The command-line window

Sometimes (just like on the shell command-line), you're typing a command and realize you have need for the full editing tools of a vim buffer. Enter: the command-line window. Also known as "the thing that pops up when I try to quit but mistype the keys :q".

Open the command-line window using:

• ctrl-f while on the command-line

• q: while in normal mode

This opens a window with your command history. If invoked from the command line, the last line will contain the command typed thus far.

: w
: %s/foo/bar/g
: the command I was currently typing|
[Command Line]

Here, you can edit the current or a previous command, and execute the command under the cursor with CR.

Source: :help cmdline-window