nano

Command	Description
`nano file`	Open or create file
`nano +N file`	Open file at line N
`nano -l file`	Show line numbers
`nano -v file`	Open in view-only (read-only) mode
`nano -B file`	Create backup before saving
`nano -m file`	Enable mouse support
`^X`	Exit nano
`^X` then `Y`	Save and exit
`^X` then `N`	Exit without saving

Shortcut	Description
`^S`	Save current file
`^O`	Save as (Write Out) — prompts for filename
`^O` then `Enter`	Confirm save with same filename
`^R`	Read (insert) another file at cursor
`^T` (in filename prompt)	Open file browser to pick a file

Shortcut	Description
Arrow keys	Move cursor
`^F` / `^B`	Forward / backward one character
`^N` / `^P`	Next / previous line
`^A`	Beginning of line
`^E`	End of line
`^Space`	Forward one word
`M-Space`	Backward one word
`^V`	Page down
`^Y`	Page up
`M-\` or `^Home`	Go to first line
`M-/` or `^End`	Go to last line
`^_`	Go to specific line (and column)
`M-G`	Same as `^_` — go to line number

Shortcut	Description
`^D`	Delete character under cursor
`Backspace`	Delete character before cursor
`M-Backspace`	Delete word to the left
`^K`	Cut (kill) current line
`M-6`	Copy current line
`^U`	Paste (uncut)
`M-U`	Undo
`M-E`	Redo
`^J`	Justify (reflow) current paragraph
`M-J`	Justify entire file
`Tab`	Insert tab / indent
`M-}`	Indent selected lines
`M-{`	Unindent selected lines

Shortcut	Description
`^W`	Search (Where is)
`^W` then `^R`	Search and replace
`M-W`	Repeat last search (find next)
`M-Q`	Repeat search in reverse

In the search prompt:

Key	Description
`^C`	Cancel search
`M-C`	Toggle case sensitivity
`M-R`	Toggle regular expressions
`M-B`	Toggle backwards search
`Up/Down`	Navigate search history

In the replace prompt:

Key	Description
`Y`	Replace this occurrence
`N`	Skip this occurrence
`A`	Replace all occurrences

Shortcut	Description
`M-A`	Set mark (start selection)
Arrow keys	Extend selection after mark
`^K`	Cut selected text (or current line)
`M-6`	Copy selected text (or current line)
`^U`	Paste cut/copied text
`M-A` again	Cancel mark/selection

Cut buffer tip: ^K multiple times appends to the cut buffer — paste all at once with ^U.

Shortcut	Description
`M-<`	Switch to previous buffer
`M->`	Switch to next buffer
`^X`	Close current buffer
`M-I`	Toggle auto-indent
`M-N`	Toggle line numbers
`M-P`	Toggle whitespace display
`M-S`	Toggle soft-wrapping
`M-X`	Toggle help bar at bottom
`M-C`	Toggle cursor position display

# Line numbers
set linenumbers

# Smooth scrolling
set smooth

# Auto-indent
set autoindent

# Tab size and use spaces
set tabsize 4
set tabstospaces

# Enable mouse
set mouse

# Soft wrap long lines
set softwrap

# Show cursor position
set constantshow

# Backup files
set backup

# Syntax highlighting (load all defaults)
include "/usr/share/nano/*.nanorc"

nano¶