---
date: 2021-03-14T14:12
tags:
  - vim
---

# command mode ranges based on patterns

In command mode you can specify a range of lines to operate on, based on patterns,
rather than absolute (or relative line numbers). This can be a great way
to isolate changes without looking up the individual line numbers.

```vim
:/start/,/end/cmd<CR>
```

On a Python file, this might look like:

```python
def main():
    foo = do_something()
    bar = do_something_else(foo)
    return bar
```

```vim
:/def main/,/return/s/foo/baz/g<CR>
```

results in:

```python
def main():
    baz = do_something()
    bar = do_something_else(baz)
    return bar
```