Vimscript

Vimscript is the built-in scripting language for Vim, the modal text editor. It is used to configure, automate, and extend Vim's behavior by adding functions, autocommands, key mappings, and plugins. Vimscript code can live in the user’s vimrc file, in separate script files, or inside plugin packages, and is executed by the editor at startup or when invoked.

Core features include variables, functions, conditionals, loops, and data structures such as lists and dictionaries. The language emphasizes close interaction with the editor, offering a broad set of built-in functions for reading and setting buffer contents, options, highlights, and UI elements. Developers typically organize code with script-local scope, autoloaded functions, and plugin directories loaded via the runtimepath.

Plugins and configurations are often distributed as Vimscript files. Common constructs include defining functions, creating user commands with :command, and wiring events with autocmd groups. The language supports lists and dictionaries to represent structured data and provides a flexible way to organize code across multiple files via the autoload mechanism and the runtimepath.

Vim9 Script is a newer variant introduced to improve performance and readability, with a different syntax and typing model. Both traditional Vimscript and Vim9 Script are supported by modern Vim builds; plugins may choose one syntax. Neovim also ships with Vimscript support for compatibility, although Lua is increasingly used for new configurations.

Due to its long history, Vimscript remains widely used in existing plugins and configurations, even as users migrate to Lua or other tooling. It remains core to the editor’s extensibility and is documented in Vim's help system.