Want to See Hidden Special Characters in Vim? Try These 3 Quick Ways Now

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Akshat

Last updated: July 24, 2024

Expert verified

Dealing with bugs or misaligned code can be frustrating, especially when hidden characters are the problem. Fortunately, Vim has ways to show these hidden characters, making your editing process easier. In this post, I will show you how to display these characters, customize their appearance, and fix common issues. You’ll learn how to use commands like :set list, :highlight, and :set listchars to see hidden characters and manage them effectively, improving your coding efficiency and overall workflow in Vim.

What are Hidden Special Characters?

Hidden special characters are characters in a text file that you usually don’t see. These characters include:

1. Whitespace: Spaces between words or sentences.
2. Tabs: Indentation used to format code or text.
3. Newline: Marks the end of a line and the start of a new one.

Problems Caused by Hidden Characters

Hidden special characters can cause several issues:

• Difficulty in Debugging: If you can’t see these characters, finding the root cause of a problem becomes harder.
• Inconsistent Formatting: Different text editors or IDEs might display or handle tabs and spaces differently, leading to misaligned code.
• Unexpected Behavior: Hidden characters can introduce unexpected bugs, especially in programming. For example, a hidden space at the end of a line can cause a syntax error.

How to Show Hidden Special Characters in Vim

Let’s explore each of these methods here:

1. Use the list Command

To use the list command in Vim, you simply need to enter the command :set list in command mode. This command enables the display of special characters, such as tabs, spaces, and line endings, by replacing them with visible symbols. Here’s how to use it:

1. Execute the vim command to launch the Vim editor in the Terminal window.

2. Type :e filename to open the file you want to edit.

3. Type :set list to enable the display of hidden special characters.

4. Once you execute this command, you’ll see the hidden special characters displayed in the Vim editor.

5. To hide these special characters in the Vim editor, type :set nolist and press Enter.

2. Use the highlight Command

To customize the color of special characters in Vim, use the :highlight command after enabling special character display with :set list. Follow the steps below to use this command in the Vim editor:

1. Launch the Vim editor in the Terminal app using the vim command.

2. Type :e filename and press Enter to open the file.

3. Execute the command :set list in Vim’s command mode to enable the display of hidden special characters.

4. Enter the command :highlight SpecialKey ctermfg=darkgray to set the color of hidden special characters to dark gray. However, the output of the colors may vary depending on the color schemes set in your Linux system.

3. Use the set listchars Command

To customize special character display in Vim, use the set listchars command after enabling special character display with :set list. The command allows you to define the characters to display and their corresponding symbols, making it useful for editing files with complex whitespace and formatting issues.

1. Run the vim command to launch the Vim editor in the Linux command prompt.

2. Use :e filename to open the file in the Vim editor.

3. Enable the hidden special characters view in the Vim editor with the :set list command.

4. Type :set listchars=tab:\|-,trail:~,extends:>,precedes:<,nbsp:+,space:· to customize the list of hidden special characters to display.

5. Press Enter to see the hidden special characters displayed on the Vim editor interface.

4 Tips for Displaying Hidden Special Characters in Vim

Displaying hidden special characters in Vim is quite useful for identifying formatting issues and improving editing workflow. Here are some best practices to help you do so more effectively:

1. Consistent Display of Special Characters

By adding the command :set list listchars=tab:\|-,trail:~,extends:>,precedes:<,nbsp:+ to your .viminfo file, you can make sure that the hidden special characters are always displayed in Vim.

It sets the list of hidden special characters to display and their corresponding symbols, making it easier to identify and correct issues with whitespace and formatting in your files. In this way, you can avoid potentially costly mistakes and save time when editing files in the Vim editor.

2. Use Colors to Highlight Special Characters

Customizing the color of hidden special characters using the highlight command can significantly improve code readability in Vim. To do so, add the command :highlight SpecialKey ctermfg=darkgray to your .viminfo file. This will set the color of special characters to dark gray in Vim’s terminal mode, which makes it easier to distinguish special characters from the regular text when editing your files.

3. Customize Listchars for Maximum Readability

Customizing listchars in Vim can significantly improve code readability by making hidden special characters more visible. Add :set listchars=tab:\|-,trail:~,extends:>,precedes:<,nbsp:+,space:· line to your .viminfo file to customize the list of hidden special characters and their corresponding symbols.

For example, you can replace tabs with | characters and spaces with · characters. This makes them more visible and easier to identify. Improving the visibility of special characters can help you avoid errors and improve your overall productivity when working with files in Vim.

4. Understand the Context of Special Characters

While displaying special characters can be useful, it’s also essential to understand the context in which they appear. Suppose you are working on a programming project with a colleague, and you are collaborating on a script that contains the following line of code:

if [ $status -eq 0 ]

If you have enabled the hidden special character view in your Vim editor, you’ll see the following output:

You notice that the spaces between square brackets and the variable $status may appear as accidental whitespace when special characters are enabled in Vim. However, removing these spaces can cause the script to malfunction. The spaces are necessary for proper interpretation of the condition in the script.

Common Issues When Displaying Hidden Characters

When you display hidden characters in Vim, you might run into a few common problems. These issues can affect how you work with your text and code. Let’s look at some of the typical challenges:

• 🔍 Visual Distraction: Constantly seeing hidden characters might distract you. Instead of focusing on writing or editing, you might find yourself paying too much attention to the extra symbols, which can interrupt your workflow.
• 🖥️ Cluttered Screen: Displaying all hidden characters can make your screen look very busy. The extra symbols might overwhelm you and make it harder to focus on the actual content of your text or code.
• ⚙️ Performance Slowdown: Enabling the display of hidden characters can sometimes slow down Vim, especially when working with very large files. This slowdown happens because Vim needs to process and render extra symbols.

To Sum Up

To show hidden special characters in Vim, you can use commands like :set list, :highlight, and :set listchars. These methods help make hidden characters visible, customize their appearance, and troubleshoot any display issues. Additionally, I’ve shared tips for consistent display, using colors, and customizing settings for better readability and avoiding errors.

If you’re interested in expanding your Vim skills further, I recommend checking out these topics:

• Understanding the process to quit and save in Linux Vim will ensure you can manage your files effectively, preventing data loss and ensuring your changes are saved correctly.
• Discovering how to show line numbers in Vim will help you navigate your files more easily and improve your editing precision.
• Learning various methods to select all text in Vi/Vim will enhance your editing efficiency, allowing you to manipulate entire files quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions