Tools
Cheat sheet for nano
The GNU nano editors default keybindings and their functions. Keybindings can be edited and changed.
Jan 21, 2024
— 3 min read
The GNU nano editors default keybindings and their functions. ~/.nanorc or ~/.config/nano/nanorc. To do so, copy the /etc/nanorc to either
The Cheat sheet
File handling Ctrl+S Save current file Ctrl+O Offer to write file ("Save as") Ctrl+R Insert a file into current one Ctrl+X Close buffer, exit from nano
Editing Ctrl+K Cut current line into cutbuffer Alt+6 Copy current line into cutbuffer Ctrl+U Paste contents of cutbuffer Alt+T Cut until end of buffer Ctrl+] Complete current word Alt+3 Comment/uncomment line/region Alt+U Undo last action Alt+E Redo last undone action
Search and replace Ctrl+Q Start backward search Ctrl+W Start forward search Alt+Q Find next occurrence backward Alt+W Find next occurrence forward Alt+R Start a replacing session
Deletion Ctrl+H Delete character before cursor Ctrl+D Delete character under cursor Alt+Bsp Delete word to the left Ctrl+Del Delete word to the right Alt+Del Delete current line
Operations Ctrl+T Execute some command Ctrl+J Justify paragraph or region Alt+J Justify entire buffer Alt+B Run a syntax check Alt+F Run a formatter/fixer/arranger Alt+: Start/stop recording of macro Alt+; Replay macro
Moving around Ctrl+B One character backward Ctrl+F One character forward Ctrl+← One word backward Ctrl+→ One word forward Ctrl+A To start of line Ctrl+E To end of line Ctrl+P One line up Ctrl+N One line down Ctrl+↑ To previous block Ctrl+↓ To next block Ctrl+Y One page up Ctrl+V One page down Alt+\ To top of buffer Alt+/ To end of buffer
Special movement Alt+G Go to specified line Alt+] Go to complementary bracket Alt+↑ Scroll viewport up Alt+↓ Scroll viewport down Alt+< Switch to preceding buffer Alt+> Switch to succeeding buffer
Information Ctrl+C Report cursor position Alt+D Report line/word/character count Ctrl+G Display help text
Various Alt+A Turn the mark on/off Tab Indent marked region Shift+Tab Unindent marked region Alt+V Enter next keystroke verbatim Alt+N Turn line numbers on/off Alt+P Turn visible whitespace on/off Alt+X Hide or unhide the help lines Ctrl+L Refresh the screen
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