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# Nano Editor Basic Commands
- URL: https://linuxhandbook.com/nano-editor-basics/
- Published: 2024-04-10T03:43:09.000Z
- Updated: 2024-04-10T03:43:09.000Z
- Description: Get a quick reference to using the Nano editor for editing files in the Linux terminal.
- Author: Sagar Sharma
- Tags: File Editing Commands, #docs-col

The nano text editor is my favorite text editor as it has almost everything that every basic to moderate user would ever require. 

While the nano text editor is easy to navigate, it still has some crazy features upon its sleeve that you may not be aware of. 

So in this tutorial, I will walk you through all the basics you'd ever need to get started with the nano editor. 

## Common keyboard shortcuts for the Nano editor 

When you work with any command line utility, you have to rely on the shortcuts for most tasks and that is why it is important to get started with the shortcuts. 

So here's a list of all the basic shortcuts of the nano text editor: 

| **Shortcut** | **Description**                                                     |
| ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Ctrl+G       | Display the help menu and list of shortcuts.                        |
| Ctrl+X       | Exit the nano editor.                                               |
| Ctrl+O       | Save the current file (WriteOut).                                   |
| Ctrl+R       | Open a file for reading into the buffer (Read).                     |
| Ctrl+C       | Show the position of the cursor (line, column, character).          |
| Ctrl+V       | Move the cursor to the next screen.                                 |
| Ctrl+Y       | Move the cursor to the previous screen.                             |
| Ctrl+K       | Cut the current line and store it in the cutbuffer.                 |
| Ctrl+U       | Paste the contents of the cutbuffer at the current cursor position. |
| Ctrl+A       | Move the cursor to the beginning of the current line.               |
| Ctrl+E       | Move the cursor to the end of the current line.                     |
| Ctrl+W       | Search for a string or regular expression.                          |
| Ctrl+\\      | Replace a string or regular expression.                             |
| Ctrl+T       | Move to the preceding word in the current line.                     |
| Ctrl+F       | Move to the next word in the current line.                          |
| Alt+A        | Select text starting from the current cursor position.              |
| Alt+6        | Copy the selected text to the cutbuffer.                            |
| Alt+U        | Undo the last operation.                                            |
| Alt+E        | Redo the last undone operation.                                     |

Now, let's take a look at how you use the nano text editor. 

## Getting started with the nano editor 

In this section, I will walk you through all the basics you'd ever require to get started with the nano editor. Remember, this is not a tips and tricks tutorial but a basic guide. 

### 1\. Know the interface 

When you open the nano editor by executing the `nano` command in the terminal, you'd met with the following output:

![Getting familier to the nano editor interface](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/Getting-familier-to-the-nano-editor-interface-1.png)

When you open the nano editor with or without the file, it shows the important shortcuts at the bottom of the editor. **But there's a catch.** 

Unlike GUI editors that show the shortcut directly, the nano editor uses two symbols that are associated with every shortcut:

- `^`: The carrot symbol indicates the `CTRL` key.
- `M`: Known as a meta key which represents the `Alt` key.

So if you want to use the `^G` shortcut, you are required to press `Ctrl + G` whereas the `M-A` refers to pressing `Alt + A`. 

### 2\. Open or create files using the nano editor 

To open a file with the nano editor, all you have to do is append the filename to the `nano` command as shown here:

```
nano <Filename>
```

For example, if I want to open `mylogs.log` file, then I'll be using the following:

```
nano mylogs.log
```

![open files with the nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/open-file-with-the-nano-text-editor.gif)

Alternatively, if the file does not exist, you can create a new file and write to it by appending the filename (that does not exist) to the nano editor and it will open an empty file where you make changes accordingly:

```
nano <NewFile>
```

For example, here, I created a new file named `unknown.txt`, wrote some lines and saved the changes:

![create a new file using the nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/create-new-file-using-the-nano-editor.gif)

Furthermore, if you don't want to decide the filename in the beginning, then you can start the nano editor by executing the `nano` command which will open an empty prompt where you can write lines.

Once done, when you save changes, it will ask you to enter the filename and there you can give it the filename.

For example, here, I wrote the greeting message in the nano editor and then saved the file by naming it `Hello.txt`:

![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/create-a-new-file-using-the-nano-editor.gif.gif)

### 3\. Navigate through the file 

This is the part where the nano editor shines. Unlike advanced text editors like Vim, you can simply use your arrow keys to navigate through the file. 

So here, I will introduce some quick tips to navigate through the file faster ⚡.

- Press `Alt + \` to go to the beginning of the file
- Press `Alt + /` to jump to the end of the file

You can also [jump to a specific line](https://linuxhandbook.com/nano-go-to-line/). For that purpose, press `Ctrl + _` and enter the number of the line: 

![jump to the specific line in nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/Jump-to-specific-line-in-the-nano-editor.gif)

### 4\. Cut, copy, and paste in the nano editor 

If you're using a desktop environment, you can select the text using the mouse and then press `Ctrl + Shift + C` to copy the selected text and paste it using `Ctrl + Shift + V`. 

But what if you don't have access to GUI or you want to cut the text? 

To cut, copy, and paste, you can use the nano editor's shortcuts but for that, you first have to select the text. 

To select the text, first, use the navigation keys to the starting point from where you want to select the text, and then press `Alt + A` to set the marker. 

Now, you can use the navigation keys to select the area that you want to copy or cut.

Looks complex? Here's how you do it:

![select text in the nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/select-text-in-nano-editor.gif)

Once you are done with the selection, you can have two choices:

- Press `Alt + 6` to copy the selected text
- Press `Ctrl + K` to cut the text

After copying or cutting the text, press `Ctrl + U` to paste the text. 

For example, here, I pasted the copied text at the end of the file:

![copy and paste text in the nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/copy-and-paste-text-in-nano-editor-1.gif)

### 5\. Delete lines in the nano editor 

Sadly, there's no dedicated option in the nano to delete the text or lines. But worry not, you can use the following ways to have a similar effect to [deleting lines in the nano editor](https://itsfoss.com/nano-delete-lines/?ref=linuxhandbook.com):

1. Use backspace multiple times to remove words or lines.
2. Cut the lines by pressing `Ctrl + K`.

To me, cutting lines seems the best option as I don't paste text very often and if you fall in the same category, it is the most efficient way to remove unwanted text. 

But I have a hack to take things to the next level 🚀.

You can select multiple lines or words and then cut them to get rid of them. This works so well when you want to delete multiple lines. 

Sounds confusing? Here's how I removed multiple lines by following these steps:

1. Went to the point where I wanted to remove lines using arrow keys.
2. Pressed `Alt + A` to set the mark.
3. Pressed `Alt + /` to [go to the end of the file](https://linuxhandbook.com/beginning-end-file-nano/).
4. Pressed `Ctrl + K` to cut the selected text.

![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/Delete-multiple-lines-in-the-nano-editor.gif)

### 6\. Undo and redo 

Undo refers to reverting your most recent activity whereas redo is undoing the last undo. 

To [undo and redo in the nano editor](https://itsfoss.com/nano-undo-redo/?ref=linuxhandbook.com), you have to use the following shortcuts:

- `Alt + U`: Undo the last action
- `Alt + E`: Redo the last undo

For reference, in the below example, I removed a line from the file, did undo, and then redo:

![how to undo and redo in the nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/undo-and-redo-in-nano-editor.gif)

### 7\. Search and replace

To [search and replace in the nano text editor](https://itsfoss.com/nano-search-replace/?ref=linuxhandbook.com), all you have to do is follow 3 simple steps:

1. Press `Ctrl + R` and enter the term you want to search and then press `Enter`.
2. Enter the term to replace with.
3. It will show matching terms one by one asking which terms to replace and which to not. To replace all the matched results, press `A`.

For example, here, I replaced two instances of `quick` with `lazy`:

![search and replace in the nano editor ](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/search-and-replace-in-the-nano-editor.gif)

### 8\. Save and exit from the nano editor 

[Saving and exiting from the nano editor](https://itsfoss.com/nano-save-exit/?ref=linuxhandbook.com) is quite easy and can be done in two easy steps:

1. Press `Ctrl + O` to save changes.
2. Press `Ctrl + X` to exit from the editor.

📋

You can also exit from the editor without saving changes by directly pressing `Ctrl + X` and then pressing `N`.

When you press `Ctrl + O` where it will ask you if you want to save changes with the given filename or if you want to use a different filename.

Once done, press the enter key and it will save the changes. 

Another good thing about the nano editor is the way it notifies you of changes that are yet to be saved. Let me explain ✋.

Whenever you make changes to a file that is yet to be saved, it will show asterisk (\*) next to the filename:

![Changes are yet to be saved indication in the nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/Changes-are-yet-to-be-saved-indication-in-the-nano-editor.png)

Once done, press `Ctrl + X` and it will close the nano editor. 

But what if you want to close the nano editor without saving changes? In that case, follow the given steps:

1. Press `Ctrl + X`
2. Press `N` to exit the nano editor without saving the changes

### 9\. Here's how to get help from the nano editor 

Getting help from the nano editor can be helpful in tough times. 

All you have to do is press `Ctrl + G` and it will bring a list of every shortcut available in the nano editor with a short description:

![Get help from the nano editor](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/04/Get-help-from-the-nano-editor.png)

I use it to learn new shortcuts 😉.

## Cool tips and tricks of the nano editor 

Did you know that you can enable the scrollbar in the nano editor? Or how about enabling mouse support? 

Sounds cool, right? Well, we wrote a detailed guide covering [10 such tips and tricks of the nano editor](https://itsfoss.com/nano-tips-tricks/?ref=linuxhandbook.com) to elevate the overall experience: 

[10 Tips to Get More Out of Nano EditorLearn and use these tips and tricks to utilize lesser known Nano editor features.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2022/12/android-chrome-192x192.png)It's FOSSSreenath![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2024/03/nano-tricks.png)](https://itsfoss.com/nano-tips-tricks/?ref=linuxhandbook.com)

You can also refer to our [Nano tutorial series](https://linuxhandbook.com/nano/) to learn the basics with more details: 

[Start Using NanoNano is perhaps one of the simplest terminal based text editor. While it is still keyboard shortcut based, the shortcuts are simpler here when compared to Vim and Emacs. Nano also displays appropriate shortcuts on the bottom all the time, making it even easier to use. You don’t need to![](https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/size/w256h256/2021/08/Linux-Handbook-New-Logo.png)Linux HandbookAbhishek Prakash![](https://static.ghost.org/v3.0.0/images/publication-cover.png)](https://linuxhandbook.com/nano/)

I hope you will find this guide helpful.