vimapi

VIMAPI, commonly referred to as the Vim API, denotes the set of interfaces that the Vim text editor exposes to support scripting, customization, and extension. It provides programmatic access to editor state and behavior, allowing scripts and plugins to automate tasks, integrate with other tools, and respond to user actions.

The API covers core editor concepts such as buffers, windows, tabs, options, registers, and maps, as well as higher-level features like autocommands, user commands, and syntax/highlight definitions. It is accessible primarily through Vimscript, Vim's built-in scripting language, but can also be used from external languages via language bindings, including Python, Ruby, Perl, and Tcl. Through these interfaces, external programs can create and manipulate Vim instances, or scripts can run within Vim to automate complex workflows.

Typical uses include creating custom plugins, defining new commands, automating editing tasks, and configuring dynamic behavior based on events. Plugins call API functions to read or modify text, navigate the document, supply UI elements, or respond to buffer changes. The API is documented in Vim's comprehensive help system, with topics covering functions, variables, autocommand events, and user interfaces.

In practice, VIMAPI underpins the extensibility of Vim and remains central to plugin development. Variants and derivatives such as Neovim offer related APIs with different interfaces and architectural choices, but the core goal remains the same: enabling programmable interaction with the editor.