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Vim

Search backward

?

Linux Desktop app Vim default commands

Practice this

Press the Question mark key to search backward in Vim.

Where it works: Normal mode

On a US English keyboard this character needs Shift and the slash key. The shortcut itself is unchanged.

Every documented variant

Variants of this shortcut
System	Environment	Keys
Linux	Desktop app	`?`
Mac	Desktop app	`?`

Where this comes from

Vim help: index.txt - vim/vim

Documentation checked on 2026-09-14. That is a documentation review, not a test run inside the application.

More Vim shortcuts

Repeat the search in the same direction N
Repeat the search in the other direction Shift + N
Search forward for the word under the cursor *
Search backward for the word under the cursor #
Start typing an Ex command :
Write changes and close the window Shift + Z then Shift + Z
Close the window without writing Shift + Z then Shift + Q
Go to an older jump position Ctrl + O

See every Vim shortcut

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