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Beginner
10 min
Visual Block Magic
Visual Mode: The Art of Selection
Task Instructions
Use visual block mode to efficiently refactor multiple variable names at once
Use visual block mode to select text across multiple lines in a column. Position your cursor at the start of the text you want to select, press Ctrl+v to enter visual block mode, then use j/k to move down/up and h/l to extend the selection. Press c to change the selected block.
Learning objectives
- Master visual block mode (Ctrl+v)
- Understand multi-line column selections
- Practice extending selections in block mode
- Learn to change multiple lines simultaneously
Required keystrokes
Your submission is checked for these keystrokes, not just the final text — so reach for the technique, not a workaround.
- <C-v> Use visual block mode
- c Change the selected block
Helpful commands
- Ctrl+v
- Start visual block mode
- j/k
- Move down/up in block mode
- h/l
- Extend selection left/right
- I
- Insert at beginning of block
- A
- Append at end of block
- c
- Change selected block
Stuck? Peek at a hint 3 hints · try it on your own first
- Position cursor at start of 'mr_whiskers_database', press Ctrl+v
- Move down 4 lines with 4j, extend right to select the text
- Press c to change the selected block
# Multi-line Variable Refactoring Challenge
# These variables are aligned but need better names...
mr_whiskers_database_host = 'localhost'
mr_whiskers_database_port = 5432
mr_whiskers_database_name = 'production'
mr_whiskers_database_user = 'admin'
mr_whiskers_database_password = 'secret123'
princess_fluffybutt_api_url = 'https://api.example.com'
princess_fluffybutt_api_key = 'abc123xyz'
princess_fluffybutt_api_timeout = 30
# TASK: Use visual block mode to select 'mr_whiskers_database' from all 5 lines
# and replace it with 'db' to make: db_host, db_port, db_name, db_user, db_password
# HINT: Ctrl+v starts visual block mode, then move down with j and select with motion keys