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How to Delete Line in Nano Editor?

Last Updated : 01 May, 2024
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In a terminal environment, Nano is a straightforward and widely used text editor for Linux and macOS systems. Deleting lines in Nano is a basic yet essential operation, allowing for efficient editing within files. By following simple keyboard shortcuts like "Ctrl+K," you can swiftly remove lines from your text. Additionally, Nano includes an undo function ("Alt+U" or "Ctrl+U") to recover accidentally deleted content. These methods make line deletion in Nano efficient and user-friendly.

Step 1: Open the File

First, open the terminal and open the file you want to edit in the Nano editor by typing:

nano filename.txt
Opening nano editor
Opening nano editor

Then, press "Enter". It will open the nano editor, having the file data in it.

File Opened
File Opened

Step 2: Navigate to the Line

Use the "arrows" keys present on the keyboard to move the cursor to the line you want to delete.

Step 3: Delete the Line

Method 1: Delete the current line

  • Go to the line that you want to delete. Then, press "Ctrl + K". This deletes the line from the cursor position to the end of the line.
  • Save Changes: After deleting the line(s), you can save the changes by pressing Ctrl + O.
  • Nano will confirm the filename. Press "Enter" to save the changes.
  • Exit Nano: To exit from "Nano", press "Ctrl + X".
  • That's it! You've successfully deleted the line(s) from your file using Nano.
Deleting Current Single Line
Deleting Current Single Line

Output:

Line 3 Deleted
Line 3 Deleted

Method 2: To delete multiple lines

  • Move the cursor to the first line you want to delete, then press "Ctrl + Shift + 6" to select the lines you want to delete.
  • Move the cursor to the last line you want to delete.
Selecting Line 4 and 5 to Delete
Selecting Lines 4 and 5 to Delete
  • Then, press "Ctrl + K" to delete the lines.
  • Save Changes: After deleting the line(s), you can save the changes by pressing "Ctrl + O".
  • Nano will prompt you to confirm the filename. Press "Enter" to save the changes.
  • Exit Nano: To exit from "Nano", press "Ctrl + X".

Output:

Line 4 and 5 are Deleted
Lines 4 and 5 are Deleted

Method 3: Navigate to the Line

  • Press "Ctrl + Shift + _ (underscore)" to go to the line you want to delete. It will ask, you for "Line number", enter the line number. It will directly navigate you to that particular line.
Entering Specific Line Number
Entering Specific Line Number
  • Then, press "Ctrl + K" to delete it.
  • Save Changes: After deleting the line(s), you can save the changes by pressing "Ctrl + O".
  • Nano will prompt you to confirm the filename. Press "Enter" to save the changes.
  • Exit Nano: Press "Ctrl + X" to exit from the Nano editor.
  • This method lets you delete the current line or a specific line by specifying its line number. It can be useful when you know the exact line number you want to delete.

Output:

Line Deleted
Line Deleted

Hence, these methods allow you to Delete Lines in Nano Editor.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, removing line­s in the Nano text editor is e­asy. You can use key combinations to do it. Press `Ctrl + K` to de­lete one line­. For multiple lines, press `Ctrl + Shift + 6` to mark the­ start. Then press `Ctrl + K` to cut those line­s. Remember, Nano doe­s not save delete­d lines. You cannot undo line dele­tions directly. But you can edit text comfortably with the­se commands. If you prefer using the­ mouse, select line­s and press delete­. Learning these de­letion methods helps you work faste­r and better in Nano.


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