Vim knows about text objects. A text object is a
part of text, such as word, sentence, block (block of text between
brackets), or paragraph. You define them by pressing
w, s, b, or
p. Vim knows about one text object related
specifically to markup languages - a tag. A tag corresponds to a pair
HTML/XML element.
Vim distinguishes between the inner part of a tag, and the whole tag including the surrounding markup. Vim can also select a text enclosed in quotes, or jump the cursor between left or right sharp brackets. Get inspired by the following few useful examples:
| command | how to remember | description |
|---|---|---|
| it | inner tag | text placed inside XML element |
| at | all tag | same as it + the pair of surrounding tags |
| 2it | 2 x inner tag | select the inner text of the parent element (including the current tag) |
| 2at | 2 x all tag | select the whole parent element (including the current and the parent tags) |
| f> | find > | selects the text to the end of the closing tag, including '>' |
| t< | find to > | selects the text to the end of the closing tag, without '<' |
| F< | find < backward | selects the text from the beginning of the tag, including '<' |
| T< | find to < backward | selects the text from the beginning of the tag, without '<' |
| a" | a string | selects the text including the surrounding quotes, such as XML attribute |
| i" | a string | selects the text without the surrounding quotes, such as text of an XML attribute |
