Session ($id): Named container of windows, persists after detach
Window (@id): Tab-like container of panes within a session
Pane (%id): Individual terminal within a window
Client: Terminal attached to a session
Router
User says
Load reference
Do
list sessions / status
references/session-management.md
inspect sessions
new session / create session
references/session-management.md
create session
attach / detach
references/session-management.md
attach/detach
kill session
references/session-management.md
terminate session
new window / create window
references/window-management.md
create window
rename window
references/window-management.md
rename window
kill window / close window
references/window-management.md
close window
switch window
references/window-management.md
navigate windows
split / new pane
references/pane-management.md
split pane
resize pane
references/pane-management.md
resize pane
move pane / swap pane
references/pane-management.md
rearrange panes
kill pane / close pane
references/pane-management.md
close pane
layout
references/layouts.md
apply/manage layouts
copy / paste / buffer
references/copy-mode.md
copy mode operations
config / tmux.conf / settings
references/configuration.md
configure tmux
keybind / bind / unbind
references/keybindings.md
key bindings
script / automate / send-keys
references/scripting.md
scripting/automation
capture / log / output
references/scripting.md
capture pane content
help / keys / cheatsheet
inline
show key reference
Default Key Bindings (Prefix: C-b)
Session
Key
Action
d
Detach from session
s
List/switch sessions
$
Rename session
( / )
Previous/next session
Window
Key
Action
c
Create window
&
Kill window (confirm)
,
Rename window
0-9
Switch to window N
n / p
Next/previous window
l
Last window
w
List windows
f
Find window
Pane
Key
Action
%
Split horizontally (left/right)
"
Split vertically (top/bottom)
x
Kill pane (confirm)
o
Cycle panes
q
Show pane numbers
z
Toggle zoom
{ / }
Swap pane left/right
!
Break pane to window
Arrows
Navigate panes
Space
Cycle layouts
C-o
Rotate panes
Copy Mode
Key
Action
[
Enter copy mode
]
Paste buffer
=
Choose paste buffer
#
List buffers
Quick Reference
# Session
tmux new -s name # Create named session
tmux attach -t name # Attach to session
tmux ls# List sessions
tmux kill-session -t name # Kill session# Window
tmux new-window -n name # Create named window
tmux select-window -t :N # Go to window N
tmux rename-window name # Rename current window# Pane
tmux split-window -h # Split horizontal
tmux split-window -v # Split vertical
tmux select-pane -t :.N # Go to pane N
tmux resize-pane -D 5 # Resize down 5 lines# Info
tmux list-keys # All key bindings
tmux info # Server info
Safety Rules
Confirm before kill: Always confirm before kill-session, kill-window, kill-pane
Check attachments: Before killing, check if session has active clients
Preserve work: Warn if panes have running processes
Config backup: Before editing ~/.tmux.conf, suggest backup
Confirmation Policy
Read-only (always OK):
tmux ls, list-sessions, list-windows, list-panes
tmux info, show-options, display-message
tmux list-keys, list-buffers
Requires confirmation:
kill-session, kill-window, kill-pane
kill-server
Editing ~/.tmux.conf
send-keys to panes (can affect running processes)
Environment Variables
Variable
Description
TMUX
Socket path (set inside tmux)
TMUX_PANE
Current pane ID
Check if inside tmux: [ -n "$TMUX" ]
Troubleshooting
Issue
Solution
"no server running"
Start with tmux or tmux new
"sessions should be nested"
Unset $TMUX or use tmux -u
Detached session lost
Check tmux ls, attach with tmux attach
Colors not working
Set TERM=xterm-256color or set -g default-terminal "tmux-256color"
