vim/gvim difference between close and hide

Question

I'm kind of new to VIM, I'd like to know the difference between the :close window command and the :hide window command. I've read the docs but they both seem to do the about same...

Answer 1

:clo[se][!]

Can:

• fail when there is only one window on the screen.

• :set hidden.

• use [!] to exit the current session without saving it (i.e. :clo[se]!).

Can't

• execute a side command.

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:hid[e]

Can't

• fail when there is only one window on the screen.

• :set hidden (irrelevant).

• use [!] to exit the curent session without saving it.

Can:

• execute a side command (i.e. :hid[e] {cmd}).

This side command executes {cmd} with :set hidden. After execution of {cmd}, the previous value of :set hidden is restored. For example, :hide edit example will edit example and hide the current buffer if it has any changes.

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(Referenced from :help close and :help hide from $vim)