How can I automatically center first search result?

Question

I want to have the very first search result centered on the screen. I know about :nnoremap n nzz mapping, but it only works for centering next matches, not the first.

I thought that maybe I could use some AutoCmd, but I haven't found an appropriate event.

Answer 1

You can use the following mapping:

cnoremap <expr> <CR> getcmdtype() == '/' ? '<CR>zz' : '<CR>'

Which can be explained like this:

• cnoremap Create a mapping in the command line mode
• <expr> The mapping will evaluate an expression (allowing to use conditions)
• <CR> The key to remap (Enter)
• getcmdtype() Return a character indicating which command line mode is used
• == '/' Did getcmdtype() returned a / which means we are in search mode?
• '<CR>zz' If we are in search mode execute zz after pressing <CR>
• '<CR>' Else execute only <CR>

Related help topics:

• :h expr1 for the X ? Y : Z syntax
• :h :cnoremap
• :h :map-<expr>
• :h getcmdtype()

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EDIT Note that it would be interesting to create a mapping which would work with both forward and backward search i.e. when getcmdtype() return / or ?. Here is the mapping to do that:

cnoremap <expr> <CR> (getcmdtype() == '?' \|\| getcmdtype() == '/') ? '<CR>zz' : '<CR>'

Note the escaping of the | characters: if they are not escapes vim will understand cnoremap <expr> <CR> (getcmdtype() == '?' as the first command to execute followed by getcmdtype() == '/') ? '<CR>zz' : '<CR>' which doesn't make sense and create an error.

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EDIT 2 @Antony suggested a more readable solution, thanks to him:

cnoremap <expr> <CR> getcmdtype() =~ '[/?]' ? '<CR>zz' : '<CR>'

Answer 2

Statox's answer is definitely the best so far, but as an alternative, I've just found out about Vim-slash, a plugin aiming to "enhance the in-buffer search experience."

And from it's readme:

Customization

zz after search

Places the current match at the center of the window.

noremap <plug>(slash-after) zz

Just tried it out and it is working smoothly in both directions (/ and ?).

Answer 3

Just in case someone still wondering about this, now you can use autocmd.

autocmd CmdlineEnter /,\? :cnoremap <CR> <CR>zz
autocmd CmdlineLeave /,\? :cunmap <CR>

It's basically remap enter when in search mode and unmap if leave search mode. It was inpired by example from :help 'incsearch' and you can use it without incsearch.

EDIT:
If you don't want to to remap <CR> or enter when you use search as motion, you can do something like this:

augroup incsearch_center
  autocmd CmdlineEnter /,\?
    \ if empty(v:operator) |
    \   cnoremap <CR> <CR>zz|
    \ endif
  autocmd CmdlineLeave /,\?
    \ if empty(v:operator) |
    \   cunmap <CR>|
    \ endif
augroup END

v:operator is basically to check the last operator given in Normal mode such as c, d, and so on. For more info :help v:operator

If you want to use the accepted answer, you can use something like this:

cnoremap <expr> <CR> getcmdtype() =~ '[/?]' && empty(v:operator) ? '<CR>zz' : '<CR>'