The Problem with Select Mode

Oct 13, 2025 by leolavanderia.com.br 97 views

Introduction

As a Neovim user, you're likely familiar with the various key bindings and modes that come with the editor. However, sometimes these default settings can lead to unexpected behavior, especially when working with complex codebases. In this article, we'll explore the potential drawbacks of remapping gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing, with a focus on avoiding select mode.

The Problem with Select Mode

Select mode is a feature in Neovim that allows you to visually select text in the buffer. While it can be useful in certain situations, it can also lead to unexpected behavior, especially when working with code. When you accidentally enter select mode, you may find yourself in a situation where you've inadvertently selected text, only to have Neovim replace it with something else.

The Accidental `gh`

As you mentioned, accidentally typing gh and pressing some characters can lead to unexpected behavior. When you type gh, Neovim enters select mode, and if you press some characters, it may replace the character under your cursor with the new characters. This can lead to a mess in your code, especially if you're working on a complex project.

Remapping `gh`, `gH`, and `g<C-h>`

To avoid select mode and the potential drawbacks that come with it, you can remap gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing. This will prevent Neovim from entering select mode when you type these key combinations.

Benefits of Remapping

Remapping gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing can have several benefits, including:

Reduced accidental select mode: By remapping these key combinations, you can avoid accidentally entering select mode, which can lead to unexpected behavior and code messes.
Improved productivity: With select mode out of the way, you can focus on writing code without worrying about accidentally selecting text.
Customization: Remapping gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing gives you the flexibility to customize your Neovim experience to your liking.

How to Remap `gh`, `gH`, and `g<C-h>`

To remap gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing, you can add the following lines to your Neovim configuration file (usually ~/.config/nvim/init.vim):

nnoremap <silent> gh <Nop>
nnoremap <silent> gH <Nop>
nnoremap <silent> g<C-h> <Nop>

What's `<Nop>`?

<Nop> is a special key in Vim that does nothing. When you use <Nop> in a mapping, it effectively cancels the mapping, so that the key combination does nothing.

Conclusion

In conclusion, remapping gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing can be a useful way to avoid select mode and the potential drawbacks that come with it. By customizing your Neovim experience, you can improve your productivity and reduce the risk of accidental select mode. Whether you're a seasoned Neovim user or just starting out, remapping these key combinations can be a valuable addition to your Neovim configuration.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you avoid select mode and improve your Neovim experience:

Use :set selectmode-=line: This command disables line select mode, which can help prevent accidental select mode.
Use :set selectmode-=block: This command disables block select mode, which can also help prevent accidental select mode.
Use :set selectmode-=char: This command disables character select mode, which can help prevent accidental select mode.
Use :set selectmode-=visual: This command disables visual select mode, which can help prevent accidental select mode.

Common Questions and Answers

Here are some common questions and answers to help you better understand remapping gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing:

Q: What happens if I remap gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing? A: Remapping these key combinations will prevent Neovim from entering select mode when you type them.
Q: Will remapping gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing affect my productivity? A: No, remapping these key combinations will actually improve your productivity by reducing the risk of accidental select mode.
Q: Can I remap gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do something else? A: Yes, you can remap these key combinations to do something else, such as a custom command or a plugin function.

Conclusion

Q: What is select mode in Neovim?

A: Select mode is a feature in Neovim that allows you to visually select text in the buffer. It can be useful in certain situations, but it can also lead to unexpected behavior, especially when working with code.

Q: Why do I want to remap `gh`, `gH`, and `g<C-h>` to do nothing?

A: You want to remap gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing to avoid accidentally entering select mode, which can lead to unexpected behavior and code messes. By remapping these key combinations, you can improve your productivity and reduce the risk of accidental select mode.

Q: How do I remap `gh`, `gH`, and `g<C-h>` to do nothing?

A: To remap gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing, you can add the following lines to your Neovim configuration file (usually ~/.config/nvim/init.vim):

nnoremap <silent> gh <Nop>
nnoremap <silent> gH <Nop>
nnoremap <silent> g<C-h> <Nop>

Q: What is `<Nop>`?

A: <Nop> is a special key in Vim that does nothing. When you use <Nop> in a mapping, it effectively cancels the mapping, so that the key combination does nothing.

Q: Will remapping `gh`, `gH`, and `g<C-h>` to do nothing affect my productivity?

A: No, remapping these key combinations will actually improve your productivity by reducing the risk of accidental select mode.

Q: Can I remap `gh`, `gH`, and `g<C-h>` to do something else?

A: Yes, you can remap these key combinations to do something else, such as a custom command or a plugin function.

Q: How do I know if I'm in select mode?

A: You can check if you're in select mode by looking at the status line in Neovim. If you see -- SELECT -- in the status line, you're in select mode.

Q: How do I exit select mode?

A: You can exit select mode by pressing the Esc key or by typing :noh (no highlight).

Q: Can I disable select mode altogether?

A: Yes, you can disable select mode altogether by adding the following line to your Neovim configuration file:

set selectmode-=line
set selectmode-=block
set selectmode-=char
set selectmode-=visual

Q: What are some other ways to avoid accidental select mode?

A: Some other ways to avoid accidental select mode include:

Using :set selectmode-=line to disable line select mode.
Using :set selectmode-=block to disable block select mode.
Using :set selectmode-=char to disable character select mode.
Using :set selectmode-=visual to disable visual select mode.

Q: Can I customize the behavior of select mode?

A: Yes, you can customize the behavior of select mode by adding custom mappings or functions to your Neovim configuration file.

Q: Where can I find more information about select mode and remapping `gh`, `gH`, and `g<C-h>` to do nothing?

A: You can find more information about select mode and remapping gh, gH, and g<C-h> to do nothing in the Neovim documentation and online resources.