> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://ploegert.gitbook.io/til/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://ploegert.gitbook.io/til/tools/vim/list-all-buffers.md).

# List All Buffers

The `:ls` command will list the buffers you have open. What vim doesn't tell you though is that there are some unlisted buffers that it isn't displaying. To see *all* of the buffers, you can use `:ls!`. According to the vim help file:

> When the \[!] is included the list will show unlisted buffers (the term "unlisted" is a bit confusing then...).

This reveals buffers for `netrw`, `:help` files, etc. This helps explain the sometimes sporadic numbering that vim uses for buffers.