Question

What does nore mean when mapping keys in vim? For example, what is the difference between these two mappings?

:map ddd ddjdd

and

:noremap ddd ddjdd

Answer 1

It means the mapping is no n – re cursive.

To illustrate,

:nmap x dd

say you map x in normal mode to dd (delete line), to save up some time in well, deleting lines. Everything works fine, until you need the x (delete character) in some other mapping to delete two characters,

:nmap c xx

because now the upper mapping is really

:nmap c dddd

i.e. will delete two lines.

So, to preserve the “original” mappings (vim keys), you do it the non-recursive way,

:nnoremap x dd
:nnoremap c xx

and everything works (the mappings do not … ah, you get the idea) …

It is generally a good practice to do all your mapping with “nore”, because you never know what plugins may be relying on what, and what vim behaviour you’re breaking with “ordinary” mappings.