Only run a highlighting rule as a nextgroup in syntax file?

Question

I have these rules in a custom syntax file.

syn match id '\w\+'
syn keyword _type void int bool string list nextgroup=id

I only want id to be matched after a _type.

Answer 1

You're already close.

• To avoid that the id group matches anywhere else, just add contained.
• For nextgroup=..., the match must begin exactly after the end of the current group. Therefore, you need to include the leading whitespace in the id group match: \s\+, or add skipwhite.
• The naming convention for syntax groups is to prepend them with your syntax name; I've used my... here.

:syn match myId '\w\+' contained
:syn keyword myType void int bool string list nextgroup=myId skipwhite