Danes-Vault/3-99 Research/VIM/Folding.md

date	tags
2025-03-21	Vim Learning

#Vim #Learning

What is code folding?

Code folding is when you can take several lines of code and collapse them. Folding is super useful for situations where code takes up space when you do not need to see it for your current editing. Common cases are things like function definitions, for loops, or large tables.

How does Vim handle folding?

Folding Modes

Vim has several folding modes:

1. manual - you pick where folds go
2. indent - fold by indented blocks
3. syntax - fold by semantic markers in code
4. expr - fold by user expression
5. marker - fold based on Markers that are placed by a user
6. diff - used to fold unchanged text when using Views

For the most part, I'm just going to use manual mode. I know enough of the motions that I can get around easier, and plus since I write in a variety of languages things like indent or syntax might not be sufficient or expressive enough.

Creating and Deleting Folds

To create a fold, use zf{motion}, where, you guessed it, you can use just about any of the Motions you like.

Folds can also be created using Visual mode. Select the text, then zf.

zd deletes folds

zD deletes folds recursively. So if you have folds within folds, it will delete those too. If used in visual mode, it will delete all the folds in the window.

zE will eliminate all folds in the current window.

Opening and Closing Folds

There are three main commands: za, zc, and zo. zc and zo close and open folds respectively, and have a recursive cousin using a capital letter instead of the lower case letter. za is different: it is a toggle between open and closed. Recursively, it may be less useful if there is a mixing of open and closed nested folds. zA will switch the the folded status of all of them based on the parent fold (I think.)