Using normal-mode motions in command-line mode in Vim

Question

Is modal editing possible in command-line mode?

Some examples:

• After writing !ls ~/foo/bar I want to db to delete bar

Answer 1

Built-in hotkeys for movement and editing in Command-line mode

        abandon command-line without executing it
CTRL-C       abandon command-line without executing it

CTRL-B       cursor to begin of command-line
CTRL-E       cursor to end   of command-line

CTRL-F       opens the command-line window (unless a different key is specified in 'cedit')

CTRL-H       delete the character  in front of the cursor (same as )
CTRL-W       delete the word       in front of the cursor
CTRL-U       delete all characters in front of the cursor

CTRL-P       recall previous command-line from history (that matches pattern in front of the cursor)
CTRL-N       recall next     command-line from history (that matches pattern in front of the cursor)
         recall previous command-line from history (that matches pattern in front of the cursor)
       recall next     command-line from history (that matches pattern in front of the cursor)
       recall previous command-line from history
     recall next     command-line from history
     recall previous command-line from history
   recall next     command-line from history

     cursor one word left
     cursor one word left
    cursor one word right
    cursor one word right

  cursor at mouse click

Reference: :help ex-edit-index

_{(Sorry for the overlap with older answers. Hopefully this complete°, structured overview is useful nevertheless.)
° as of 2014 – new keyboard shortcuts may have been added since then}