Saving and exiting files

[ntk148v]

---

title: Saving and exiting files
path: vim/saving-and-exiting-files.md

Source: https://docstore.mik.ua/orelly/unix3/vi/ch05_03.htm

• :w Writes (saves) the buffer to the file but does not exit. You can (and should) use :w throughout your editing session to protect your edits against system failure or a major editing error.

• :q Quits the editor (and returns to the UNIX prompt).

• :wq Both writes the file and quits the editor. The write happens unconditionally, even if the file was not changed.

• :x Both writes the file and quits (exits) the editor. The file is written only if it has been modified.

• What's the difference between :wq and :x? Modification time. If you :x a buffer that hasn’t changed, the modification time will be untouched because the file isn’t re-saved. The :wq command will alter the modification time no matter what.