If you exit `vim` and later start it again, you would normally lose a lot of information. The `viminfo` file can be used to remember that information, which enables you to continue where you left off. The `viminfo` file is used to store: * The command line history. * The search string history. * The input-line history. * Contents of non-empty registers. * Marks for several files. * File marks, pointing to locations in files. * Last search/substitute pattern (for 'n' and '&'). * The buffer list. * Global variables. (From [`:help viminfo`](http://vimhelp.appspot.com/starting.txt.html#viminfo-file))