Nano, a convenient and lightweight text editor, is a staple for many Linux users. This tool appeals to all users, no matter whether you are a beginner or an experienced user. Understanding how to use Nano effectively is critical to effective text editing. In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything from the basics to advanced features, ensuring you can harness the full power of Nano on your Linux system.

Of course, you need to start by installing a NANO tool if you don’t have one.

NANO installation

Most Linux distributions come with Nano pre-installed. However, if it is not available, you can install it using your distribution’s package manager. For example, on Debian based systems you can use:

sudo apt-get install nano

Save changes to NANO

To open an existing file or create a new one, enter nano followed by the file name:

nano filename

A new editor window will open and you can start editing the file. Once you’re done making changes, press Ctrl-o to save your work. Nano will display the file name and prompt you to save your changes. Press Enter to save the file.

Basic navigation

Nano uses simple keyboard shortcuts for navigation. The arrow keys move the cursor, and the Page Up/Page Down keys scroll through text.

Exit Nano

Press Ctrl + X to exit Nano. If there are unsaved changes, Nano will prompt you to save them.