Using an inoremap with `r`

Question

I have some inoremap's in my vimrc, such as

inoremap \c <c-v>u2705

which enters a ✅ emoji for when I am writing checklists.

However, I noticed that while I am able to use it when in insert mode and in Replace mode (triggered using R), I am not able to call the mapping when calling r (when trying to replace a single character). It just ends up replacing with \ and then triggering c.

Is there a reason why r doesn't actually switch the mode to insert/replace? Is it tied to its own special mode?

And is there a workaround to enable me to replace a single character using r with my inoremap?

Answer 1

Even though r supports lmaps and digraphs, it does not switch the Insert mode, unlike, say, R. And so your mapping won't be applied.

You need to get used to typing something different, for example, s\c<esc>.

Is it tied to its own special mode?

The docs do not call it "a mode" specifically. This is rather "get and use a char" thing. Kind of what does f, t and such.