Nano commands

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Getting Started with Nano

Nano is a simple, command-line text editor in Ubuntu and other Linux distributions. It is especially useful for quick edits and configurations directly in the terminal.

Opening a File

To open a file with Nano, use the following command:

nano <filename>

Example:

nano /etc/hosts

If the file doesn't exist, Nano will create it for you when you save.

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Basic Commands in Nano

Once you're inside Nano, the basic commands are displayed at the bottom of the screen. Here are the key ones you need to know:

• Move Cursor: Use arrow keys to move the cursor.
• Write (Save) File:
  • Press Ctrl + O (then hit Enter to confirm).
• Exit Nano:
  • Press Ctrl + X.
• Cut (Delete) a Line:
  • Press Ctrl + K.
• Paste a Line:
  • Press Ctrl + U.
• Search for Text:
  • Press Ctrl + W and enter the search term.

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Advanced Commands

• Go to Line/Column:
  • Press Ctrl + _ and enter the line number.
• Copy Text:
  • Set a starting mark with Ctrl + ^, then move the cursor and select the text to be copied. Finally, press Ctrl + K to cut it (or copy it).
• Undo/Redo (if supported):
  • Press Alt + U to undo.
  • Press Alt + E to redo.

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Exit Without Saving

If you've made changes but don't want to save:

• Press Ctrl + X to exit.
• When prompted to save changes, press N to discard the changes.

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Search and Replace

• Search: Press Ctrl + W, then type in the search string and hit Enter.
• Replace: Press Ctrl + \, enter the search string, and follow the prompts to replace the text.

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Useful Tips

• Nano displays commands as ^ for Ctrl and M- for Alt. For example, ^X means Ctrl + X.
• Enable Line Numbers: You can start nano with line numbers by running:

  nano -c <filename>