# nano — The Simple Terminal Text Editor > Practical guide to nano — edit files in the terminal quickly and without a learning curve, the beginner-friendly editor on every Linux. Source: https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/nano/ nano is the simple, beginner-friendly text editor for the terminal: it ships on virtually every Linux system and is deliberately built so you can start editing without a steep learning curve. The most important commands are always shown in the key bar at the bottom, where `^` stands for the Ctrl key and `M-` for the Alt/Meta key. Unlike vim there are no modes – you start typing right away and save with `Ctrl+O`, quit with `Ctrl+X`. This guide walks you through the key bindings and `.nanorc` settings that let you work in nano quickly and comfortably. ## Opening Files `nano ` — Open a file for editing (creates it if it doesn't exist). ```bash nano config.yaml ``` `nano + ` — Open a file and jump to a specific line number. ```bash nano +42 script.sh ``` `nano +, ` — Open a file and jump to a specific line and column. ```bash nano +10,5 config.php ``` `nano -B ` — Create a backup of the file before editing (~filename~). ```bash nano -B /etc/nginx/nginx.conf ``` `nano -R ` — Open a file in read-only (restricted) mode. ```bash nano -R /etc/passwd ``` `nano -l ` — Show line numbers in the left margin. ```bash nano -l script.py ``` `nano -m ` — Enable mouse support for clicking and scrolling. ```bash nano -m document.txt ``` `nano -i ` — Enable auto-indentation. ```bash nano -i main.go ``` `nano -Y ` — Force a specific syntax highlighting language. ```bash nano -Y php config.inc ``` ## Saving & Exiting `Ctrl+O` — Write Out (save) the current file. Press Enter to confirm the filename. ```bash Ctrl+O → Enter ``` `Ctrl+X` — Exit nano. Prompts to save if there are unsaved changes. ```bash Ctrl+X → Y → Enter ``` `Ctrl+X → N` — Exit without saving changes. ```bash Ctrl+X → N ``` `Ctrl+O → new_filename → Enter` — Save As: type a new filename when prompted by Write Out. ```bash Ctrl+O → backup.conf → Enter ``` ## Navigation `Ctrl+A / Ctrl+E` — Jump to the beginning / end of the current line. ```bash Ctrl+A ``` `Ctrl+Y / Ctrl+V` — Page Up / Page Down. ```bash Ctrl+V ``` `Alt+\ / Alt+/` — Jump to the first / last line of the file. ```bash Alt+\ ``` `Ctrl+_ (Ctrl+Shift+-)` — Go to a specific line number (and optionally column). ```bash Ctrl+_ → 42 → Enter ``` `Alt+G` — Go to line number (alternative shortcut). ```bash Alt+G → 100 → Enter ``` `Ctrl+Space / Alt+Space` — Move forward / backward one word. ```bash Ctrl+Space ``` `Ctrl+C` — Show the current cursor position (line, column, character). ```bash Ctrl+C ``` ## Editing `Ctrl+K` — Cut the current line (or selected text) to the cutbuffer. ```bash Ctrl+K ``` `Ctrl+U` — Paste (uncut) the cutbuffer at the cursor position. ```bash Ctrl+U ``` `Alt+6` — Copy the current line (or selected text) without cutting it. ```bash Alt+6 ``` `Ctrl+K (multiple)` — Cut consecutive lines — they accumulate in the cutbuffer. ```bash Ctrl+K Ctrl+K Ctrl+K (cuts 3 lines) ``` `Alt+T` — Cut from the cursor to the end of the file. ```bash Alt+T ``` `Ctrl+J` — Justify (reflow) the current paragraph. ```bash Ctrl+J ``` `Alt+U` — Undo the last action. ```bash Alt+U ``` `Alt+E` — Redo the last undone action. ```bash Alt+E ``` `Ctrl+\` — Search and replace. ```bash Ctrl+\ → old → Enter → new → Enter → A (replace all) ``` `Alt+3` — Toggle comment/uncomment the current line. ```bash Alt+3 ``` `Tab / Shift+Tab` — Indent / unindent the current line or selected lines. ```bash Select lines → Tab ``` ## Search `Ctrl+W` — Search forward for a string. ```bash Ctrl+W → search term → Enter ``` `Alt+W` — Repeat the last search (find next). ```bash Alt+W ``` `Ctrl+W → Alt+R` — Switch to regex search mode. ```bash Ctrl+W → Alt+R → [0-9]+ → Enter ``` `Ctrl+W → Alt+C` — Toggle case sensitivity in search. ```bash Ctrl+W → Alt+C ``` `Ctrl+W → Alt+B` — Search backwards. ```bash Ctrl+W → Alt+B → term → Enter ``` `Ctrl+\` — Search and replace. Options: Y (yes), N (no), A (all). ```bash Ctrl+\ → http → Enter → https → Enter → A ``` ## Selection (Mark) `Alt+A` — Toggle mark (start/stop text selection). Move cursor to select. ```bash Alt+A → move → Ctrl+K (cut selection) ``` `Ctrl+6` — Set mark at cursor (alternative to Alt+A). ```bash Ctrl+6 ``` `Alt+A → Ctrl+K` — Select text and cut it. ```bash Alt+A → select → Ctrl+K ``` `Alt+A → Alt+6` — Select text and copy it (without cutting). ```bash Alt+A → select → Alt+6 ``` ## File Operations `Ctrl+R` — Insert the contents of another file at the cursor position. ```bash Ctrl+R → header.html → Enter ``` `Ctrl+R → Ctrl+T` — Open a file browser to select a file to insert. ```bash Ctrl+R → Ctrl+T ``` `Ctrl+T` — Execute a command and insert its output (or invoke spell checker). ```bash Ctrl+T → date → Enter ``` `Alt+D` — Show word, line, and character count of the file (or selection). ```bash Alt+D ``` ## Configuration (~/.nanorc) `set linenumbers` — Always show line numbers. ```bash set linenumbers ``` `set autoindent` — Automatically indent new lines to match the previous line. ```bash set autoindent ``` `set tabsize ` — Set the displayed width of a tab character. ```bash set tabsize 4 ``` `set tabstospaces` — Convert tabs to spaces when typing. ```bash set tabstospaces ``` `set mouse` — Enable mouse support. ```bash set mouse ``` `set softwrap` — Enable soft line wrapping (visual only, no newlines added). ```bash set softwrap ``` `set backup` — Always create backup files when saving. ```bash set backup set backupdir ~/.nano-backups ``` `include /usr/share/nano/*.nanorc` — Include syntax highlighting files for all supported languages. ```bash include /usr/share/nano/*.nanorc ``` ## Conclusion nano is the right choice when you want to tweak a config file quickly or jot down a short text without having to learn an editor first: no modes, the most important shortcuts always visible in the footer, and available instantly on almost any system. Above all, remember `Ctrl+O` (save) and `Ctrl+X` (quit) – on exit nano asks about unsaved changes by itself, so you don't lose anything by accident. If you want more comfort, enable line numbers, auto-indent and syntax highlighting in your `~/.nanorc`. For heavier editing or working efficiently with large files, it's worth moving up to vim later. ## Further Reading - [GNU nano – official site](https://www.nano-editor.org/) – the project home page with the manual and all options - [nano(1) manual page](https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/nano.1.html) – the Linux manual page for nano ## Related Commands - [vim](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/vim/) – powerful modal editor for advanced editing - [less](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/less/) – pager for viewing files without editing them - [mc](https://www.jpkc.com/db/en/cheatsheets/files-text/mc/) – terminal file manager with the built-in editor mcedit