Readline Cheat Sheet

Vi editing mode

For detailed information see the GNU Readline library manual or type man readline.
For detailed information about Readline in Bash type man bash and search for ^READLINE or Commands for moving.
 

Entering command mode

Ctrl-[ Esc	Start command mode.

Entering insert mode

i	Insert before the cursor.
a	Insert (append) after the cursor.
I	Insert at the beginning of the line.
A	Insert (append) at the end of the line.
r	Replace the character under the cursor.
R	Replace characters under the cursor.
v	Edit the command with $VISUAL, $EDITOR, or vi.

Deleting (command mode)

d<movement>	Delete from the current character to the end of the <movement>.
D d$	Delete to the end of the line.
dd 0d$	Delete the current line.

Moving (command mode)

0	Move to the start of the current line.
$	Move to the end of the line.
l Space	Move forward a character.
h	Move back a character.
e	Move forward to the end of the next word. Words are alphanumeric.
b	Move back to the start of the current or previous word. Words are alphanumeric.
%	Move cursor to a matching (,),[,],{, or }.

Cutting and pasting (command mode)

y<movement>	Copy (yank) from the current character to the end of the <movement>.
yy	Copy (yank) the current line.
p	Paste after the cursor.
P	Paste before the cursor.

Undo and Repeat (command mode)

u	Incrementally undo the last action.
U	Undo all actions.
.	Repeat the last action.

History (command mode)

k Ctrl-p -	Fetch the previous command from the history list.
j +	Fetch the next command from the history list.
G	Go to the most recent line in the history list.
15G	Go to line 15 in the history list.
Ctrl-r	Incremental search backward through history.
/	Search backward through history for a string.
?	Search forward through history for a string.
n	Repeat the search in the same direction.
N	Repeat the search in the opposite direction.

Marks (command mode)

m<letter>	Set a mark named <letter>
`<letter>	Jump to the mark named <letter>

Completing (insert mode)

Tab	Autocomplete.

Completing (command mode)

=	Autocomplete.
*	Insert all possible completions.

Miscellaneous (insert mode)

Ctrl-d	EOF or exit.
Ctrl-_	Undo the last action.
Ctrl-u	Discard the line
Ctrl-t	Transpose characters.

Miscellaneous (command mode)

Ctrl-l	Clear the screen.
#	Insert a comment at the beginning of the line, add the line to the history, then start a new line.
~	Change case.