How to delete contents of a file using vi or vim in bash/termial (Linux)

Overview

The below shortcut can be used to delete all contents of a file using bash/terminal when using vi or vim.

dG

Example

Let’s see an example

First let’s create and write to a temp file

echo $'This is \ntest line' > temp.txt

Let’s print the content of the file to verify

~ $ cat temp.txt 
This is 
test line

Run vi or vim command now

~ $ vi temp.text

In the vi editor, you will see below

This is
test line
~                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
~                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
"temp.txt" 2L, 19C

Now press ‘d’ and then ‘G’ ( Use the shift key to make ‘g’ capital). Note that these keys have to be pressed one after the other and not together. Once you press the key the contents will be clear. In the vi or vim editor, you will see this

~                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
~                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
--No lines in buffer--

Now save the file. Use shortcut

ESC key + :wg

Now check the contents of the file again. It will be empty

~ $ cat temp.txt