Vim What?

Vim What? is the interactive Vim command reference that lives in your browser. Forget a key? Click the toolbar icon — the full keyboard is right there, color-coded and clickable, with rich descriptions, examples, and official docs links for every command.

COLOR-CODED KEY TYPES

Teal — Motion (moves the cursor: w, b, f, /)
Orange — Operator (acts on a motion: d, y, c, =)
Yellow — Command (direct action: i, o, p, u)
Gray — Extra (prefix or special: g, z, ", @)
Red text — Enters insert mode (i, a, o, s, c...)

FEATURES

Visual keyboard — every Vim command on a full keyboard. Click any key for a detailed description, usage examples, and a direct link to the official Vim docs.

Dual-layer keyboard — every key shows both the normal and shifted command stacked together. No toggle needed — the full picture is always visible.

9 progressive lessons — commands are introduced gradually across 9 named levels:
1 — Move & survive
2 — Insert & line basics
3 — Words & operators
4 — Find on line
5 — Yank & paste
6 — Search
7 — Visual mode
8 — Navigate the file
9 — Marks & macros
Current-level keys are outlined so you always know what to focus on. Keys from previous levels stay visible but slightly muted. Inactive keys fade into the background.

Prefix overlays — toggle g, z, or Ctrl mode to instantly see what every key does with that prefix, overlaid directly on the keyboard. Non-mapped keys hide their labels so only relevant commands show.

Plugin tips — key info includes annotations for popular plugins like vim-surround, vim-commentary, vim-unimpaired, CamelCaseMotion, vim-asterisk, and more.

Search — type any key or keyword to instantly highlight matching keys across the entire keyboard.

Key of the Day — a different letter key is featured each day with its full description. Great for building muscle memory over time.

Progress tracking — mark keys as learned. A green dot appears on each learned key and the Progress panel shows your completion by category.

Text Objects reference — a dedicated panel for i/a text object selectors (iw, a(, i", it...), color-coded and grouped by category.

Custom mappings — save your personal remaps and notes per key or sequence (e.g. leader+w, gd, Ctrl-p). They appear highlighted on the keyboard and in the info panel.

5 keyboard layouts — Qwerty, Colemak, Colemak-DH, Dvorak, Workman.

Keyboard navigation — press any key on your physical keyboard to select it on screen. Press Escape to clear the selection, or press Escape again to close the popup.

Whether you are just starting with Vim or filling in gaps in your knowledge, Vim What? keeps the full command set one click away — without leaving your browser.