How to do case insensitive search in Vim

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I'd like to search for an upper case word, for example COPYRIGHT in a file. I tried performing a search like:

/copyright/i    # Doesn't work

but it doesn't work. I know that in Perl, if I give the i flag into a regex it will turn the regex into a case-insensitive regex. It seems that Vim has its own way to indicate a case-insensitive regex.

16 Answers

You can use the \c escape sequence anywhere in the pattern. For example:

/\ccopyright or /copyright\c or even /copyri\cght

To do the inverse (case sensitive matching), use \C (capital C) instead.

As well as the suggestions for \c and ignorecase, I find the smartcase very useful. If you search for something containing uppercase characters, it will do a case sensitive search; if you search for something purely lowercase, it will do a case insensitive search. You can use \c and \C to override this:

:set ignorecase
:set smartcase
/copyright      " Case insensitive
/Copyright      " Case sensitive
/copyright\C    " Case sensitive
/Copyright\c    " Case insensitive

See:

:help /\c
:help /\C
:help 'smartcase'

You can set the ic option in Vim before the search:

:set ic

To go back to case-sensitive searches use:

:set noic

ic is shorthand for ignorecase

You can issue the command

:set ignorecase

and after that your searches will be case-insensitive.

To switch between case sensitive and insensitive search I use this mapping in my .vimrc

nmap <F9> :set ignorecase! ignorecase?

The good old vim[grep] command..

:vimgrep /example\c/ &
  • \c for case insensitive
  • \C for case sensitive
  • % is to search in the current buffer

enter image description here

By default, all searches in vi are case-sensitive. To do a case-insensitive search, go into command mode (press Escape), and type-
:set ignorecase
You can also type - :set ic as an abbreviation.

To change back to case-sensitive mode, type-
:set noignorecase or :set noic in command mode

Note it is a difference where you place modifiers such as "\c" in your expresion:

You can use the \c escape sequence anywhere in the pattern

Regardless from the accepted answers, which states that it is no difference of where to place modyfier in a regex pattern, its looks like it actually does matter.

example text:

asdasdasdasdasd wiktor asdasdasdasd   
adasdasdasd wiktor asdasda ahjkjlkhjkl
asdasd asd asdasdasdasd iuuuu -       
asdjkkkkkkkaopbsdasda                 
wiktor ----(---------------------)--  

Match

\c^.*A?.*$
^\c.*A?.*$
^.*\cA?.*$
^.*A\c?.*$

will output: enter image description here

No match

^.\c*A?.*$
^.*A?\c.*$
^.*A?.\c*$
^.*A?.*$\c

will output: enter image description here enter image description here

  • vim -version VIM - Vi IMproved 8.2 (2019 Dec 12, compiled Jun 1 2020 06:42:35) Included patches: 1-869

Some important information, if u want to find out more about the commands of vim, as mentioned below u can give a try the following steps :

  • invoke the command "help" follow by a space and then complete the word with TAB key, once u find the right command press return key.
:help ignorecase
  • information like the following will be displayed :

enter image description here

  • you will be able to move forward and backward and also watch the short command, such as the case of "ignorecase" ( 'ic' ). In addition, another short example could be the case of 'smartcase' ('scs' and some more) :

enter image description here

  • In order to leave of the documentation just type ":q" as usual and you will return to "command mode" .
:q

I really hope the information provided would be helpful for someone.

Best regards,

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