How to enable syntax highlighting in Vim

Vim can perform syntax highlighting for various file formats. You can enable it with these steps if it's not currently enabled;

1. Make sure full version of Vim with support for syntax highlighting is installed.
   

   Related: How to install full version of Vim on Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora
   How to install Vim on Ubuntu

2. Enter command mode by pressing Esc.
3. Type :syntax on|off and press Enter.

   :syntax on

   

4. Enter command mode again by pressing Esc
5. Type :set syntax=<filetype> and press Enter manually set syntax for specific file type if required.

   :set syntax=php

   

6. View the list of supported file types while also in the command mode.

   :echo getcompletion(// 'filetype')

   

7. Permanently enable syntax highlighting by adding :syntax on in your ~/.vimrc file.