variable".
3086
3087One application for this is to create a set of variables governed by an option
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02003088value. For example, the statement >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003089 echo my_{&background}_message
3090
3091would output the contents of "my_dark_message" or "my_light_message" depending
3092on the current value of 'background'.
3093
3094You can use multiple brace pairs: >
3095 echo my_{adverb}_{adjective}_message
3096..or even nest them: >
3097 echo my_{ad{end_of_word}}_message
3098where "end_of_word" is either "verb" or "jective".
3099
3100However, the expression inside the braces must evaluate to a valid single
Bram Moolenaar402d2fe2005-04-15 21:00:38 +00003101variable name, e.g. this is invalid: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003102 :let foo='a + b'
3103 :echo c{foo}d
3104.. since the result of expansion is "ca + bd", which is not a variable name.
3105
3106 *curly-braces-function-names*
3107You can call and define functions by an evaluated name in a similar way.
3108Example: >
3109 :let func_end='whizz'
3110 :call my_func_{func_end}(parameter)
3111
3112This would call the function "my_func_whizz(parameter)".
3113
Bram Moolenaar84f72352012-03-11 15:57:40 +01003114This does NOT work: >
3115 :let i = 3
3116 :let @{i} = '' " error
3117 :echo @{i} " error
3118
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003119==============================================================================
31207. Commands *expression-commands*
3121
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00003122Note: in |Vim9| script `:let` is not used. `:var` is used for variable
3123declarations and assignments do not use a command. |vim9-declaration|
Bram Moolenaar65e0d772020-06-14 17:29:55 +02003124
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003125:let {var-name} = {expr1} *:let* *E18*
3126 Set internal variable {var-name} to the result of the
3127 expression {expr1}. The variable will get the type
3128 from the {expr}. If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it
3129 is created.
3130
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00003131:let {var-name}[{idx}] = {expr1} *E689* *E1141*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00003132 Set a list item to the result of the expression
3133 {expr1}. {var-name} must refer to a list and {idx}
3134 must be a valid index in that list. For nested list
3135 the index can be repeated.
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003136 This cannot be used to add an item to a |List|.
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02003137 This cannot be used to set a byte in a String. You
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003138 can do that like this: >
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00003139 :let var = var[0:2] .. 'X' .. var[4:]
Bram Moolenaar6e5ea8d2019-01-12 22:47:31 +01003140< When {var-name} is a |Blob| then {idx} can be the
3141 length of the blob, in which case one byte is
3142 appended.
3143
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00003144 *E711* *E719* *E1165* *E1166* *E1183*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003145:let {var-name}[{idx1}:{idx2}] = {expr1} *E708* *E709* *E710*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003146 Set a sequence of items in a |List| to the result of
3147 the expression {expr1}, which must be a list with the
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003148 correct number of items.
3149 {idx1} can be omitted, zero is used instead.
3150 {idx2} can be omitted, meaning the end of the list.
3151 When the selected range of items is partly past the
3152 end of the list, items will be added.
3153
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00003154 *:let+=* *:let-=* *:letstar=* *:let/=* *:let%=*
3155 *:let.=* *:let..=* *E734* *E985* *E1019*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003156:let {var} += {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} + {expr1}".
3157:let {var} -= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} - {expr1}".
Bram Moolenaarff697e62019-02-12 22:28:33 +01003158:let {var} *= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} * {expr1}".
3159:let {var} /= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} / {expr1}".
3160:let {var} %= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} % {expr1}".
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003161:let {var} .= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} . {expr1}".
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02003162:let {var} ..= {expr1} Like ":let {var} = {var} .. {expr1}".
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003163 These fail if {var} was not set yet and when the type
3164 of {var} and {expr1} don't fit the operator.
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02003165 `.=` is not supported with Vim script version 2 and
3166 later, see |vimscript-version|.
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003167
3168
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003169:let ${env-name} = {expr1} *:let-environment* *:let-$*
3170 Set environment variable {env-name} to the result of
3171 the expression {expr1}. The type is always String.
Bram Moolenaar56c860c2019-08-17 20:09:31 +02003172
3173 On some systems making an environment variable empty
3174 causes it to be deleted. Many systems do not make a
3175 difference between an environment variable that is not
3176 set and an environment variable that is empty.
3177
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003178:let ${env-name} .= {expr1}
3179 Append {expr1} to the environment variable {env-name}.
3180 If the environment variable didn't exist yet this
3181 works like "=".
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003182
3183:let @{reg-name} = {expr1} *:let-register* *:let-@*
3184 Write the result of the expression {expr1} in register
3185 {reg-name}. {reg-name} must be a single letter, and
3186 must be the name of a writable register (see
3187 |registers|). "@@" can be used for the unnamed
3188 register, "@/" for the search pattern.
3189 If the result of {expr1} ends in a <CR> or <NL>, the
3190 register will be linewise, otherwise it will be set to
3191 characterwise.
3192 This can be used to clear the last search pattern: >
3193 :let @/ = ""
3194< This is different from searching for an empty string,
3195 that would match everywhere.
3196
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003197:let @{reg-name} .= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02003198 Append {expr1} to register {reg-name}. If the
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003199 register was empty it's like setting it to {expr1}.
3200
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00003201:let &{option-name} = {expr1} *:let-option* *:let-&*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003202 Set option {option-name} to the result of the
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00003203 expression {expr1}. A String or Number value is
3204 always converted to the type of the option.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003205 For an option local to a window or buffer the effect
3206 is just like using the |:set| command: both the local
Bram Moolenaara5fac542005-10-12 20:58:49 +00003207 value and the global value are changed.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00003208 Example: >
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00003209 :let &path = &path .. ',/usr/local/include'
Bram Moolenaar3df01732017-02-17 22:47:16 +01003210< This also works for terminal codes in the form t_xx.
3211 But only for alphanumerical names. Example: >
3212 :let &t_k1 = "\<Esc>[234;"
3213< When the code does not exist yet it will be created as
3214 a terminal key code, there is no error.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003215
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003216:let &{option-name} .= {expr1}
3217 For a string option: Append {expr1} to the value.
3218 Does not insert a comma like |:set+=|.
3219
3220:let &{option-name} += {expr1}
3221:let &{option-name} -= {expr1}
3222 For a number or boolean option: Add or subtract
3223 {expr1}.
3224
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003225:let &l:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003226:let &l:{option-name} .= {expr1}
3227:let &l:{option-name} += {expr1}
3228:let &l:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003229 Like above, but only set the local value of an option
3230 (if there is one). Works like |:setlocal|.
3231
3232:let &g:{option-name} = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003233:let &g:{option-name} .= {expr1}
3234:let &g:{option-name} += {expr1}
3235:let &g:{option-name} -= {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003236 Like above, but only set the global value of an option
3237 (if there is one). Works like |:setglobal|.
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00003238 *E1093*
Bram Moolenaar13065c42005-01-08 16:08:21 +00003239:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1} *:let-unpack* *E687* *E688*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003240 {expr1} must evaluate to a |List|. The first item in
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00003241 the list is assigned to {name1}, the second item to
3242 {name2}, etc.
3243 The number of names must match the number of items in
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003244 the |List|.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00003245 Each name can be one of the items of the ":let"
3246 command as mentioned above.
3247 Example: >
3248 :let [s, item] = GetItem(s)
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003249< Detail: {expr1} is evaluated first, then the
3250 assignments are done in sequence. This matters if
3251 {name2} depends on {name1}. Example: >
3252 :let x = [0, 1]
3253 :let i = 0
3254 :let [i, x[i]] = [1, 2]
3255 :echo x
3256< The result is [0, 2].
3257
3258:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] .= {expr1}
3259:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] += {expr1}
3260:let [{name1}, {name2}, ...] -= {expr1}
3261 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003262 |List| item.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00003263
Bram Moolenaard1caa942020-04-10 22:10:56 +02003264:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1} *E452*
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003265 Like |:let-unpack| above, but the |List| may have more
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003266 items than there are names. A list of the remaining
3267 items is assigned to {lastname}. If there are no
3268 remaining items {lastname} is set to an empty list.
Bram Moolenaarfca34d62005-01-04 21:38:36 +00003269 Example: >
3270 :let [a, b; rest] = ["aval", "bval", 3, 4]
3271<
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003272:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] .= {expr1}
3273:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] += {expr1}
3274:let [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] -= {expr1}
3275 Like above, but append/add/subtract the value for each
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003276 |List| item.
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02003277
Bram Moolenaar24582002019-07-21 14:14:26 +02003278 *:let=<<* *:let-heredoc*
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00003279 *E990* *E991* *E172* *E221* *E1145*
Yegappan Lakshmananefbfa862022-04-17 12:47:40 +01003280:let {var-name} =<< [trim] [eval] {endmarker}
Bram Moolenaarf5842c52019-05-19 18:41:26 +02003281text...
3282text...
Bram Moolenaar2e693a82019-10-16 22:35:02 +02003283{endmarker}
Bram Moolenaare46a4402020-06-30 20:38:27 +02003284 Set internal variable {var-name} to a |List|
3285 containing the lines of text bounded by the string
Yegappan Lakshmananefbfa862022-04-17 12:47:40 +01003286 {endmarker}.
3287
3288 If "eval" is not specified, then each line of text is
Bram Moolenaard899e512022-05-07 21:54:03 +01003289 used as a |literal-string|, except that single quotes
3290 doe not need to be doubled.
3291 If "eval" is specified, then any Vim expression in the
3292 form {expr} is evaluated and the result replaces the
3293 expression, like with |interp-string|.
Yegappan Lakshmananefbfa862022-04-17 12:47:40 +01003294 Example where $HOME is expanded: >
3295 let lines =<< trim eval END
3296 some text
Bram Moolenaard899e512022-05-07 21:54:03 +01003297 See the file {$HOME}/.vimrc
Yegappan Lakshmananefbfa862022-04-17 12:47:40 +01003298 more text
3299 END
3300< There can be multiple Vim expressions in a single line
3301 but an expression cannot span multiple lines. If any
3302 expression evaluation fails, then the assignment fails.
Yegappan Lakshmananefbfa862022-04-17 12:47:40 +01003303
Bram Moolenaar2e693a82019-10-16 22:35:02 +02003304 {endmarker} must not contain white space.
3305 {endmarker} cannot start with a lower case character.
3306 The last line should end only with the {endmarker}
3307 string without any other character. Watch out for
3308 white space after {endmarker}!
Bram Moolenaarf5842c52019-05-19 18:41:26 +02003309
Bram Moolenaare7eb9272019-06-24 00:58:07 +02003310 Without "trim" any white space characters in the lines
3311 of text are preserved. If "trim" is specified before
Bram Moolenaar2e693a82019-10-16 22:35:02 +02003312 {endmarker}, then indentation is stripped so you can
3313 do: >
Bram Moolenaare7eb9272019-06-24 00:58:07 +02003314 let text =<< trim END
3315 if ok
3316 echo 'done'
3317 endif
3318 END
3319< Results in: ["if ok", " echo 'done'", "endif"]
3320 The marker must line up with "let" and the indentation
3321 of the first line is removed from all the text lines.
3322 Specifically: all the leading indentation exactly
3323 matching the leading indentation of the first
3324 non-empty text line is stripped from the input lines.
3325 All leading indentation exactly matching the leading
3326 indentation before `let` is stripped from the line
Bram Moolenaar2e693a82019-10-16 22:35:02 +02003327 containing {endmarker}. Note that the difference
3328 between space and tab matters here.
Bram Moolenaarf5842c52019-05-19 18:41:26 +02003329
3330 If {var-name} didn't exist yet, it is created.
3331 Cannot be followed by another command, but can be
3332 followed by a comment.
3333
Bram Moolenaar2e693a82019-10-16 22:35:02 +02003334 To avoid line continuation to be applied, consider
3335 adding 'C' to 'cpoptions': >
3336 set cpo+=C
3337 let var =<< END
3338 \ leading backslash
3339 END
3340 set cpo-=C
3341<
Bram Moolenaarf5842c52019-05-19 18:41:26 +02003342 Examples: >
3343 let var1 =<< END
Bram Moolenaar2e693a82019-10-16 22:35:02 +02003344 Sample text 1
3345 Sample text 2
3346 Sample text 3
3347 END
Bram Moolenaarf5842c52019-05-19 18:41:26 +02003348
3349 let data =<< trim DATA
Bram Moolenaar2e693a82019-10-16 22:35:02 +02003350 1 2 3 4
3351 5 6 7 8
Bram Moolenaarf5842c52019-05-19 18:41:26 +02003352 DATA
Yegappan Lakshmananefbfa862022-04-17 12:47:40 +01003353
3354 let code =<< trim eval CODE
Bram Moolenaard899e512022-05-07 21:54:03 +01003355 let v = {10 + 20}
3356 let h = "{$HOME}"
3357 let s = "{Str1()} abc {Str2()}"
3358 let n = {MyFunc(3, 4)}
Yegappan Lakshmananefbfa862022-04-17 12:47:40 +01003359 CODE
Bram Moolenaarf5842c52019-05-19 18:41:26 +02003360<
Bram Moolenaar4a748032010-09-30 21:47:56 +02003361 *E121*
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02003362:let {var-name} .. List the value of variable {var-name}. Multiple
Bram Moolenaardcaf10e2005-01-21 11:55:25 +00003363 variable names may be given. Special names recognized
3364 here: *E738*
Bram Moolenaarca003e12006-03-17 23:19:38 +00003365 g: global variables
3366 b: local buffer variables
3367 w: local window variables
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +00003368 t: local tab page variables
Bram Moolenaarca003e12006-03-17 23:19:38 +00003369 s: script-local variables
3370 l: local function variables
Bram Moolenaardcaf10e2005-01-21 11:55:25 +00003371 v: Vim variables.
Bram Moolenaar65e0d772020-06-14 17:29:55 +02003372 This does not work in Vim9 script. |vim9-declaration|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003373
Bram Moolenaard7ee7ce2005-01-03 21:02:03 +00003374:let List the values of all variables. The type of the
3375 variable is indicated before the value:
3376 <nothing> String
3377 # Number
Bram Moolenaarc9b4b052006-04-30 18:54:39 +00003378 * Funcref
Bram Moolenaar65e0d772020-06-14 17:29:55 +02003379 This does not work in Vim9 script. |vim9-declaration|
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003380
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00003381:unl[et][!] {name} ... *:unlet* *:unl* *E108* *E795* *E1081*
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003382 Remove the internal variable {name}. Several variable
3383 names can be given, they are all removed. The name
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003384 may also be a |List| or |Dictionary| item.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003385 With [!] no error message is given for non-existing
3386 variables.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003387 One or more items from a |List| can be removed: >
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00003388 :unlet list[3] " remove fourth item
3389 :unlet list[3:] " remove fourth item to last
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003390< One item from a |Dictionary| can be removed at a time: >
Bram Moolenaar9cd15162005-01-16 22:02:49 +00003391 :unlet dict['two']
3392 :unlet dict.two
Bram Moolenaarc236c162008-07-13 17:41:49 +00003393< This is especially useful to clean up used global
3394 variables and script-local variables (these are not
3395 deleted when the script ends). Function-local
3396 variables are automatically deleted when the function
3397 ends.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003398
Bram Moolenaar137374f2018-05-13 15:59:50 +02003399:unl[et] ${env-name} ... *:unlet-environment* *:unlet-$*
3400 Remove environment variable {env-name}.
3401 Can mix {name} and ${env-name} in one :unlet command.
3402 No error message is given for a non-existing
3403 variable, also without !.
3404 If the system does not support deleting an environment
Bram Moolenaar9937a052019-06-15 15:45:06 +02003405 variable, it is made empty.
Bram Moolenaar137374f2018-05-13 15:59:50 +02003406
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00003407 *:cons* *:const* *E1018*
Bram Moolenaar9937a052019-06-15 15:45:06 +02003408:cons[t] {var-name} = {expr1}
3409:cons[t] [{name1}, {name2}, ...] = {expr1}
Bram Moolenaar9937a052019-06-15 15:45:06 +02003410:cons[t] [{name}, ..., ; {lastname}] = {expr1}
3411:cons[t] {var-name} =<< [trim] {marker}
3412text...
3413text...
3414{marker}
3415 Similar to |:let|, but additionally lock the variable
3416 after setting the value. This is the same as locking
3417 the variable with |:lockvar| just after |:let|, thus: >
3418 :const x = 1
3419< is equivalent to: >
3420 :let x = 1
Bram Moolenaar021bda52020-08-17 21:07:22 +02003421 :lockvar! x
Bram Moolenaara187c432020-09-16 21:08:28 +02003422< NOTE: in Vim9 script `:const` works differently, see
3423 |vim9-const|
3424 This is useful if you want to make sure the variable
Bram Moolenaar021bda52020-08-17 21:07:22 +02003425 is not modified. If the value is a List or Dictionary
3426 literal then the items also cannot be changed: >
3427 const ll = [1, 2, 3]
3428 let ll[1] = 5 " Error!
Bram Moolenaar6e649222021-10-04 21:32:54 +01003429< Nested references are not locked: >
Bram Moolenaar021bda52020-08-17 21:07:22 +02003430 let lvar = ['a']
3431 const lconst = [0, lvar]
3432 let lconst[0] = 2 " Error!
3433 let lconst[1][0] = 'b' " OK
3434< *E995*
Bram Moolenaar9b283522019-06-17 22:19:33 +02003435 |:const| does not allow to for changing a variable: >
Bram Moolenaar9937a052019-06-15 15:45:06 +02003436 :let x = 1
3437 :const x = 2 " Error!
Bram Moolenaar1c196e72019-06-16 15:41:58 +02003438< *E996*
3439 Note that environment variables, option values and
3440 register values cannot be used here, since they cannot
3441 be locked.
3442
Bram Moolenaar85850f32019-07-19 22:05:51 +02003443:cons[t]
3444:cons[t] {var-name}
3445 If no argument is given or only {var-name} is given,
3446 the behavior is the same as |:let|.
3447
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003448:lockv[ar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:lockvar* *:lockv*
3449 Lock the internal variable {name}. Locking means that
3450 it can no longer be changed (until it is unlocked).
3451 A locked variable can be deleted: >
3452 :lockvar v
Bram Moolenaardad44732021-03-31 20:07:33 +02003453 :let v = 'asdf' " fails!
3454 :unlet v " works
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00003455< *E741* *E940* *E1118* *E1119* *E1120* *E1121* *E1122*
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003456 If you try to change a locked variable you get an
Bram Moolenaare7877fe2017-02-20 22:35:33 +01003457 error message: "E741: Value is locked: {name}".
3458 If you try to lock or unlock a built-in variable you
3459 get an error message: "E940: Cannot lock or unlock
3460 variable {name}".
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003461
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003462 [depth] is relevant when locking a |List| or
3463 |Dictionary|. It specifies how deep the locking goes:
Bram Moolenaara187c432020-09-16 21:08:28 +02003464 0 Lock the variable {name} but not its
3465 value.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003466 1 Lock the |List| or |Dictionary| itself,
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003467 cannot add or remove items, but can
3468 still change their values.
3469 2 Also lock the values, cannot change
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003470 the items. If an item is a |List| or
3471 |Dictionary|, cannot add or remove
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003472 items, but can still change the
3473 values.
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003474 3 Like 2 but for the |List| /
3475 |Dictionary| in the |List| /
3476 |Dictionary|, one level deeper.
3477 The default [depth] is 2, thus when {name} is a |List|
3478 or |Dictionary| the values cannot be changed.
Bram Moolenaara187c432020-09-16 21:08:28 +02003479
3480 Example with [depth] 0: >
3481 let mylist = [1, 2, 3]
3482 lockvar 0 mylist
Bram Moolenaar6e649222021-10-04 21:32:54 +01003483 let mylist[0] = 77 " OK
3484 call add(mylist, 4] " OK
Bram Moolenaara187c432020-09-16 21:08:28 +02003485 let mylist = [7, 8, 9] " Error!
3486< *E743*
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003487 For unlimited depth use [!] and omit [depth].
3488 However, there is a maximum depth of 100 to catch
3489 loops.
3490
Bram Moolenaar32466aa2006-02-24 23:53:04 +00003491 Note that when two variables refer to the same |List|
3492 and you lock one of them, the |List| will also be
Bram Moolenaar910f66f2006-04-05 20:41:53 +00003493 locked when used through the other variable.
3494 Example: >
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003495 :let l = [0, 1, 2, 3]
3496 :let cl = l
3497 :lockvar l
3498 :let cl[1] = 99 " won't work!
3499< You may want to make a copy of a list to avoid this.
3500 See |deepcopy()|.
3501
3502
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00003503:unlo[ckvar][!] [depth] {name} ... *:unlockvar* *:unlo* *E1246*
Bram Moolenaar2ce06f62005-01-31 19:19:04 +00003504 Unlock the internal variable {name}. Does the
3505 opposite of |:lockvar|.
3506
Bram Moolenaar61da1bf2019-06-06 12:14:49 +02003507:if {expr1} *:if* *:end* *:endif* *:en* *E171* *E579* *E580*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003508:en[dif] Execute the commands until the next matching `:else`
3509 or `:endif` if {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00003510 Although the short forms work, it is recommended to
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003511 always use `:endif` to avoid confusion and to make
3512 auto-indenting work properly.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003513
3514 From Vim version 4.5 until 5.0, every Ex command in
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003515 between the `:if` and `:endif` is ignored. These two
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003516 commands were just to allow for future expansions in a
Bram Moolenaar85084ef2016-01-17 22:26:33 +01003517 backward compatible way. Nesting was allowed. Note
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003518 that any `:else` or `:elseif` was ignored, the `else`
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003519 part was not executed either.
3520
3521 You can use this to remain compatible with older
3522 versions: >
3523 :if version >= 500
3524 : version-5-specific-commands
3525 :endif
3526< The commands still need to be parsed to find the
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003527 `endif`. Sometimes an older Vim has a problem with a
3528 new command. For example, `:silent` is recognized as
3529 a `:substitute` command. In that case `:execute` can
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003530 avoid problems: >
3531 :if version >= 600
3532 : execute "silent 1,$delete"
3533 :endif
3534<
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003535 In |Vim9| script `:endif` cannot be shortened, to
3536 improve script readability.
3537 NOTE: The `:append` and `:insert` commands don't work
3538 properly in between `:if` and `:endif`.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003539
3540 *:else* *:el* *E581* *E583*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003541:el[se] Execute the commands until the next matching `:else`
3542 or `:endif` if they previously were not being
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003543 executed.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003544 In |Vim9| script `:else` cannot be shortened, to
3545 improve script readability.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003546
3547 *:elseif* *:elsei* *E582* *E584*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003548:elsei[f] {expr1} Short for `:else` `:if`, with the addition that there
3549 is no extra `:endif`.
3550 In |Vim9| script `:elseif` cannot be shortened, to
3551 improve script readability.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003552
3553:wh[ile] {expr1} *:while* *:endwhile* *:wh* *:endw*
Bram Moolenaar3a3a7232005-01-17 22:16:15 +00003554 *E170* *E585* *E588* *E733*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003555:endw[hile] Repeat the commands between `:while` and `:endwhile`,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003556 as long as {expr1} evaluates to non-zero.
3557 When an error is detected from a command inside the
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003558 loop, execution continues after the `endwhile`.
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00003559 Example: >
3560 :let lnum = 1
3561 :while lnum <= line("$")
3562 :call FixLine(lnum)
3563 :let lnum = lnum + 1
3564 :endwhile
3565<
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003566 In |Vim9| script `:while` and `:endwhile` cannot be
3567 shortened, to improve script readability.
3568 NOTE: The `:append` and `:insert` commands don't work
3569 properly inside a `:while` and `:for` loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003570
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +01003571:for {var} in {object} *:for* *E690* *E732*
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00003572:endfo[r] *:endfo* *:endfor*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003573 Repeat the commands between `:for` and `:endfor` for
Bram Moolenaar3f32a5f2022-05-12 20:34:15 +01003574 each item in {object}. {object} can be a |List|,
3575 a |Blob| or a |String|. *E1177*
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00003576
3577 Variable {var} is set to the value of each item.
3578 In |Vim9| script the loop variable must not have been
3579 declared yet, unless when it is a
3580 global/window/tab/buffer variable.
3581
3582 When an error is detected for a command inside the
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003583 loop, execution continues after the `endfor`.
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +01003584 Changing {object} inside the loop affects what items
3585 are used. Make a copy if this is unwanted: >
Bram Moolenaarde8866b2005-01-06 23:24:37 +00003586 :for item in copy(mylist)
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +01003587<
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00003588 When {object} is a |List| and not making a copy, in
3589 legacy script Vim stores a reference to the next item
3590 in the |List| before executing the commands with the
3591 current item. Thus the current item can be removed
3592 without effect. Removing any later item means it will
3593 not be found. Thus the following example works (an
3594 inefficient way to make a |List| empty): >
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01003595 for item in mylist
3596 call remove(mylist, 0)
3597 endfor
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +01003598< Note that reordering the |List| (e.g., with sort() or
Bram Moolenaar9588a0f2005-01-08 21:45:39 +00003599 reverse()) may have unexpected effects.
Bram Moolenaar5da36052021-12-27 15:39:57 +00003600 In |Vim9| script the index is used. If an item before
3601 the current one is deleted the next item will be
3602 skipped.
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00003603
Bram Moolenaar5e66b422019-01-24 21:58:10 +01003604 When {object} is a |Blob|, Vim always makes a copy to
3605 iterate over. Unlike with |List|, modifying the
3606 |Blob| does not affect the iteration.
3607
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003608 In |Vim9| script `:endfor` cannot be shortened, to
3609 improve script readability.
3610
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00003611:for [{var1}, {var2}, ...] in {listlist}
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00003612:endfo[r] *E1140*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003613 Like `:for` above, but each item in {listlist} must be
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00003614 a list, of which each item is assigned to {var1},
3615 {var2}, etc. Example: >
3616 :for [lnum, col] in [[1, 3], [2, 5], [3, 8]]
3617 :echo getline(lnum)[col]
3618 :endfor
3619<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003620 *:continue* *:con* *E586*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003621:con[tinue] When used inside a `:while` or `:for` loop, jumps back
Bram Moolenaar12805862005-01-05 22:16:17 +00003622 to the start of the loop.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003623 If it is used after a `:try` inside the loop but
3624 before the matching `:finally` (if present), the
3625 commands following the `:finally` up to the matching
3626 `:endtry` are executed first. This process applies to
3627 all nested `:try`s inside the loop. The outermost
3628 `:endtry` then jumps back to the start of the loop.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003629
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003630 In |Vim9| script `:cont` is the shortest form, to
3631 improve script readability.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003632 *:break* *:brea* *E587*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003633:brea[k] When used inside a `:while` or `:for` loop, skips to
3634 the command after the matching `:endwhile` or
3635 `:endfor`.
3636 If it is used after a `:try` inside the loop but
3637 before the matching `:finally` (if present), the
3638 commands following the `:finally` up to the matching
3639 `:endtry` are executed first. This process applies to
3640 all nested `:try`s inside the loop. The outermost
3641 `:endtry` then jumps to the command after the loop.
3642
3643 In |Vim9| script `:break` cannot be shortened, to
3644 improve script readability.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003645
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00003646:try *:try* *:endt* *:endtry*
3647 *E600* *E601* *E602* *E1032*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003648:endt[ry] Change the error handling for the commands between
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003649 `:try` and `:endtry` including everything being
3650 executed across `:source` commands, function calls,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003651 or autocommand invocations.
3652
3653 When an error or interrupt is detected and there is
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003654 a `:finally` command following, execution continues
3655 after the `:finally`. Otherwise, or when the
3656 `:endtry` is reached thereafter, the next
3657 (dynamically) surrounding `:try` is checked for
3658 a corresponding `:finally` etc. Then the script
Bram Moolenaarbc93ceb2020-02-26 13:36:21 +01003659 processing is terminated. Whether a function
3660 definition has an "abort" argument does not matter.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003661 Example: >
Bram Moolenaarbc93ceb2020-02-26 13:36:21 +01003662 try | call Unknown() | finally | echomsg "cleanup" | endtry
3663 echomsg "not reached"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003664<
3665 Moreover, an error or interrupt (dynamically) inside
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003666 `:try` and `:endtry` is converted to an exception. It
3667 can be caught as if it were thrown by a `:throw`
3668 command (see `:catch`). In this case, the script
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003669 processing is not terminated.
3670
3671 The value "Vim:Interrupt" is used for an interrupt
3672 exception. An error in a Vim command is converted
3673 to a value of the form "Vim({command}):{errmsg}",
3674 other errors are converted to a value of the form
3675 "Vim:{errmsg}". {command} is the full command name,
3676 and {errmsg} is the message that is displayed if the
3677 error exception is not caught, always beginning with
3678 the error number.
3679 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaarbc93ceb2020-02-26 13:36:21 +01003680 try | sleep 100 | catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ | endtry
3681 try | edit | catch /^Vim(edit):E\d\+/ | echo "error" | endtry
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003682<
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003683 In |Vim9| script `:endtry` cannot be shortened, to
3684 improve script readability.
3685
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00003686 *:cat* *:catch*
3687 *E603* *E604* *E605* *E654* *E1033*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003688:cat[ch] /{pattern}/ The following commands until the next `:catch`,
3689 `:finally`, or `:endtry` that belongs to the same
3690 `:try` as the `:catch` are executed when an exception
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003691 matching {pattern} is being thrown and has not yet
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003692 been caught by a previous `:catch`. Otherwise, these
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003693 commands are skipped.
3694 When {pattern} is omitted all errors are caught.
3695 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar647e24b2019-03-17 16:39:46 +01003696 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/ " catch interrupts (CTRL-C)
3697 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E/ " catch all Vim errors
3698 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:/ " catch errors and interrupts
3699 :catch /^Vim(write):/ " catch all errors in :write
3700 :catch /^Vim\%((\a\+)\)\=:E123:/ " catch error E123
3701 :catch /my-exception/ " catch user exception
3702 :catch /.*/ " catch everything
3703 :catch " same as /.*/
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003704<
3705 Another character can be used instead of / around the
3706 {pattern}, so long as it does not have a special
3707 meaning (e.g., '|' or '"') and doesn't occur inside
Bram Moolenaar6f4754b2022-01-23 12:07:04 +00003708 {pattern}. *E1067*
Bram Moolenaar7e38ea22014-04-05 22:55:53 +02003709 Information about the exception is available in
3710 |v:exception|. Also see |throw-variables|.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003711 NOTE: It is not reliable to ":catch" the TEXT of
3712 an error message because it may vary in different
3713 locales.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003714 In |Vim9| script `:catch` cannot be shortened, to
3715 improve script readability.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003716
3717 *:fina* *:finally* *E606* *E607*
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003718:fina[lly] The following commands until the matching `:endtry`
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003719 are executed whenever the part between the matching
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003720 `:try` and the `:finally` is left: either by falling
3721 through to the `:finally` or by a `:continue`,
3722 `:break`, `:finish`, or `:return`, or by an error or
3723 interrupt or exception (see `:throw`).
3724
3725 In |Vim9| script `:finally` cannot be shortened, to
3726 improve script readability and avoid confusion with
3727 `:final`.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003728
Bram Moolenaarf10911e2022-01-29 22:20:48 +00003729 *:th* *:throw* *E608* *E1129*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003730:th[row] {expr1} The {expr1} is evaluated and thrown as an exception.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003731 If the ":throw" is used after a `:try` but before the
3732 first corresponding `:catch`, commands are skipped
3733 until the first `:catch` matching {expr1} is reached.
3734 If there is no such `:catch` or if the ":throw" is
3735 used after a `:catch` but before the `:finally`, the
3736 commands following the `:finally` (if present) up to
3737 the matching `:endtry` are executed. If the `:throw`
3738 is after the `:finally`, commands up to the `:endtry`
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003739 are skipped. At the ":endtry", this process applies
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003740 again for the next dynamically surrounding `:try`
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003741 (which may be found in a calling function or sourcing
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003742 script), until a matching `:catch` has been found.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003743 If the exception is not caught, the command processing
3744 is terminated.
3745 Example: >
3746 :try | throw "oops" | catch /^oo/ | echo "caught" | endtry
Bram Moolenaar662db672011-03-22 14:05:35 +01003747< Note that "catch" may need to be on a separate line
3748 for when an error causes the parsing to skip the whole
3749 line and not see the "|" that separates the commands.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003750
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003751 In |Vim9| script `:throw` cannot be shortened, to
3752 improve script readability.
3753
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003754 *:ec* *:echo*
3755:ec[ho] {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, with a space in between. The
3756 first {expr1} starts on a new line.
3757 Also see |:comment|.
3758 Use "\n" to start a new line. Use "\r" to move the
3759 cursor to the first column.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003760 Uses the highlighting set by the `:echohl` command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003761 Cannot be followed by a comment.
3762 Example: >
3763 :echo "the value of 'shell' is" &shell
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00003764< *:echo-redraw*
3765 A later redraw may make the message disappear again.
3766 And since Vim mostly postpones redrawing until it's
3767 finished with a sequence of commands this happens
3768 quite often. To avoid that a command from before the
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003769 `:echo` causes a redraw afterwards (redraws are often
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00003770 postponed until you type something), force a redraw
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003771 with the `:redraw` command. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003772 :new | redraw | echo "there is a new window"
3773<
3774 *:echon*
3775:echon {expr1} .. Echoes each {expr1}, without anything added. Also see
3776 |:comment|.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003777 Uses the highlighting set by the `:echohl` command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003778 Cannot be followed by a comment.
3779 Example: >
3780 :echon "the value of 'shell' is " &shell
3781<
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003782 Note the difference between using `:echo`, which is a
3783 Vim command, and `:!echo`, which is an external shell
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003784 command: >
3785 :!echo % --> filename
3786< The arguments of ":!" are expanded, see |:_%|. >
3787 :!echo "%" --> filename or "filename"
3788< Like the previous example. Whether you see the double
3789 quotes or not depends on your 'shell'. >
3790 :echo % --> nothing
3791< The '%' is an illegal character in an expression. >
3792 :echo "%" --> %
3793< This just echoes the '%' character. >
3794 :echo expand("%") --> filename
3795< This calls the expand() function to expand the '%'.
3796
3797 *:echoh* *:echohl*
3798:echoh[l] {name} Use the highlight group {name} for the following
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003799 `:echo`, `:echon` and `:echomsg` commands. Also used
3800 for the `input()` prompt. Example: >
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003801 :echohl WarningMsg | echo "Don't panic!" | echohl None
3802< Don't forget to set the group back to "None",
3803 otherwise all following echo's will be highlighted.
3804
3805 *:echom* *:echomsg*
3806:echom[sg] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as a true message, saving the
3807 message in the |message-history|.
3808 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003809 `:echo` command. But unprintable characters are
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003810 displayed, not interpreted.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003811 The parsing works slightly different from `:echo`,
3812 more like `:execute`. All the expressions are first
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00003813 evaluated and concatenated before echoing anything.
Bram Moolenaar461a7fc2018-12-22 13:28:07 +01003814 If expressions does not evaluate to a Number or
3815 String, string() is used to turn it into a string.
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003816 Uses the highlighting set by the `:echohl` command.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003817 Example: >
3818 :echomsg "It's a Zizzer Zazzer Zuzz, as you can plainly see."
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00003819< See |:echo-redraw| to avoid the message disappearing
3820 when the screen is redrawn.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003821 *:echoe* *:echoerr*
3822:echoe[rr] {expr1} .. Echo the expression(s) as an error message, saving the
3823 message in the |message-history|. When used in a
3824 script or function the line number will be added.
3825 Spaces are placed between the arguments as with the
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003826 `:echomsg` command. When used inside a try conditional,
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003827 the message is raised as an error exception instead
3828 (see |try-echoerr|).
3829 Example: >
3830 :echoerr "This script just failed!"
Bram Moolenaar1588bc82022-03-08 21:35:07 +00003831< If you just want a highlighted message use `:echohl`.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003832 And to get a beep: >
3833 :exe "normal \<Esc>"
Bram Moolenaar4c868302021-03-22 16:19:45 +01003834
3835:echoc[onsole] {expr1} .. *:echoc* *:echoconsole*
3836 Intended for testing: works like `:echomsg` but when
3837 running in the GUI and started from a terminal write
3838 the text to stdout.
3839
Bram Moolenaar09c6f262019-11-17 15:55:14 +01003840 *:eval*
3841:eval {expr} Evaluate {expr} and discard the result. Example: >
3842 :eval Getlist()->Filter()->append('$')
3843
3844< The expression is supposed to have a side effect,
3845 since the resulting value is not used. In the example
3846 the `append()` call appends the List with text to the
3847 buffer. This is similar to `:call` but works with any
3848 expression.
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00003849 In |Vim9| script an expression without an effect will
3850 result in error *E1207* . This should help noticing
3851 mistakes.
Bram Moolenaar09c6f262019-11-17 15:55:14 +01003852
3853 The command can be shortened to `:ev` or `:eva`, but
3854 these are hard to recognize and therefore not to be
3855 used.
3856
Bram Moolenaarbc93ceb2020-02-26 13:36:21 +01003857 The command cannot be followed by "|" and another
3858 command, since "|" is seen as part of the expression.
3859
Bram Moolenaar09c6f262019-11-17 15:55:14 +01003860
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003861 *:exe* *:execute*
3862:exe[cute] {expr1} .. Executes the string that results from the evaluation
Bram Moolenaar00a927d2010-05-14 23:24:24 +02003863 of {expr1} as an Ex command.
3864 Multiple arguments are concatenated, with a space in
Bram Moolenaar7e6a5152021-01-02 16:39:53 +01003865 between. To avoid the extra space use the ".."
Bram Moolenaar00a927d2010-05-14 23:24:24 +02003866 operator to concatenate strings into one argument.
3867 {expr1} is used as the processed command, command line
3868 editing keys are not recognized.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003869 Cannot be followed by a comment.
3870 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaar00a927d2010-05-14 23:24:24 +02003871 :execute "buffer" nextbuf
Bram Moolenaarc8cdf0f2021-03-13 13:28:13 +01003872 :execute "normal" count .. "w"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003873<
3874 ":execute" can be used to append a command to commands
3875 that don't accept a '|'. Example: >
3876 :execute '!ls' | echo "theend"
3877
3878< ":execute" is also a nice way to avoid having to type
3879 control characters in a Vim script for a ":normal"
3880 command: >
3881 :execute "normal ixxx\<Esc>"
3882< This has an <Esc> character, see |expr-string|.
3883
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003884 Be careful to correctly escape special characters in
3885 file names. The |fnameescape()| function can be used
Bram Moolenaar05bb9532008-07-04 09:44:11 +00003886 for Vim commands, |shellescape()| for |:!| commands.
3887 Examples: >
Bram Moolenaarc8cdf0f2021-03-13 13:28:13 +01003888 :execute "e " .. fnameescape(filename)
3889 :execute "!ls " .. shellescape(filename, 1)
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003890<
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003891 Note: The executed string may be any command-line, but
Bram Moolenaar76f3b1a2014-03-27 22:30:07 +01003892 starting or ending "if", "while" and "for" does not
3893 always work, because when commands are skipped the
3894 ":execute" is not evaluated and Vim loses track of
3895 where blocks start and end. Also "break" and
3896 "continue" should not be inside ":execute".
3897 This example does not work, because the ":execute" is
3898 not evaluated and Vim does not see the "while", and
3899 gives an error for finding an ":endwhile": >
3900 :if 0
3901 : execute 'while i > 5'
3902 : echo "test"
3903 : endwhile
3904 :endif
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003905<
3906 It is allowed to have a "while" or "if" command
3907 completely in the executed string: >
3908 :execute 'while i < 5 | echo i | let i = i + 1 | endwhile'
3909<
3910
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01003911 *:exe-comment*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003912 ":execute", ":echo" and ":echon" cannot be followed by
3913 a comment directly, because they see the '"' as the
3914 start of a string. But, you can use '|' followed by a
3915 comment. Example: >
3916 :echo "foo" | "this is a comment
3917
3918==============================================================================
39198. Exception handling *exception-handling*
3920
3921The Vim script language comprises an exception handling feature. This section
3922explains how it can be used in a Vim script.
3923
3924Exceptions may be raised by Vim on an error or on interrupt, see
3925|catch-errors| and |catch-interrupt|. You can also explicitly throw an
3926exception by using the ":throw" command, see |throw-catch|.
3927
3928
3929TRY CONDITIONALS *try-conditionals*
3930
3931Exceptions can be caught or can cause cleanup code to be executed. You can
3932use a try conditional to specify catch clauses (that catch exceptions) and/or
3933a finally clause (to be executed for cleanup).
3934 A try conditional begins with a |:try| command and ends at the matching
3935|:endtry| command. In between, you can use a |:catch| command to start
3936a catch clause, or a |:finally| command to start a finally clause. There may
3937be none or multiple catch clauses, but there is at most one finally clause,
3938which must not be followed by any catch clauses. The lines before the catch
3939clauses and the finally clause is called a try block. >
3940
3941 :try
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003942 : ...
3943 : ... TRY BLOCK
3944 : ...
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003945 :catch /{pattern}/
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003946 : ...
3947 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
3948 : ...
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003949 :catch /{pattern}/
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003950 : ...
3951 : ... CATCH CLAUSE
3952 : ...
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003953 :finally
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00003954 : ...
3955 : ... FINALLY CLAUSE
3956 : ...
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003957 :endtry
3958
3959The try conditional allows to watch code for exceptions and to take the
3960appropriate actions. Exceptions from the try block may be caught. Exceptions
3961from the try block and also the catch clauses may cause cleanup actions.
3962 When no exception is thrown during execution of the try block, the control
3963is transferred to the finally clause, if present. After its execution, the
3964script continues with the line following the ":endtry".
3965 When an exception occurs during execution of the try block, the remaining
3966lines in the try block are skipped. The exception is matched against the
3967patterns specified as arguments to the ":catch" commands. The catch clause
3968after the first matching ":catch" is taken, other catch clauses are not
3969executed. The catch clause ends when the next ":catch", ":finally", or
3970":endtry" command is reached - whatever is first. Then, the finally clause
3971(if present) is executed. When the ":endtry" is reached, the script execution
3972continues in the following line as usual.
3973 When an exception that does not match any of the patterns specified by the
3974":catch" commands is thrown in the try block, the exception is not caught by
3975that try conditional and none of the catch clauses is executed. Only the
3976finally clause, if present, is taken. The exception pends during execution of
3977the finally clause. It is resumed at the ":endtry", so that commands after
3978the ":endtry" are not executed and the exception might be caught elsewhere,
3979see |try-nesting|.
3980 When during execution of a catch clause another exception is thrown, the
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02003981remaining lines in that catch clause are not executed. The new exception is
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003982not matched against the patterns in any of the ":catch" commands of the same
3983try conditional and none of its catch clauses is taken. If there is, however,
3984a finally clause, it is executed, and the exception pends during its
3985execution. The commands following the ":endtry" are not executed. The new
3986exception might, however, be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
3987 When during execution of the finally clause (if present) an exception is
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02003988thrown, the remaining lines in the finally clause are skipped. If the finally
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00003989clause has been taken because of an exception from the try block or one of the
3990catch clauses, the original (pending) exception is discarded. The commands
3991following the ":endtry" are not executed, and the exception from the finally
3992clause is propagated and can be caught elsewhere, see |try-nesting|.
3993
3994The finally clause is also executed, when a ":break" or ":continue" for
3995a ":while" loop enclosing the complete try conditional is executed from the
3996try block or a catch clause. Or when a ":return" or ":finish" is executed
3997from the try block or a catch clause of a try conditional in a function or
3998sourced script, respectively. The ":break", ":continue", ":return", or
3999":finish" pends during execution of the finally clause and is resumed when the
4000":endtry" is reached. It is, however, discarded when an exception is thrown
4001from the finally clause.
4002 When a ":break" or ":continue" for a ":while" loop enclosing the complete
4003try conditional or when a ":return" or ":finish" is encountered in the finally
4004clause, the rest of the finally clause is skipped, and the ":break",
4005":continue", ":return" or ":finish" is executed as usual. If the finally
4006clause has been taken because of an exception or an earlier ":break",
4007":continue", ":return", or ":finish" from the try block or a catch clause,
4008this pending exception or command is discarded.
4009
4010For examples see |throw-catch| and |try-finally|.
4011
4012
4013NESTING OF TRY CONDITIONALS *try-nesting*
4014
4015Try conditionals can be nested arbitrarily. That is, a complete try
4016conditional can be put into the try block, a catch clause, or the finally
4017clause of another try conditional. If the inner try conditional does not
4018catch an exception thrown in its try block or throws a new exception from one
4019of its catch clauses or its finally clause, the outer try conditional is
4020checked according to the rules above. If the inner try conditional is in the
4021try block of the outer try conditional, its catch clauses are checked, but
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004022otherwise only the finally clause is executed. It does not matter for
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004023nesting, whether the inner try conditional is directly contained in the outer
4024one, or whether the outer one sources a script or calls a function containing
4025the inner try conditional.
4026
4027When none of the active try conditionals catches an exception, just their
4028finally clauses are executed. Thereafter, the script processing terminates.
4029An error message is displayed in case of an uncaught exception explicitly
4030thrown by a ":throw" command. For uncaught error and interrupt exceptions
4031implicitly raised by Vim, the error message(s) or interrupt message are shown
4032as usual.
4033
4034For examples see |throw-catch|.
4035
4036
4037EXAMINING EXCEPTION HANDLING CODE *except-examine*
4038
4039Exception handling code can get tricky. If you are in doubt what happens, set
4040'verbose' to 13 or use the ":13verbose" command modifier when sourcing your
4041script file. Then you see when an exception is thrown, discarded, caught, or
4042finished. When using a verbosity level of at least 14, things pending in
4043a finally clause are also shown. This information is also given in debug mode
4044(see |debug-scripts|).
4045
4046
4047THROWING AND CATCHING EXCEPTIONS *throw-catch*
4048
4049You can throw any number or string as an exception. Use the |:throw| command
4050and pass the value to be thrown as argument: >
4051 :throw 4711
4052 :throw "string"
4053< *throw-expression*
4054You can also specify an expression argument. The expression is then evaluated
4055first, and the result is thrown: >
4056 :throw 4705 + strlen("string")
4057 :throw strpart("strings", 0, 6)
4058
4059An exception might be thrown during evaluation of the argument of the ":throw"
4060command. Unless it is caught there, the expression evaluation is abandoned.
4061The ":throw" command then does not throw a new exception.
4062 Example: >
4063
4064 :function! Foo(arg)
4065 : try
4066 : throw a:arg
4067 : catch /foo/
4068 : endtry
4069 : return 1
4070 :endfunction
4071 :
4072 :function! Bar()
4073 : echo "in Bar"
4074 : return 4710
4075 :endfunction
4076 :
4077 :throw Foo("arrgh") + Bar()
4078
4079This throws "arrgh", and "in Bar" is not displayed since Bar() is not
4080executed. >
4081 :throw Foo("foo") + Bar()
4082however displays "in Bar" and throws 4711.
4083
4084Any other command that takes an expression as argument might also be
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004085abandoned by an (uncaught) exception during the expression evaluation. The
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004086exception is then propagated to the caller of the command.
4087 Example: >
4088
4089 :if Foo("arrgh")
4090 : echo "then"
4091 :else
4092 : echo "else"
4093 :endif
4094
4095Here neither of "then" or "else" is displayed.
4096
4097 *catch-order*
4098Exceptions can be caught by a try conditional with one or more |:catch|
4099commands, see |try-conditionals|. The values to be caught by each ":catch"
4100command can be specified as a pattern argument. The subsequent catch clause
4101gets executed when a matching exception is caught.
4102 Example: >
4103
4104 :function! Foo(value)
4105 : try
4106 : throw a:value
4107 : catch /^\d\+$/
4108 : echo "Number thrown"
4109 : catch /.*/
4110 : echo "String thrown"
4111 : endtry
4112 :endfunction
4113 :
4114 :call Foo(0x1267)
4115 :call Foo('string')
4116
4117The first call to Foo() displays "Number thrown", the second "String thrown".
4118An exception is matched against the ":catch" commands in the order they are
4119specified. Only the first match counts. So you should place the more
4120specific ":catch" first. The following order does not make sense: >
4121
4122 : catch /.*/
4123 : echo "String thrown"
4124 : catch /^\d\+$/
4125 : echo "Number thrown"
4126
4127The first ":catch" here matches always, so that the second catch clause is
4128never taken.
4129
4130 *throw-variables*
4131If you catch an exception by a general pattern, you may access the exact value
4132in the variable |v:exception|: >
4133
4134 : catch /^\d\+$/
4135 : echo "Number thrown. Value is" v:exception
4136
4137You may also be interested where an exception was thrown. This is stored in
4138|v:throwpoint|. Note that "v:exception" and "v:throwpoint" are valid for the
4139exception most recently caught as long it is not finished.
4140 Example: >
4141
4142 :function! Caught()
4143 : if v:exception != ""
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004144 : echo 'Caught "' . v:exception .. '" in ' .. v:throwpoint
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004145 : else
4146 : echo 'Nothing caught'
4147 : endif
4148 :endfunction
4149 :
4150 :function! Foo()
4151 : try
4152 : try
4153 : try
4154 : throw 4711
4155 : finally
4156 : call Caught()
4157 : endtry
4158 : catch /.*/
4159 : call Caught()
4160 : throw "oops"
4161 : endtry
4162 : catch /.*/
4163 : call Caught()
4164 : finally
4165 : call Caught()
4166 : endtry
4167 :endfunction
4168 :
4169 :call Foo()
4170
4171This displays >
4172
4173 Nothing caught
4174 Caught "4711" in function Foo, line 4
4175 Caught "oops" in function Foo, line 10
4176 Nothing caught
4177
4178A practical example: The following command ":LineNumber" displays the line
4179number in the script or function where it has been used: >
4180
4181 :function! LineNumber()
4182 : return substitute(v:throwpoint, '.*\D\(\d\+\).*', '\1', "")
4183 :endfunction
4184 :command! LineNumber try | throw "" | catch | echo LineNumber() | endtry
4185<
4186 *try-nested*
4187An exception that is not caught by a try conditional can be caught by
4188a surrounding try conditional: >
4189
4190 :try
4191 : try
4192 : throw "foo"
4193 : catch /foobar/
4194 : echo "foobar"
4195 : finally
4196 : echo "inner finally"
4197 : endtry
4198 :catch /foo/
4199 : echo "foo"
4200 :endtry
4201
4202The inner try conditional does not catch the exception, just its finally
4203clause is executed. The exception is then caught by the outer try
4204conditional. The example displays "inner finally" and then "foo".
4205
4206 *throw-from-catch*
4207You can catch an exception and throw a new one to be caught elsewhere from the
4208catch clause: >
4209
4210 :function! Foo()
4211 : throw "foo"
4212 :endfunction
4213 :
4214 :function! Bar()
4215 : try
4216 : call Foo()
4217 : catch /foo/
4218 : echo "Caught foo, throw bar"
4219 : throw "bar"
4220 : endtry
4221 :endfunction
4222 :
4223 :try
4224 : call Bar()
4225 :catch /.*/
4226 : echo "Caught" v:exception
4227 :endtry
4228
4229This displays "Caught foo, throw bar" and then "Caught bar".
4230
4231 *rethrow*
4232There is no real rethrow in the Vim script language, but you may throw
4233"v:exception" instead: >
4234
4235 :function! Bar()
4236 : try
4237 : call Foo()
4238 : catch /.*/
4239 : echo "Rethrow" v:exception
4240 : throw v:exception
4241 : endtry
4242 :endfunction
4243< *try-echoerr*
4244Note that this method cannot be used to "rethrow" Vim error or interrupt
4245exceptions, because it is not possible to fake Vim internal exceptions.
4246Trying so causes an error exception. You should throw your own exception
4247denoting the situation. If you want to cause a Vim error exception containing
4248the original error exception value, you can use the |:echoerr| command: >
4249
4250 :try
4251 : try
4252 : asdf
4253 : catch /.*/
4254 : echoerr v:exception
4255 : endtry
4256 :catch /.*/
4257 : echo v:exception
4258 :endtry
4259
4260This code displays
4261
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00004262 Vim(echoerr):Vim:E492: Not an editor command: asdf ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004263
4264
4265CLEANUP CODE *try-finally*
4266
4267Scripts often change global settings and restore them at their end. If the
4268user however interrupts the script by pressing CTRL-C, the settings remain in
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004269an inconsistent state. The same may happen to you in the development phase of
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004270a script when an error occurs or you explicitly throw an exception without
4271catching it. You can solve these problems by using a try conditional with
4272a finally clause for restoring the settings. Its execution is guaranteed on
4273normal control flow, on error, on an explicit ":throw", and on interrupt.
4274(Note that errors and interrupts from inside the try conditional are converted
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004275to exceptions. When not caught, they terminate the script after the finally
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004276clause has been executed.)
4277Example: >
4278
4279 :try
4280 : let s:saved_ts = &ts
4281 : set ts=17
4282 :
4283 : " Do the hard work here.
4284 :
4285 :finally
4286 : let &ts = s:saved_ts
4287 : unlet s:saved_ts
4288 :endtry
4289
4290This method should be used locally whenever a function or part of a script
4291changes global settings which need to be restored on failure or normal exit of
4292that function or script part.
4293
4294 *break-finally*
4295Cleanup code works also when the try block or a catch clause is left by
4296a ":continue", ":break", ":return", or ":finish".
4297 Example: >
4298
4299 :let first = 1
4300 :while 1
4301 : try
4302 : if first
4303 : echo "first"
4304 : let first = 0
4305 : continue
4306 : else
4307 : throw "second"
4308 : endif
4309 : catch /.*/
4310 : echo v:exception
4311 : break
4312 : finally
4313 : echo "cleanup"
4314 : endtry
4315 : echo "still in while"
4316 :endwhile
4317 :echo "end"
4318
4319This displays "first", "cleanup", "second", "cleanup", and "end". >
4320
4321 :function! Foo()
4322 : try
4323 : return 4711
4324 : finally
4325 : echo "cleanup\n"
4326 : endtry
4327 : echo "Foo still active"
4328 :endfunction
4329 :
4330 :echo Foo() "returned by Foo"
4331
4332This displays "cleanup" and "4711 returned by Foo". You don't need to add an
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004333extra ":return" in the finally clause. (Above all, this would override the
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004334return value.)
4335
4336 *except-from-finally*
4337Using either of ":continue", ":break", ":return", ":finish", or ":throw" in
4338a finally clause is possible, but not recommended since it abandons the
4339cleanup actions for the try conditional. But, of course, interrupt and error
4340exceptions might get raised from a finally clause.
4341 Example where an error in the finally clause stops an interrupt from
4342working correctly: >
4343
4344 :try
4345 : try
4346 : echo "Press CTRL-C for interrupt"
4347 : while 1
4348 : endwhile
4349 : finally
4350 : unlet novar
4351 : endtry
4352 :catch /novar/
4353 :endtry
4354 :echo "Script still running"
4355 :sleep 1
4356
4357If you need to put commands that could fail into a finally clause, you should
4358think about catching or ignoring the errors in these commands, see
4359|catch-errors| and |ignore-errors|.
4360
4361
4362CATCHING ERRORS *catch-errors*
4363
4364If you want to catch specific errors, you just have to put the code to be
4365watched in a try block and add a catch clause for the error message. The
4366presence of the try conditional causes all errors to be converted to an
4367exception. No message is displayed and |v:errmsg| is not set then. To find
4368the right pattern for the ":catch" command, you have to know how the format of
4369the error exception is.
4370 Error exceptions have the following format: >
4371
4372 Vim({cmdname}):{errmsg}
4373or >
4374 Vim:{errmsg}
4375
4376{cmdname} is the name of the command that failed; the second form is used when
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004377the command name is not known. {errmsg} is the error message usually produced
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004378when the error occurs outside try conditionals. It always begins with
4379a capital "E", followed by a two or three-digit error number, a colon, and
4380a space.
4381
4382Examples:
4383
4384The command >
4385 :unlet novar
4386normally produces the error message >
4387 E108: No such variable: "novar"
4388which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
4389 Vim(unlet):E108: No such variable: "novar"
4390
4391The command >
4392 :dwim
4393normally produces the error message >
4394 E492: Not an editor command: dwim
4395which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
4396 Vim:E492: Not an editor command: dwim
4397
4398You can catch all ":unlet" errors by a >
4399 :catch /^Vim(unlet):/
4400or all errors for misspelled command names by a >
4401 :catch /^Vim:E492:/
4402
4403Some error messages may be produced by different commands: >
4404 :function nofunc
4405and >
4406 :delfunction nofunc
4407both produce the error message >
4408 E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
4409which is converted inside try conditionals to an exception >
4410 Vim(function):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
4411or >
4412 Vim(delfunction):E128: Function name must start with a capital: nofunc
4413respectively. You can catch the error by its number independently on the
4414command that caused it if you use the following pattern: >
4415 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E128:/
4416
4417Some commands like >
4418 :let x = novar
4419produce multiple error messages, here: >
4420 E121: Undefined variable: novar
4421 E15: Invalid expression: novar
4422Only the first is used for the exception value, since it is the most specific
4423one (see |except-several-errors|). So you can catch it by >
4424 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E121:/
4425
4426You can catch all errors related to the name "nofunc" by >
4427 :catch /\<nofunc\>/
4428
4429You can catch all Vim errors in the ":write" and ":read" commands by >
4430 :catch /^Vim(\(write\|read\)):E\d\+:/
4431
4432You can catch all Vim errors by the pattern >
4433 :catch /^Vim\((\a\+)\)\=:E\d\+:/
4434<
4435 *catch-text*
4436NOTE: You should never catch the error message text itself: >
4437 :catch /No such variable/
Bram Moolenaar2b8388b2015-02-28 13:11:45 +01004438only works in the English locale, but not when the user has selected
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004439a different language by the |:language| command. It is however helpful to
4440cite the message text in a comment: >
4441 :catch /^Vim(\a\+):E108:/ " No such variable
4442
4443
4444IGNORING ERRORS *ignore-errors*
4445
4446You can ignore errors in a specific Vim command by catching them locally: >
4447
4448 :try
4449 : write
4450 :catch
4451 :endtry
4452
4453But you are strongly recommended NOT to use this simple form, since it could
4454catch more than you want. With the ":write" command, some autocommands could
4455be executed and cause errors not related to writing, for instance: >
4456
4457 :au BufWritePre * unlet novar
4458
4459There could even be such errors you are not responsible for as a script
4460writer: a user of your script might have defined such autocommands. You would
4461then hide the error from the user.
4462 It is much better to use >
4463
4464 :try
4465 : write
4466 :catch /^Vim(write):/
4467 :endtry
4468
4469which only catches real write errors. So catch only what you'd like to ignore
4470intentionally.
4471
4472For a single command that does not cause execution of autocommands, you could
4473even suppress the conversion of errors to exceptions by the ":silent!"
4474command: >
4475 :silent! nunmap k
4476This works also when a try conditional is active.
4477
4478
4479CATCHING INTERRUPTS *catch-interrupt*
4480
4481When there are active try conditionals, an interrupt (CTRL-C) is converted to
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004482the exception "Vim:Interrupt". You can catch it like every exception. The
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004483script is not terminated, then.
4484 Example: >
4485
4486 :function! TASK1()
4487 : sleep 10
4488 :endfunction
4489
4490 :function! TASK2()
4491 : sleep 20
4492 :endfunction
4493
4494 :while 1
4495 : let command = input("Type a command: ")
4496 : try
4497 : if command == ""
4498 : continue
4499 : elseif command == "END"
4500 : break
4501 : elseif command == "TASK1"
4502 : call TASK1()
4503 : elseif command == "TASK2"
4504 : call TASK2()
4505 : else
4506 : echo "\nIllegal command:" command
4507 : continue
4508 : endif
4509 : catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
4510 : echo "\nCommand interrupted"
4511 : " Caught the interrupt. Continue with next prompt.
4512 : endtry
4513 :endwhile
4514
4515You can interrupt a task here by pressing CTRL-C; the script then asks for
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004516a new command. If you press CTRL-C at the prompt, the script is terminated.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004517
4518For testing what happens when CTRL-C would be pressed on a specific line in
4519your script, use the debug mode and execute the |>quit| or |>interrupt|
4520command on that line. See |debug-scripts|.
4521
4522
4523CATCHING ALL *catch-all*
4524
4525The commands >
4526
4527 :catch /.*/
4528 :catch //
4529 :catch
4530
4531catch everything, error exceptions, interrupt exceptions and exceptions
4532explicitly thrown by the |:throw| command. This is useful at the top level of
4533a script in order to catch unexpected things.
4534 Example: >
4535
4536 :try
4537 :
4538 : " do the hard work here
4539 :
4540 :catch /MyException/
4541 :
4542 : " handle known problem
4543 :
4544 :catch /^Vim:Interrupt$/
4545 : echo "Script interrupted"
4546 :catch /.*/
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004547 : echo "Internal error (" .. v:exception .. ")"
4548 : echo " - occurred at " .. v:throwpoint
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004549 :endtry
4550 :" end of script
4551
4552Note: Catching all might catch more things than you want. Thus, you are
4553strongly encouraged to catch only for problems that you can really handle by
4554specifying a pattern argument to the ":catch".
4555 Example: Catching all could make it nearly impossible to interrupt a script
4556by pressing CTRL-C: >
4557
4558 :while 1
4559 : try
4560 : sleep 1
4561 : catch
4562 : endtry
4563 :endwhile
4564
4565
4566EXCEPTIONS AND AUTOCOMMANDS *except-autocmd*
4567
4568Exceptions may be used during execution of autocommands. Example: >
4569
4570 :autocmd User x try
4571 :autocmd User x throw "Oops!"
4572 :autocmd User x catch
4573 :autocmd User x echo v:exception
4574 :autocmd User x endtry
4575 :autocmd User x throw "Arrgh!"
4576 :autocmd User x echo "Should not be displayed"
4577 :
4578 :try
4579 : doautocmd User x
4580 :catch
4581 : echo v:exception
4582 :endtry
4583
4584This displays "Oops!" and "Arrgh!".
4585
4586 *except-autocmd-Pre*
4587For some commands, autocommands get executed before the main action of the
4588command takes place. If an exception is thrown and not caught in the sequence
4589of autocommands, the sequence and the command that caused its execution are
4590abandoned and the exception is propagated to the caller of the command.
4591 Example: >
4592
4593 :autocmd BufWritePre * throw "FAIL"
4594 :autocmd BufWritePre * echo "Should not be displayed"
4595 :
4596 :try
4597 : write
4598 :catch
4599 : echo "Caught:" v:exception "from" v:throwpoint
4600 :endtry
4601
4602Here, the ":write" command does not write the file currently being edited (as
4603you can see by checking 'modified'), since the exception from the BufWritePre
4604autocommand abandons the ":write". The exception is then caught and the
4605script displays: >
4606
4607 Caught: FAIL from BufWrite Auto commands for "*"
4608<
4609 *except-autocmd-Post*
4610For some commands, autocommands get executed after the main action of the
4611command has taken place. If this main action fails and the command is inside
4612an active try conditional, the autocommands are skipped and an error exception
4613is thrown that can be caught by the caller of the command.
4614 Example: >
4615
4616 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "File successfully written!"
4617 :
4618 :try
4619 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
4620 :catch
4621 : echo v:exception
4622 :endtry
4623
4624This just displays: >
4625
4626 Vim(write):E212: Can't open file for writing (/i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e)
4627
4628If you really need to execute the autocommands even when the main action
4629fails, trigger the event from the catch clause.
4630 Example: >
4631
4632 :autocmd BufWritePre * set noreadonly
4633 :autocmd BufWritePost * set readonly
4634 :
4635 :try
4636 : write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
4637 :catch
4638 : doautocmd BufWritePost /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
4639 :endtry
4640<
4641You can also use ":silent!": >
4642
4643 :let x = "ok"
4644 :let v:errmsg = ""
4645 :autocmd BufWritePost * if v:errmsg != ""
4646 :autocmd BufWritePost * let x = "after fail"
4647 :autocmd BufWritePost * endif
4648 :try
4649 : silent! write /i/m/p/o/s/s/i/b/l/e
4650 :catch
4651 :endtry
4652 :echo x
4653
4654This displays "after fail".
4655
4656If the main action of the command does not fail, exceptions from the
4657autocommands will be catchable by the caller of the command: >
4658
4659 :autocmd BufWritePost * throw ":-("
4660 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo "Should not be displayed"
4661 :
4662 :try
4663 : write
4664 :catch
4665 : echo v:exception
4666 :endtry
4667<
4668 *except-autocmd-Cmd*
4669For some commands, the normal action can be replaced by a sequence of
4670autocommands. Exceptions from that sequence will be catchable by the caller
4671of the command.
4672 Example: For the ":write" command, the caller cannot know whether the file
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004673had actually been written when the exception occurred. You need to tell it in
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004674some way. >
4675
4676 :if !exists("cnt")
4677 : let cnt = 0
4678 :
4679 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if &modified
4680 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * let cnt = cnt + 1
4681 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 2
4682 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
4683 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
4684 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * write | set nomodified
4685 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * if cnt % 3 == 0
4686 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * throw "BufWriteCmdError"
4687 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
4688 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * echo "File successfully written!"
4689 : autocmd BufWriteCmd * endif
4690 :endif
4691 :
4692 :try
4693 : write
4694 :catch /^BufWriteCmdError$/
4695 : if &modified
4696 : echo "Error on writing (file contents not changed)"
4697 : else
4698 : echo "Error after writing"
4699 : endif
4700 :catch /^Vim(write):/
4701 : echo "Error on writing"
4702 :endtry
4703
4704When this script is sourced several times after making changes, it displays
4705first >
4706 File successfully written!
4707then >
4708 Error on writing (file contents not changed)
4709then >
4710 Error after writing
4711etc.
4712
4713 *except-autocmd-ill*
4714You cannot spread a try conditional over autocommands for different events.
4715The following code is ill-formed: >
4716
4717 :autocmd BufWritePre * try
4718 :
4719 :autocmd BufWritePost * catch
4720 :autocmd BufWritePost * echo v:exception
4721 :autocmd BufWritePost * endtry
4722 :
4723 :write
4724
4725
4726EXCEPTION HIERARCHIES AND PARAMETERIZED EXCEPTIONS *except-hier-param*
4727
4728Some programming languages allow to use hierarchies of exception classes or to
4729pass additional information with the object of an exception class. You can do
4730similar things in Vim.
4731 In order to throw an exception from a hierarchy, just throw the complete
4732class name with the components separated by a colon, for instance throw the
4733string "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW" for an overflow in a mathematical library.
4734 When you want to pass additional information with your exception class, add
4735it in parentheses, for instance throw the string "EXCEPT:IO:WRITEERR(myfile)"
4736for an error when writing "myfile".
4737 With the appropriate patterns in the ":catch" command, you can catch for
4738base classes or derived classes of your hierarchy. Additional information in
4739parentheses can be cut out from |v:exception| with the ":substitute" command.
4740 Example: >
4741
4742 :function! CheckRange(a, func)
4743 : if a:a < 0
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004744 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE(" .. a:func .. ")"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004745 : endif
4746 :endfunction
4747 :
4748 :function! Add(a, b)
4749 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Add")
4750 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Add")
4751 : let c = a:a + a:b
4752 : if c < 0
4753 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:OVERFLOW"
4754 : endif
4755 : return c
4756 :endfunction
4757 :
4758 :function! Div(a, b)
4759 : call CheckRange(a:a, "Div")
4760 : call CheckRange(a:b, "Div")
4761 : if (a:b == 0)
4762 : throw "EXCEPT:MATHERR:ZERODIV"
4763 : endif
4764 : return a:a / a:b
4765 :endfunction
4766 :
4767 :function! Write(file)
4768 : try
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00004769 : execute "write" fnameescape(a:file)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004770 : catch /^Vim(write):/
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004771 : throw "EXCEPT:IO(" .. getcwd() .. ", " .. a:file .. "):WRITEERR"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004772 : endtry
4773 :endfunction
4774 :
4775 :try
4776 :
Bram Moolenaar75ab5902022-04-18 15:36:40 +01004777 : " something with arithmetic and I/O
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004778 :
4779 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR:RANGE/
4780 : let function = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(\a\+\)).*', '\1', "")
4781 : echo "Range error in" function
4782 :
4783 :catch /^EXCEPT:MATHERR/ " catches OVERFLOW and ZERODIV
4784 : echo "Math error"
4785 :
4786 :catch /^EXCEPT:IO/
4787 : let dir = substitute(v:exception, '.*(\(.\+\),\s*.\+).*', '\1', "")
4788 : let file = substitute(v:exception, '.*(.\+,\s*\(.\+\)).*', '\1', "")
4789 : if file !~ '^/'
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004790 : let file = dir .. "/" .. file
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004791 : endif
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004792 : echo 'I/O error for "' .. file .. '"'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004793 :
4794 :catch /^EXCEPT/
4795 : echo "Unspecified error"
4796 :
4797 :endtry
4798
4799The exceptions raised by Vim itself (on error or when pressing CTRL-C) use
4800a flat hierarchy: they are all in the "Vim" class. You cannot throw yourself
4801exceptions with the "Vim" prefix; they are reserved for Vim.
4802 Vim error exceptions are parameterized with the name of the command that
4803failed, if known. See |catch-errors|.
4804
4805
4806PECULIARITIES
4807 *except-compat*
4808The exception handling concept requires that the command sequence causing the
4809exception is aborted immediately and control is transferred to finally clauses
4810and/or a catch clause.
4811
4812In the Vim script language there are cases where scripts and functions
4813continue after an error: in functions without the "abort" flag or in a command
4814after ":silent!", control flow goes to the following line, and outside
4815functions, control flow goes to the line following the outermost ":endwhile"
4816or ":endif". On the other hand, errors should be catchable as exceptions
4817(thus, requiring the immediate abortion).
4818
4819This problem has been solved by converting errors to exceptions and using
4820immediate abortion (if not suppressed by ":silent!") only when a try
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004821conditional is active. This is no restriction since an (error) exception can
4822be caught only from an active try conditional. If you want an immediate
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004823termination without catching the error, just use a try conditional without
4824catch clause. (You can cause cleanup code being executed before termination
4825by specifying a finally clause.)
4826
4827When no try conditional is active, the usual abortion and continuation
4828behavior is used instead of immediate abortion. This ensures compatibility of
4829scripts written for Vim 6.1 and earlier.
4830
4831However, when sourcing an existing script that does not use exception handling
4832commands (or when calling one of its functions) from inside an active try
4833conditional of a new script, you might change the control flow of the existing
4834script on error. You get the immediate abortion on error and can catch the
4835error in the new script. If however the sourced script suppresses error
4836messages by using the ":silent!" command (checking for errors by testing
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02004837|v:errmsg| if appropriate), its execution path is not changed. The error is
4838not converted to an exception. (See |:silent|.) So the only remaining cause
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004839where this happens is for scripts that don't care about errors and produce
4840error messages. You probably won't want to use such code from your new
4841scripts.
4842
4843 *except-syntax-err*
4844Syntax errors in the exception handling commands are never caught by any of
4845the ":catch" commands of the try conditional they belong to. Its finally
4846clauses, however, is executed.
4847 Example: >
4848
4849 :try
4850 : try
4851 : throw 4711
4852 : catch /\(/
4853 : echo "in catch with syntax error"
4854 : catch
4855 : echo "inner catch-all"
4856 : finally
4857 : echo "inner finally"
4858 : endtry
4859 :catch
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004860 : echo 'outer catch-all caught "' .. v:exception .. '"'
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004861 : finally
4862 : echo "outer finally"
4863 :endtry
4864
4865This displays: >
4866 inner finally
4867 outer catch-all caught "Vim(catch):E54: Unmatched \("
4868 outer finally
4869The original exception is discarded and an error exception is raised, instead.
4870
4871 *except-single-line*
4872The ":try", ":catch", ":finally", and ":endtry" commands can be put on
4873a single line, but then syntax errors may make it difficult to recognize the
4874"catch" line, thus you better avoid this.
4875 Example: >
4876 :try | unlet! foo # | catch | endtry
4877raises an error exception for the trailing characters after the ":unlet!"
4878argument, but does not see the ":catch" and ":endtry" commands, so that the
4879error exception is discarded and the "E488: Trailing characters" message gets
4880displayed.
4881
4882 *except-several-errors*
4883When several errors appear in a single command, the first error message is
Bram Moolenaar53f7fcc2021-07-28 20:10:16 +02004884usually the most specific one and therefore converted to the error exception.
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004885 Example: >
4886 echo novar
4887causes >
4888 E121: Undefined variable: novar
4889 E15: Invalid expression: novar
4890The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
4891 Vim(echo):E121: Undefined variable: novar
4892< *except-syntax-error*
4893But when a syntax error is detected after a normal error in the same command,
4894the syntax error is used for the exception being thrown.
4895 Example: >
4896 unlet novar #
4897causes >
4898 E108: No such variable: "novar"
4899 E488: Trailing characters
4900The value of the error exception inside try conditionals is: >
4901 Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters
4902This is done because the syntax error might change the execution path in a way
4903not intended by the user. Example: >
4904 try
4905 try | unlet novar # | catch | echo v:exception | endtry
4906 catch /.*/
4907 echo "outer catch:" v:exception
4908 endtry
4909This displays "outer catch: Vim(unlet):E488: Trailing characters", and then
4910a "E600: Missing :endtry" error message is given, see |except-single-line|.
4911
4912==============================================================================
49139. Examples *eval-examples*
4914
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004915Printing in Binary ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004916>
Bram Moolenaar8f3f58f2010-01-06 20:52:26 +01004917 :" The function Nr2Bin() returns the binary string representation of a number.
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004918 :func Nr2Bin(nr)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004919 : let n = a:nr
4920 : let r = ""
4921 : while n
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004922 : let r = '01'[n % 2] .. r
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004923 : let n = n / 2
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004924 : endwhile
4925 : return r
4926 :endfunc
4927
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004928 :" The function String2Bin() converts each character in a string to a
4929 :" binary string, separated with dashes.
4930 :func String2Bin(str)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004931 : let out = ''
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004932 : for ix in range(strlen(a:str))
Bram Moolenaarc51cf032022-02-26 12:25:45 +00004933 : let out = out .. '-' .. Nr2Bin(char2nr(a:str[ix]))
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004934 : endfor
4935 : return out[1:]
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004936 :endfunc
4937
4938Example of its use: >
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004939 :echo Nr2Bin(32)
4940result: "100000" >
4941 :echo String2Bin("32")
4942result: "110011-110010"
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004943
4944
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004945Sorting lines ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004946
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004947This example sorts lines with a specific compare function. >
4948
4949 :func SortBuffer()
4950 : let lines = getline(1, '$')
4951 : call sort(lines, function("Strcmp"))
4952 : call setline(1, lines)
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004953 :endfunction
4954
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004955As a one-liner: >
4956 :call setline(1, sort(getline(1, '$'), function("Strcmp")))
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004957
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004958
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004959scanf() replacement ~
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00004960 *sscanf*
4961There is no sscanf() function in Vim. If you need to extract parts from a
4962line, you can use matchstr() and substitute() to do it. This example shows
4963how to get the file name, line number and column number out of a line like
4964"foobar.txt, 123, 45". >
4965 :" Set up the match bit
4966 :let mx='\(\f\+\),\s*\(\d\+\),\s*\(\d\+\)'
4967 :"get the part matching the whole expression
4968 :let l = matchstr(line, mx)
4969 :"get each item out of the match
4970 :let file = substitute(l, mx, '\1', '')
4971 :let lnum = substitute(l, mx, '\2', '')
4972 :let col = substitute(l, mx, '\3', '')
4973
4974The input is in the variable "line", the results in the variables "file",
4975"lnum" and "col". (idea from Michael Geddes)
4976
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004977
4978getting the scriptnames in a Dictionary ~
4979 *scriptnames-dictionary*
4980The |:scriptnames| command can be used to get a list of all script files that
4981have been sourced. There is no equivalent function or variable for this
4982(because it's rarely needed). In case you need to manipulate the list this
4983code can be used: >
4984 " Get the output of ":scriptnames" in the scriptnames_output variable.
4985 let scriptnames_output = ''
4986 redir => scriptnames_output
4987 silent scriptnames
4988 redir END
Bram Moolenaarb0d45e72017-11-05 18:19:24 +01004989
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00004990 " Split the output into lines and parse each line. Add an entry to the
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004991 " "scripts" dictionary.
4992 let scripts = {}
4993 for line in split(scriptnames_output, "\n")
4994 " Only do non-blank lines.
4995 if line =~ '\S'
4996 " Get the first number in the line.
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00004997 let nr = matchstr(line, '\d\+')
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00004998 " Get the file name, remove the script number " 123: ".
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00004999 let name = substitute(line, '.\+:\s*', '', '')
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00005000 " Add an item to the Dictionary
Bram Moolenaar446cb832008-06-24 21:56:24 +00005001 let scripts[nr] = name
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00005002 endif
5003 endfor
5004 unlet scriptnames_output
5005
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005006==============================================================================
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +0200500710. Vim script versions *vimscript-version* *vimscript-versions*
Bram Moolenaar911ead12019-04-21 00:03:35 +02005008 *scriptversion*
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02005009Over time many features have been added to Vim script. This includes Ex
5010commands, functions, variable types, etc. Each individual feature can be
5011checked with the |has()| and |exists()| functions.
5012
5013Sometimes old syntax of functionality gets in the way of making Vim better.
5014When support is taken away this will break older Vim scripts. To make this
5015explicit the |:scriptversion| command can be used. When a Vim script is not
5016compatible with older versions of Vim this will give an explicit error,
Bram Moolenaar3ff5f0f2019-06-10 13:11:22 +02005017instead of failing in mysterious ways.
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02005018
Bram Moolenaara2baa732022-02-04 16:09:54 +00005019When using a legacy function, defined with `:function`, in |Vim9| script then
5020scriptversion 4 is used.
5021
Bram Moolenaar3ff5f0f2019-06-10 13:11:22 +02005022 *scriptversion-1* >
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02005023 :scriptversion 1
5024< This is the original Vim script, same as not using a |:scriptversion|
5025 command. Can be used to go back to old syntax for a range of lines.
5026 Test for support with: >
5027 has('vimscript-1')
5028
Bram Moolenaar3ff5f0f2019-06-10 13:11:22 +02005029< *scriptversion-2* >
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02005030 :scriptversion 2
Bram Moolenaar68e65602019-05-26 21:33:31 +02005031< String concatenation with "." is not supported, use ".." instead.
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02005032 This avoids the ambiguity using "." for Dict member access and
5033 floating point numbers. Now ".5" means the number 0.5.
Bram Moolenaar3ff5f0f2019-06-10 13:11:22 +02005034
5035 *scriptversion-3* >
Bram Moolenaar911ead12019-04-21 00:03:35 +02005036 :scriptversion 3
5037< All |vim-variable|s must be prefixed by "v:". E.g. "version" doesn't
5038 work as |v:version| anymore, it can be used as a normal variable.
5039 Same for some obvious names as "count" and others.
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02005040
Bram Moolenaar911ead12019-04-21 00:03:35 +02005041 Test for support with: >
5042 has('vimscript-3')
Bram Moolenaar60a8de22019-09-15 14:33:22 +02005043<
5044 *scriptversion-4* >
5045 :scriptversion 4
Bram Moolenaarc17e66c2020-06-02 21:38:22 +02005046< Numbers with a leading zero are not recognized as octal. "0o" or "0O"
5047 is still recognized as octal. With the
Bram Moolenaar60a8de22019-09-15 14:33:22 +02005048 previous version you get: >
Bram Moolenaarc17e66c2020-06-02 21:38:22 +02005049 echo 017 " displays 15 (octal)
5050 echo 0o17 " displays 15 (octal)
5051 echo 018 " displays 18 (decimal)
Bram Moolenaar60a8de22019-09-15 14:33:22 +02005052< with script version 4: >
Bram Moolenaarc17e66c2020-06-02 21:38:22 +02005053 echo 017 " displays 17 (decimal)
5054 echo 0o17 " displays 15 (octal)
5055 echo 018 " displays 18 (decimal)
Bram Moolenaar60a8de22019-09-15 14:33:22 +02005056< Also, it is possible to use single quotes inside numbers to make them
5057 easier to read: >
5058 echo 1'000'000
5059< The quotes must be surrounded by digits.
5060
5061 Test for support with: >
5062 has('vimscript-4')
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +02005063
5064==============================================================================
506511. No +eval feature *no-eval-feature*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005066
5067When the |+eval| feature was disabled at compile time, none of the expression
5068evaluation commands are available. To prevent this from causing Vim scripts
5069to generate all kinds of errors, the ":if" and ":endif" commands are still
5070recognized, though the argument of the ":if" and everything between the ":if"
5071and the matching ":endif" is ignored. Nesting of ":if" blocks is allowed, but
5072only if the commands are at the start of the line. The ":else" command is not
5073recognized.
5074
5075Example of how to avoid executing commands when the |+eval| feature is
5076missing: >
5077
5078 :if 1
5079 : echo "Expression evaluation is compiled in"
5080 :else
5081 : echo "You will _never_ see this message"
5082 :endif
5083
Bram Moolenaar773a97c2019-06-06 20:39:55 +02005084To execute a command only when the |+eval| feature is disabled can be done in
5085two ways. The simplest is to exit the script (or Vim) prematurely: >
5086 if 1
5087 echo "commands executed with +eval"
5088 finish
5089 endif
5090 args " command executed without +eval
5091
5092If you do not want to abort loading the script you can use a trick, as this
5093example shows: >
Bram Moolenaar45d2cca2017-04-30 16:36:05 +02005094
5095 silent! while 0
5096 set history=111
5097 silent! endwhile
5098
5099When the |+eval| feature is available the command is skipped because of the
5100"while 0". Without the |+eval| feature the "while 0" is an error, which is
5101silently ignored, and the command is executed.
Bram Moolenaarcd5c8f82017-04-09 20:11:58 +02005102
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005103==============================================================================
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +0000510412. The sandbox *eval-sandbox* *sandbox*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005105
Bram Moolenaar368373e2010-07-19 20:46:22 +02005106The 'foldexpr', 'formatexpr', 'includeexpr', 'indentexpr', 'statusline' and
5107'foldtext' options may be evaluated in a sandbox. This means that you are
5108protected from these expressions having nasty side effects. This gives some
5109safety for when these options are set from a modeline. It is also used when
5110the command from a tags file is executed and for CTRL-R = in the command line.
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00005111The sandbox is also used for the |:sandbox| command.
Bram Moolenaar2f0936c2022-01-08 21:51:59 +00005112 *E48*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005113These items are not allowed in the sandbox:
5114 - changing the buffer text
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +02005115 - defining or changing mapping, autocommands, user commands
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005116 - setting certain options (see |option-summary|)
Bram Moolenaaref2f6562007-05-06 13:32:59 +00005117 - setting certain v: variables (see |v:var|) *E794*
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005118 - executing a shell command
5119 - reading or writing a file
5120 - jumping to another buffer or editing a file
Bram Moolenaar4770d092006-01-12 23:22:24 +00005121 - executing Python, Perl, etc. commands
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00005122This is not guaranteed 100% secure, but it should block most attacks.
5123
5124 *:san* *:sandbox*
Bram Moolenaar045e82d2005-07-08 22:25:33 +00005125:san[dbox] {cmd} Execute {cmd} in the sandbox. Useful to evaluate an
Bram Moolenaar7b0294c2004-10-11 10:16:09 +00005126 option that may have been set from a modeline, e.g.
5127 'foldexpr'.
5128
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00005129 *sandbox-option*
5130A few options contain an expression. When this expression is evaluated it may
Bram Moolenaar9b2200a2006-03-20 21:55:45 +00005131have to be done in the sandbox to avoid a security risk. But the sandbox is
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00005132restrictive, thus this only happens when the option was set from an insecure
5133location. Insecure in this context are:
Bram Moolenaar551dbcc2006-04-25 22:13:59 +00005134- sourcing a .vimrc or .exrc in the current directory
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00005135- while executing in the sandbox
5136- value coming from a modeline
Bram Moolenaarb477af22018-07-15 20:20:18 +02005137- executing a function that was defined in the sandbox
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00005138
5139Note that when in the sandbox and saving an option value and restoring it, the
5140option will still be marked as it was set in the sandbox.
5141
5142==============================================================================
Bram Moolenaar558ca4a2019-04-04 18:15:38 +0200514313. Textlock *textlock*
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00005144
5145In a few situations it is not allowed to change the text in the buffer, jump
5146to another window and some other things that might confuse or break what Vim
5147is currently doing. This mostly applies to things that happen when Vim is
Bram Moolenaar58b85342016-08-14 19:54:54 +02005148actually doing something else. For example, evaluating the 'balloonexpr' may
Bram Moolenaarb71eaae2006-01-20 23:10:18 +00005149happen any moment the mouse cursor is resting at some position.
5150
5151This is not allowed when the textlock is active:
5152 - changing the buffer text
5153 - jumping to another buffer or window
5154 - editing another file
5155 - closing a window or quitting Vim
5156 - etc.
5157
Bram Moolenaar071d4272004-06-13 20:20:40 +00005158
Bram Moolenaar91f84f62018-07-29 15:07:52 +02005159 vim:tw=78:ts=8:noet:ft=help:norl: