How can I show relative line numbers?

Question

A lot of vim commands can take a number referring to the number of lines that the command will act on.

Is it possible to show the line numbers relative to the current line? Something like the following:

3: some text here
2: more text
1: This is the line above where the cursor is
0: The cursor is on this line
1: This is the line after the cursor
2: More text here

score 133 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:51

133

I just replied to a similar question here: How can I add line numbers to Vim?

Beginning with version 7.3, you can use the following:

set relativenumber

I actually use both relativenumber and number in my vimrc which will use relative numbers for all lines except the current line.

set number                     " Show current line number
set relativenumber             " Show relative line numbers

edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:51

Community

1

answered Feb 03 '15 at 16:58

Collin Peters

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Not sure exactly but the first changelog its mentioned in is 7.3. ftp://ftp.vim.org/pub/vim/patches/7.3/README – Collin Peters Feb 03 '15 at 21:10
@aturegano your edits were quite substantial, and I felt they would be better as a new answer than as a part of this one. Others may disagree (your edit is still pending review), but please consider it! – D. Ben Knoble Feb 21 '20 at 15:42
3

you might enjoy the hybrid mode :set nu rnu – user1068352 Apr 14 '21 at 08:36
@user1068352 's comment could also be :set number relativenumber. It's useful those shorter versions of commands, but I like the full version to keep them in mind easier. – Enrique René Mar 26 '22 at 14:03

score 25 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 22 '15 at 22:25

25

You can toggle relative numbering on and off using:

:set rnu    " toggle relative numbering on
:set rnu!   " toggle relative numbering off

edited Sep 22 '15 at 22:25

statox

49,782
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answered Sep 22 '15 at 18:39

Matthew Rankin

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score 14 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 20 '17 at 16:51

14

If you want to use a hotkey for toggling relative line number, here is a snippet in my vimrc:

" Toggle relative line number
nmap <C-L><C-L> :set invrelativenumber<CR>

In this case, I use ctrl-L twice to toggle it.

answered Nov 20 '17 at 16:51

Sean Lee

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score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Feb 03 '15 at 16:56

5

function! NumberToggle()
  if(&relativenumber == 1)
    set norelativenumber
  else
    set relativenumber
  endif
endfunc

nnoremap <leader>nt :call NumberToggle()<cr>

answered Feb 03 '15 at 16:56

shawndumas

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Does the norelativenumber just turn off numbering altogether or does it switch to conventional numbering? – Nick J Adams Feb 03 '15 at 16:59
set number is the setting that controls the presences of numbers so it will only switch between rel and non-rel – shawndumas Feb 03 '15 at 17:05
2

The numbers.vim plugin also adds some more advanced relative number functionality, e.g. having the line your cursor occupies printing the non-relative number, and switching to non-relative numbering throughout the whole file when the vim window loses focus. – bronzehedwick Feb 03 '15 at 17:22
1

@shawndumas so is there a precedence of which numbers are shown? If for instance I had set number in my vimrc and set relativenumber / norelativenumber was called could it toggle between relative and standard numbering? – Nick J Adams Feb 03 '15 at 17:29
1

that is most correct – shawndumas Feb 03 '15 at 20:43
1

simply set rnu! toggles relative and absolute numbers too – Frido Emans Dec 23 '15 at 22:30
Is there any benefit to using solution this over the accepted/other answers? – Matt C Apr 04 '18 at 15:54

How can I show relative line numbers?

4 Answers4