to show whitespaces

:set list

use in combination with:

:set listchars=eol:$,nbsp:_,tab:>-,trail:~,extends:>,precedes:<
  • eol - character to show at the end of each line
  • tab - Two characters to be used to show a tab
  • trail - character to show for trailing spaces
  • extends - character to show in the last column when the line continues beyond the right of the screen
  • precedes - character to show in the first column when the line continues beyond the left of the screen
  • conceal - character to show in place of concealed text, when conceal level is set to 1
  • nbsp - character to show for a space