vim/Q/How can I yank the path to the currently open vim buffer's file?

• How can I yank the path to the currently open vim buffer's file?

  • My Notes

    • Added yp to yank the absolute path to a file in the Clipboard in Beads for dotfiles

    • ○ dotfiles-han · nvf: map yp to yank current buffer absolute path to system clipboard   [● P2 · OPEN]
      Owner: codekiln · Type: feature
      Created: 2026-04-01 · Updated: 2026-04-01
      
      DESCRIPTION
      Add a normal-mode mapping yp in the Home Manager nvf setup (nix/home/nvf.nix) that copies the
      absolute filesystem path of the current buffer to the system clipboard (and the default register),
      similar to Vim's :let @+=expand('%:p') / nvim_buf_get_name(0) workflow.
      
      Acceptance: yp in a normal file buffer puts the full path on the OS clipboard; behavior for unnamed
      or special buffers is defined (message, no-op, or fallback) and documented in code comments if non-
      obvious.
      
      
      ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
      yp copies expand('%:p') (or equivalent) to + register / clipboard on macOS/Linux builds
      
      
      LABELS: neovim, nvf
      
      

  • Answer

    • AI/Response
      • Registers: The read-only % register holds the current buffer’s file name (as stored by Vim), not a full path unless the buffer was opened with one. See :help quote_%.
      • Full path into a register or clipboard (Ex): Use expand() so you control modifiers (:p absolute, :h directory, :t tail). Examples (press Enter after each):
        • :let @+ = expand('%:p') — full path into the + register (system clipboard when +clipboard is available).
        • :let @" = expand('%:p') — full path into the unnamed register; then paste with p / P.
        • :call setreg('+', expand('%:p')) — same idea, works in Vim and nvim.
      • Insert / command line without a mapping: In Insert mode or Command-line mode, Ctrl-r % inserts the contents of the % register (the file name as Vim knows it). For a full path you still want Ctrl-r =expand('%:p') then Enter (expression register).
      • nvim Lua (optional): vim.fn.setreg('+', vim.fn.expand('%:p')) or vim.api.nvim_buf_get_name(0) for the buffer’s path string inside scripts.
      • Handy mapping pattern: nnoremap <leader>yp :let @+ = expand('%:p')<CR>:echo 'Copied: ' . @+<CR> (adjust <leader> as you like).
      • Caveats: % for a new, unsaved buffer may be empty or not what you expect; expand('%:p') follows Vim’s usual name rules. For paths with spaces, the copied string is still one line of plain text.
      • Vim help: quote_% (filename register)
      • Vim help: expand()

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