tmux

Structure

tmux server
 └── session
      └── window
           └── pane

Component	Description
Server	The tmux background process.
Session	A workspace (collection of windows).
Window	A tab inside a session.
Pane	A split terminal inside a window.

Commands

Session Commands

Command	Description
tmux	Start tmux
tmux new	Create a new session
tmux new -s name	Create a named session
tmux new-session -d -s <session_name> "command"	Create a session for only specific command execution
tmux ls	List sessions
tmux attach	Attach to last session
tmux attach -t name	Attach to named session
tmux detach	Detach current client
tmux kill-session -t name	Kill a session
tmux kill-server	Kill all tmux sessions

Window Commands

Command	Description
tmux new-window	Create new window
tmux new-window -n name	Create named window
tmux list-windows	List windows
tmux rename-window name	Rename current window
tmux select-window -t 1	Switch to window 1
tmux kill-window	Kill current window

Pane Commands

Command	Description
tmux split-window -h	Split pane horizontally
tmux split-window -v	Split pane vertically
tmux list-panes	List panes
tmux select-pane -L	Move to left pane
tmux select-pane -R	Move to right pane
tmux select-pane -U	Move to upper pane
tmux select-pane -D	Move to lower pane
tmux kill-pane	Kill current pane

Targeting (session:window.pane)

Example	Meaning
session	Target session
session:1	Window 1 in session
session:1.0	Pane 0 in window 1
-t dev:2.1	Target pane 1, window 2, session dev

Config & Options

Command	Description
tmux show-options -g	Show global options
tmux set-option -g mouse on	Enable mouse support
tmux source-file ~/.tmux.conf	Reload config
tmux list-keys	List key bindings
tmux list-commands	List all tmux commands

Automation / Scripting

Command	Description
tmux send-keys "cmd" C-m	Send command cmd to pane (C-m is carriage return)
tmux has-session -t name	Check if session exists
tmux display-message	Show tmux message

Common control keys

Key	Meaning	Typical use
C-m	Enter / Carriage Return	Execute command
C-c	Ctrl-C	Stop current process
C-d	EOF	Exit shell / close SSH
C-z	Suspend	Background process
C-l	Clear screen	Clean output
C-u	Kill line	Clear current input
C-w	Delete word	Edit input
C-a	Start of line	Bash readline
C-e	End of line	Bash readline
C-r	Reverse search	History search
C-p	Previous command	History up
C-n	Next command	History down
C-s	Forward search	(may need stty -ixon)

Meta/Alt keys

Key	Meaning
M-b	Back one word
M-f	Forward one word
M-d	Delete word
M-.	Last argument of previous command
M-Enter	Literal newline (app-dependent)

Shortcuts inside tmux

Basics

Action	Shortcut
Prefix	Ctrl + b
Help (list shortcuts)	Ctrl + b → ?
Reload config	Ctrl + b → :source-file ~/.tmux.conf

Windows (tabs)

Action	Shortcut
New window	Ctrl + b → c
Next window	Ctrl + b → n
Previous window	Ctrl + b → p
Switch by number	Ctrl + b → 0–9
Rename window	Ctrl + b → ,
Close window	Ctrl + b → &

Panes (splits)

Action	Shortcut
Vertical split	Ctrl + b → %
Horizontal split	Ctrl + b → "
Switch panes	Ctrl + b → Arrow keys
Close pane	Ctrl + b → x
Zoom pane (toggle)	Ctrl + b → z
Resize pane	Ctrl + b → Ctrl + Arrow

Sessions

Action	Shortcut / Command
Detach session	Ctrl + b → d
Sessions navigation view	Ctrl + b → s

Copy / Scroll Mode

Action	Shortcut
Enter copy mode	Ctrl + b → [
Enter copy mode	Ctrl + b → Page Up
Scroll	Arrow keys / Page Up
Exit copy mode	Ctrl + b → q
Paste	Ctrl + b → ]

Power-user favorites

Action	Shortcut
Last window	Ctrl + b → l
Swap panes	Ctrl + b → { or }
Show clock	Ctrl + b → t