What is the difference between the i and a command of the vi editor?

The i and a commands are two of the most commonly used commands in the vi editor to enter the insert mode. The insert mode allows the user to insert text into the file. The difference between the i and a commands is that the i command inserts text before the current cursor position, while the a command inserts text after the cursor position. For example, if the cursor is on the letter “e” in the word “editor”, then pressing i will allow the user to insert text before the “e”, while pressing a will allow the user to insert text after the “e”. The user can exit the insert mode by pressing the Esc key, which will return to the command mode. References:

Basic vi commands (cheat sheet)

VI Editor with Commands in Linux/Unix Tutorial

How to use Vi editor in Linux (with examples)