Vim syntaxfile

Syntax for writing vim syntax-files.

Documentation

:h syn-match	https://vimhelp.org/syntax.txt.html#%3Asyn-match
:h syn-region	https://vimhelp.org/syntax.txt.html#%3Asyn-region
:h syn-arguments (ex. conceal, cchar, contained, ..)	https://vimhelp.org/syntax.txt.html#%3Asyn-arguments

Locations

${vim-or-plug}/syntax/${vim_filetype}.vim

syntax files

Example

ftdetect/my_language.vim

Register a filetype based on a file-extension

" ftdetect/my_language.vim

au BufRead,BufNewFile *.todo set filetype=todolist_simple

syntax/my_language.vim

Define the syntax-highligting for the filetype

" syntax/my_language.vim

" don't reload if already loaded
if exists('b:my_language_syntax')
    finish
endif

" Define marker colours (CLI/GUI)
let s:todo_colour     = 'magenta'
let s:gui_todo_colour = '#F57900'

" Define Regexes
let s:todo_regex = '\(^\s*\)\@<=\*\([a-zA-Z]\)\@!'

" Define syntax for Regexes
execute "syntax match my_language_todo  '". s:todo_regex ."'"

" Apply highlighting
execute ' highlight todolistsimple_todo ctermfg='. s:todo_colour .' guifg='. s:gui_todo_colour .' ctermbg=none cterm=bold gui=bold'

" mark file as loaded
let b:my_language_syntax = 1

Match Regions

You define keywords/matches, optionally within a region.
these can be assigned styles with :highlight

" keyword matches are literal word-matches
syntax keyword mySqlKeywords
  \ SELECT INSERT INNER LEFT JOIN

" matches are regex matches
syntax match myComments
  \ '\(--\|#\)'

" regions let you define (potentially multiline) regions
" you can have different rules within different types of regions
" (contains defines matches/keywords that apply within the region)
syntax region myBlock
  \ start='{' end='}'
  \ transparent
  \ contains=mySqlKeywords,myComments

Highlight

You apply highlights to captured keywords, matches, or regions.

" apply style to `someKeywordOrMatch`
highlight someKeywordOrMatch
  \ cterm=italic ctermfg=2      ctermbg=160
  \ gui=italic   guifg='#111111' guibg='#FFFFFF'