relativenumber

Relativenumber is a display option for Vim and Neovim. When enabled, line numbers on the left edge are shown relative to the current cursor line. The line with the cursor shows its true number, while the other lines show the number of lines away from the cursor.

To see both absolute and relative numbers on all lines, users typically enable both number and relativenumber. Configuration: Add to vimrc: set number relativenumber. The short form set nu rnu is common. You can toggle dynamically with :set relativenumber! and the current state can be checked with :set relativenumber?. The option is window-local; you can enable it per window.

Usage tips: Relative numbers are handy for commands that rely on a line count, such as moving with 5j or 3k, since the displayed distances indicate how far you will move. They do not affect editing semantics. If you prefer absolute numbers only, disable relativenumber.

Compatibility: The option exists in Vim and Neovim and is widely supported across modern terminals. It is a purely display feature and does not alter how editing commands behave beyond changing how line numbers are shown.