Complete Tutorial on File Editors: nano, vi, and vim

Text editors are essential tools in the Linux command-line environment for editing configuration files, writing scripts, and managing documents. Among the most widely used editors are:

• nano: A simple and beginner-friendly text editor.
• vi: A classic text editor available on almost all UNIX-based systems.
• vim: An improved version of vi with additional features.

This tutorial covers how to use each editor with practical examples.

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1. nano Editor

Introduction

nano is a straightforward and easy-to-use text editor. It is commonly pre-installed on Linux systems.

Opening a File

To open a file in nano, use:

nano filename

If the file does not exist, nano creates a new one.

Basic Navigation and Editing

• Arrow keys: Move the cursor.
• Typing text: Works as expected, like in a simple text editor.

Common nano Commands

Command	Description
CTRL + O	Save the file
CTRL + X	Exit nano (asks to save if changes exist)
CTRL + G	Open help menu
CTRL + K	Cut current line
CTRL + U	Paste cut text
CTRL + W	Search for text
CTRL + C	Show cursor position
CTRL + A	Move to the beginning of the line
CTRL + E	Move to the end of the line

Example: Creating and Editing a File

1. Open a file named example.txt: nano example.txt
2. Type some text.
3. Save the file (CTRL + O, then Enter).
4. Exit (CTRL + X).

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2. vi Editor

Introduction

vi (Visual Editor) is a powerful text editor available on almost all UNIX and Linux systems. It operates in different modes:

• Command Mode: For executing commands.
• Insert Mode: For editing text.
• Last Line Mode: For saving, exiting, and performing other actions.

Opening a File

vi filename

If the file does not exist, vi creates a new one.

Modes in vi

Mode	How to Enter	Description
Command Mode	Default when vi starts	Used for navigation and commands
Insert Mode	Press i, a, o	Used for text editing
Last Line Mode	Press : in Command Mode	Used for saving, quitting, and other operations

Basic Navigation

Command	Action
h	Move left
l	Move right
k	Move up
j	Move down
0	Move to beginning of line
$	Move to end of line

Editing Text

Command	Action
i	Insert before cursor
a	Append after cursor
o	Open a new line below
dd	Delete current line
yy	Copy current line
p	Paste copied text

Saving and Exiting

Command	Action
:w	Save file
:q	Quit vi
:wq or ZZ	Save and quit
:q!	Quit without saving

Example: Creating and Editing a File

1. Open example.txt: vi example.txt
2. Press i to enter Insert Mode and type some text.
3. Press ESC to return to Command Mode.
4. Save and exit with :wq.

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3. vim Editor

Introduction

vim (Vi IMproved) is an enhanced version of vi with additional features like syntax highlighting, undo/redo, and plugins.

Installing vim

If vim is not installed, install it using:

sudo apt install vim  # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo yum install vim  # CentOS/RHEL
sudo dnf install vim  # Fedora

Opening a File

vim filename

Modes in vim

Similar to vi, vim has:

• Command Mode (default)
• Insert Mode (press i)
• Last Line Mode (press :)

Advanced Navigation

Command	Action
G	Go to last line
gg	Go to first line
Ctrl + d	Scroll half-page down
Ctrl + u	Scroll half-page up

Advanced Editing

Command	Action
u	Undo last change
Ctrl + r	Redo last undone change
.	Repeat last command
x	Delete character
r	Replace character

Search and Replace

Command	Action
/word	Search for “word”
n	Find next occurrence
:%s/old/new/g	Replace “old” with “new” globally

Saving and Exiting

Command	Action
:w	Save file
:q	Quit vim
:wq	Save and quit
:q!	Quit without saving

Example: Creating and Editing a File

1. Open example.txt: vim example.txt
2. Press i to enter Insert Mode and type text.
3. Press ESC, then :wq to save and exit.

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Summary: Comparing nano, vi, and vim

Feature	nano	vi	vim
User-Friendly	✅ Yes	❌ No	❌ No
Available by Default	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌ No (needs installation)
Syntax Highlighting	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Undo/Redo	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes
Mouse Support	✅ Yes	❌ No	✅ Yes
Plugins and Customization	❌ No	❌ No	✅ Yes

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Conclusion

• Use nano for quick and simple edits.
• Use vi if you need a reliable editor available everywhere.
• Use vim for advanced text editing with powerful features.