syntax [VIM]

:syntax on basically sources the file syntax.vim.

syntax.vim has a line with

runtime syntax/synload.vim

which sources the file syntax/synload.vim

Then, a

filetype on on

is executed (which loads filetype.vim)

Finally, there's a line

au! FileType *	exe "set syntax=" . expand("<amatch>")

which sets up the connection between FileType and Syntax autocommands.

synload.vim does a

runtime! syntax/syncolor.vim

which loads syntax/syncolor.vim

syncolor.vim defines highlights and some links to these highlights:

• Comment, linked to by
  n/a
• Constant , linked to by
  String, Character, NUmber, Boolean
• Special , linked to by
  Tag, SpecialChar, Delimiter, SpecialComment, Debug
• Identifier , linked to by
  Function
• Statement , linked to by
  Conditional, Repeat, Label, Operator, Keyword, Exception
• PreProc , linked to by
  Include, Define, Macro, PreCondit
• Type , linked to by
  StorageClass, Structure, Typedef
• Underlined , linked to by
  
• Ignore , linked to by
  n/a

The syntax on, syntax on, syntax on and syntax on do actually source a file.

:syntax on and syntax enable source $VIMRUNTIME/syntax/syntax.vim. :syntax manual sources $VIMRUNTIME/syntax/manual.vim. :syntax off sources $VIMRUNTIME/syntax/nosyntax.vim.

This variable is set in syncolor.vim to one of

• on
• enable
• reset
• skip