Vim Text Object Selection: Words, Sentences, Paragraphs, and Blocks

to Visual charwise mode. *v_iw* *iw* iw "inner word", select [count] words (see |word|). White space between words is counted too. When used in Visual linewise mode "iw" switches to Visual charwise mode. *v_aW* *aW* aW "a WORD", select [count] WORDs (see |WORD|). Leading or trailing white space is included, but not counted. When used in Visual linewise mode "aW" switches to Visual charwise mode. *v_iW* *iW* iW "inner WORD", select [count] WORDs (see |WORD|). White space between words is counted too. When used in Visual linewise mode "iW" switches to Visual charwise mode. *v_as* *as* as "a sentence", select [count] sentences (see |sentence|). When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. *v_is* *is* is "inner sentence", select [count] sentences (see |sentence|). When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. *v_ap* *ap* ap "a paragraph", select [count] paragraphs (see |paragraph|). Exception: a blank line (only containing white space) is also a paragraph boundary. When used in Visual mode it is made linewise. *v_ip* *ip* ip "inner paragraph", select [count] paragraphs (see |paragraph|). Exception: a blank line (only containing white space) is also a paragraph boundary. When used in Visual mode it is made linewise. a] *v_a]* *v_a[* *a]* *a[* a[ "a [] block", select [count] '[' ']' blocks. This goes backwards to the [count] unclosed '[', and finds the matching ']'. The enclosed text is selected, including the '[' and ']'. The |cpo-M| option flag is used to handle escaped brackets. When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. i] *v_i]* *v_i[* *i]* *i[* i[ "inner [] block", select [count] '[' ']' blocks. This goes backwards to the [count] unclosed '[', and finds the matching ']'. The enclosed text is selected, excluding the '[' and ']'. It's an error to select an empty inner block like "[]". The |cpo-M| option flag is used to handle escaped brackets. When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. a) *v_a)* *a)* *a(* a( *vab* *v_ab* *v_a(* *ab* ab "a block", select [count] blocks, from "[count] [(" to the matching ')', including the '(' and ')' (see |[(|). Does not include white space outside of the parenthesis. The |cpo-M| option flag is used to handle escaped parenthesis. When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. i) *v_i)* *i)* *i(* i( *vib* *v_ib* *v_i(* *ib* ib "inner block", select [count] blocks, from "[count] [(" to the matching ')', excluding the '(' and ')' (see |[(|). If the cursor is not inside a () block, then find the next "(". It's an error to select an empty inner block like "()". The |cpo-M| option flag is used to handle escaped parenthesis. When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. a> *v_a>* *v_a<* *a>* *a<* a< "a <> block", select [count] <> blocks, from the [count]'th unmatched '<' backwards to the matching '>', including the '<' and '>'. The |cpo-M| option flag is used to handle escaped '<' and '>'. When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. i> *v_i>* *v_i<* *i>* *i<* i< "inner <> block", select [count] <> blocks, from the [count]'th unmatched '<' backwards to the matching '>', excluding the '<' and '>'. It's an error to select an empty inner block like "<>". The |cpo-M| option flag is used to handle escaped '<' and '>'. When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. *v_at* *at* at "a tag block", select [count] tag blocks, from the [count]'th unmatched "<aaa>" backwards to the matching "</aaa>", including the "<aaa>" and "</aaa>". See |tag-blocks| about the details. When used in Visual mode it is made charwise. *v_it* *it* it "inner tag block", select [count] tag blocks, from the [count]'th unmatched "<aaa>" backwards to the matching "</aaa>", excluding the "<aaa>"

This section details various Vim text object selection commands, focusing on 'inner' and 'outer' selections of words (iw, aW, iW), sentences (as, is), and paragraphs (ap, ip). It also describes commands for selecting blocks enclosed by [], (), <>, and tags (at, it), explaining how the 'a' commands include the surrounding characters while the 'i' commands select only the inner content. The section clarifies that these commands can be used in Visual mode and that the |cpo-M| option affects the handling of escaped characters within blocks.