How to save and exit file using nano editor in Linux
SAVING AND EXIT FILES IN NANO: A GUIDE
When Nano was released in 1999, Linux users embraced it and started using it extensively. Nano's simplicity, especially its interface, makes it impressive for new and unskilled practitioners. The editing options in the standard Nano editor stem only require a little command recognition. It just accesses a small fraction of the RAM and hardly occupies any disk space.
Nano is a Linux and UNIX-like operating system text editor from the command line interface text editor. It is a simple text editor that provides few features and is useful for Linux newbies and anybody inexperienced in using computers. This article is a guide to file storage in the Nano text editor on Linux.
Opening a file in Nano to edit the file is simple. This is the best place to note that it is relatively easy to get to the contents of the file so that one can correct any mistake if there is one. To open a new one or an existing file in the Nano text editor, you have to type the name of the Nano file in the terminal. For example, the first is a text file that reads "nano testfile.txt".
EXITING THE NANO EDITOR
Exiting the Nano editor is easy, and this article will highlight how to do it correctly to ensure you don’t lose your work that was not saved.
● To exit Nano, which you will want to do when you’re finished with Nano, you use Ctrl+X. This command requests that you save all the changes to the file.
● There will be a question if you want to save the modified buffer, and if the answer is positive and there were changes, use Y for Yes. You will then be prompted to input the filename you want to give it.
● If a user wants to save a file with the existing name, an option can be run by pressing Enter.
● You can press N (no) if you are asked about the buffer to save it when you haven’t entered any changes, or you don’t wish to save the existing ones. This action will accomplish the purpose of logging out of Nano immediately without the ability to cancel the changes.
![What is VPS hosting](https://vikhost.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/exit-nano-file.webp)
This means that you know the commands required to exit Nano appropriately, terminate your work, and the loss of content.
SAVE AND QUIT IN NANO
To retain changes made in the file, press Ctrl+O on the keyboard.
● If you are ‘Undoing’ your work and returning to the document, press the combination keys Ctrl+Z. This will open a dialogue box in which you must enter the name in the box provided as an exact name under which the file will be saved.
● The use of Enter key is used to save the file with the name that was entered.
● If you must save the document under another name, type a new file name and press the Enter key.
● When you are done saving, the Nano text editor automatically returns you to the text editor screen, but the saved file will remain open.
Once you have made your corrections, hold the Ctrl button on your keyboard and press X to exit Nano.
QUITTING NANO WITHOUT SAVING CHANGES
Thus, if you close Nano, there are some changes that have not been saved, you will be prompted to save them. Y for yes and N for no to apply the change, or N to exit without saving the change.
1. In almost every program, the Ctrl+O key combination may be used to save the named file before exiting.
2. The Control key and the G activate the Help window at the lower part of the screen.
3. Type “set autosave” and press Enter to use the autosave and exit facility.
4. What remains now is pressing the Ctrl+X keys, which will save changes to the file.
If you’ve progressed this far, we expect the Nano text editor workflow to explain how to open, edit, and save a file before exiting, which has assisted you.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Using the commands: Ctrl+O and Ctrl+X and you can save the Nano file or exit the Nano editor.
One of the advantages of saving and exiting Nano is to shield against such scenarios which come with data loss. As for saving files, there is no problem as Nano is quite user-friendly, and a user can maneuver his way around the program without trouble if he is new to the program. If the reader requires further description or explanation about something in this manual, feel free to contact us.