Displaying line numbers under vi / vim can be very useful for debugging program errors and to improve overall readability of a program or scripts. Vim is very popular among software developers, system administrators and Linux/Unix/macOS users but lines are not displayed by default. In this tutorial, you will learn how to display or hide line numbers in Vim / Vi text editor running on Linux/Unix based systems.
Make the vi/vim text editor show or hide line numbers
Vim can display line numbers in the left margin:
- Press ESC key
- At the : prompt type the following command to run on line numbers: set number
- To turn off line numbering, type the following command at the : prompt set nonumber
Let us see all commands in detailed to display line number in vim.
Vi or Vim show line number command
To display line numbers along the left side of a window, type any one of the following command while using text editor. First press the Esc key. Press : and type any one of the following command at a : prompt:
set number
or
set nu
Sample outputs:
Want to display relative line numbers in vim or vi? Try:
:set relativenumber
OR
:set rnu
How to turn off line numbering in vim/vi
To turn off (or hide) line number again enter the same command at the : prompt:
set nu!
OR
set nonumber
To turn off relative line numbers, try:
:set norelativenumber
OR
:set nornu
How to enable line number setting permanently while using vim
If you need number every time you start vi/vim, append the following line to your
$ vi ~/.vimrc
Append the following line:
set number
Save and close the file in vim.
How to open a file at particular location/line number
Jump to particular line number from a shell prompt, enter:
$ vi +linenumber file.c
$ vi +300 initlib.c
Jump to particular line that contains main() function from a shell prompt, enter:
$ vi +/searchTermHere file.c
$ vi +/main initlib.c
### note shell escape done with \ ###
$ vi +/addUser\( initlib.c
$ vi +/addUser\(arg1\) initlib.c
Minimal number of columns to use for the vim line number
Set following option:
:set numberwidth=N
:set numberwidth=1
:set numberwidth=4
:set numberwidth=10
The minimum value of N is 1, the maximum value N is 10. See this page for more info.
How do I list of all current vim settings?
At the : prompt, enter:
set all
To see a list of everything that you have set so far in your vim config file or runtime, type the following command at the : prompt:
set
Conclusion
This page explained how to show or hide line numbers in vim / vi text editors using commands. For more info see the official vim website here and the following pages:
- Turn off color in Linux terminal/bash session
- Turn On or Off Color Syntax Highlighting In vi or vim Editor
Linux Find Out Name Of DVD / CD-ROM / Blu-ray Writer Device
How to reload .vimrc file without restarting vim on Linux/Unix
Fix: VIM Fix UP and Down Keys Inserting A B C D Character On Remote SSH Session on a Linux…
Linux Default Services Which Are Enabled at Boot
Linux Determine which Services are Enabled at Boot- Top 5 Linux Video Editor Software
How to display line number in vim
Inside vim editor in command mode you can go directly to specific line pressing line number (ex: 50) and shift g.
THat’s really kool
Can VI display 3 desire lines such as line x(10), line y(25) and line z(50) only?
Hi,
The “:set number or :set nu” is working great in VI.
Thank you!
Dean
Thanks you so much!
it works!
its working.
Thanks!
hilmy
Or colon, line number, and Enter (e.g. :50 [enter]). It does the same thing, but is my personal preference over the 50G option.
Does not work in gvim with vim6.3 in centOS.
Works with vi & vim in Centos 6.3
noarch:printing-4.0-amd64:printing-4.0-noarch
Distributor ID: CentOS
Description: CentOS release 6.3 (Final)
Release: 6.3
Codename: Final
I use Debian you need to create .vimrc in your home directory for that.
Also syntax on will help
thank uuuuuuuuuuuuu.hehe
Previous post not properly added
Hi,
vi “file name” +
vi + will open the file and cursor will be at specified line.
If the format is
vi “file name” :
vi : – How can I get the same behavior.
thnx
-Venu
exactly what i was looking for. thank you.
Thanks
this is great tutorial. I can see line number in my vim editor. thanks
its working .thx
thanks
You can also add:
set number
~/.vimrc
thank you for this info. My vim is look more beautiful :)
this is why I like vim
Thanks!
This works in Poderosa too. Anyone know how to just turn on a display at the bottom of the screen that shows which line you’re on, as an alternative to having all the rows numbered? Poderosa does this on my Dreamhost account but not on another site I use, don’t know why.
I have been to your site before and was back again searching for displaying the line numbers. Thank you for this quick bit of help.
it’s helpful for beginners,thx
Thanks
Thanks, Its working.
How can i get current cursor number in vi editor???
launch vi –> vi ENTER
type –> :set number ENTER
Now as you press down or up, you will see the number value change on the bottom right.
:set ruler
.vimrc not available at ~/
now where should I add “set number”
@newbee: Are you using a Debian-based system? If so, .vimrc is not included in your home dir. You can create the file by doing this at your command prompt:
You’ll then be inside the vi editor. Press “i” for insert mode and type “set number” into the first line of the editor.
Once you are done, press ESC, then type ZZ and press Enter. You’ll automatically write the file and exit to your command prompt. You’ll now see .vimrc in your home dir.
You should now be able to see line numbers when you vi a file.
Last edited by Admin; 24th Feb 2013 at 9:59 AM. Reason: Correction.
You solve my problem in shortest waythat possible.
thank you
tnks really useful ……….
Thanks for the tips, it works for me
Every time I enter to my vim file I have to put “:syntax on” to show the colors. Is there I way I can set it up as default like “set numers”, (in fact I’m still trying to undertand how to make it with the numbers). Thanks.
Edit ~/.vimrc file and append the following:
Save and close the file. It should now work.
Thank you!! I done it! When I put ./vimrc it show a message of permission denied so I try with sudo, but doesn’t work either. So I created new one: “vim ~/.vimrc” and I put the commands in the file!
And it works!
Thanks!!
Beautiful. I was missing that (just started using Vim :3). The lines and columns are displayed at the bottom right but this is much nice and similar to all decent code editors.
it’s working very nice. thanks
Thanks, it works.
I want to indent and set numbers for each and every program by default. Is there anyway to do this
You should take out the : in front of your command line it is a little confusing. Otherwise, excellent tutorial. God bless