Here every command works in command mode . And if you need to write something then you need to go to Insert mode . Pressing i will take you to the insert mode. 1. Let's say you want to search something. For example you want to find avi keyword. Then first you need to go to the command mode by typing Esc . Now type /avi (at the bottom) and hit enter. Press small n to forward this search pattern and press Shift N to go reverse. 2. Substitute something: :%s/old string/new string/g (g for affecting globally) 3. If you want to pick the 1st letter of word then press w and last letter of word then press e . 4. yy means copy a single line. 2yy means copy double lines. 5. Shift P is for paste. 6. Shift D to delete a line or cut a line. 7. Press o to go a new line. 8. Press Home to go to the 1st letter of a line and End to go to the last letter of a line. 9. If you want to save the file then press wq! . 10. If you mistakenly edit the file, now you want to quit the