tmux – terminal multiplexer software

Last Updated on April 6, 2023

tmux is a “terminal multiplexer”. This application enables a number of terminals (or windows) to be created, accessed and controlled from a single screen.

tmux runs as a server-client system. A server is created automatically when necessary and holds a number of sessions, each of which may have a number of windows linked to it.The tmux server manages clients, sessions, windows and panes.

Any number of clients may connect to a session, or the server may be controlled by issuing commands with tmux. Communication takes place through a socket, by default placed in /tmp.

tmux provides a consistent and well-documented command interface, with the same syntax whether used interactively, as a key binding, or from the shell. It offers a choice of vim or Emacs key layouts.

tmux is included in the base system of OpenBSD.

Features include:

• Uses a clearly defined client-server model.
• A powerful, consistent, well-documented and easily scriptable command interface.
• A window may be split horizontally and vertically into panes.
• Panes can be freely moved and resized, or arranged into preset layouts.
• Menus for interactive selection of running sessions, windows or clients.
• Support for UTF-8 and 256-colour terminals.
• Copy and paste with multiple buffers.
• Interactive menus to select windows, sessions or clients.
• Change the current window by searching for text in the target.
• Window can be linked to the arbitrary amount of sessions.
• Terminal locking, manually or after a timeout.
• Multiple paste buffers.
• Choice of vi or emacs keybindings.
• Search in windows.
• Easily scriptable.
• Optional status line which is displayed in the bottom line of each terminal.

Website: github.com/tmux/tmux
Support:
Developer: Nicholas Marriott
License: BSD

tmux is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.

Return to Terminal Multiplexers Home Page | Return to Top Terminal Multiplexer Tools Home Page

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