> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/tmux/tmux/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Buffer Commands

> Commands for managing paste buffers and copy mode in tmux

## Overview

tmux maintains a set of named paste buffers. Each buffer may be either explicitly or automatically named. Buffers can be created from copy mode or by loading content from files.

## Buffer Naming

### Automatic Names

Automatically named buffers are given names like `buffer0001`, `buffer0002`, etc. When the `buffer-limit` option is reached, the oldest automatically named buffer is deleted.

### Explicit Names

Buffers can be explicitly named when created with `set-buffer` or `load-buffer`, or by renaming with `set-buffer -n`. Explicitly named buffers are not subject to `buffer-limit` and must be deleted manually with `delete-buffer`.

## copy-mode

```bash theme={null}
copy-mode [-eHMqu] [-s src-pane] [-t target-pane]
```

Enter copy mode, which allows a section of a window or its history to be copied to a paste buffer.

<ParamField path="-e" type="flag">
  Scroll to bottom when reaching the end in copy mode.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-H" type="flag">
  Hide the position indicator in the top right.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-M" type="flag">
  Begin a mouse drag (only valid if bound to a mouse key binding).
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-q" type="flag">
  Cancel copy mode and any other modes.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-u" type="flag">
  Scroll one page up immediately after entering copy mode.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-s" type="string">
  Copy from src-pane instead of target-pane.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-t" type="string">
  The target pane to enter copy mode in.
</ParamField>

### Copy Mode Key Bindings

Copy mode uses one of two key tables depending on the `mode-keys` option:

* `copy-mode` for emacs-style bindings
* `copy-mode-vi` for vi-style bindings

Key tables can be viewed with `list-keys -T copy-mode` or `list-keys -T copy-mode-vi`.

### Copy Mode Commands

Commands are sent to copy mode using `send-keys -X`. Common commands include:

* `begin-selection`: Start selecting text
* `cancel`: Exit copy mode
* `copy-selection`: Copy the current selection
* `copy-selection-and-cancel`: Copy selection and exit
* `cursor-down`, `cursor-up`, `cursor-left`, `cursor-right`: Move cursor
* `halfpage-down`, `halfpage-up`: Scroll half page
* `history-top`, `history-bottom`: Jump to top/bottom of history
* `search-forward`, `search-backward`: Search

## paste-buffer

Alias: `pasteb`

```bash theme={null}
paste-buffer [-dpr] [-b buffer-name] [-s separator] [-t target-pane]
```

Insert the contents of a paste buffer into the specified pane.

<ParamField path="-d" type="flag">
  Also delete the paste buffer after pasting.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-p" type="flag">
  Paste bracket control codes are sent before and after the buffer if the application has requested bracketed paste mode.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-r" type="flag">
  Do not replace line feeds (LF) with carriage returns (CR) when pasting.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-b" type="string">
  Name of the buffer to paste. If not specified, the most recently added automatically named buffer is used.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-s" type="string">
  Separator to replace LF characters with. Default is carriage return (CR). Ignored with `-r`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-t" type="string">
  The target pane. If not specified, paste into the current pane.
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Paste the most recent buffer
paste-buffer

# Paste a specific buffer
paste-buffer -b mybuffer

# Paste and delete buffer
paste-buffer -d

# Paste without LF to CR conversion
paste-buffer -r

# Paste to a specific pane
paste-buffer -t 0
```

## list-buffers

Alias: `lsb`

```bash theme={null}
list-buffers [-r] [-F format] [-f filter] [-O sort-order]
```

List the global paste buffers.

<ParamField path="-r" type="flag">
  Reverse the sort order.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-F" type="string">
  Specify the format of each line. Available format variables:

  * `#{buffer_name}`: Name of buffer
  * `#{buffer_size}`: Size in bytes
  * `#{buffer_sample}`: Sample of start of buffer
  * `#{buffer_created}`: Time buffer was created
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-f" type="string">
  Only show buffers for which the filter is true.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-O" type="string">
  Specify sort order: `name`, `size`, or `creation` (time).
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# List all buffers
list-buffers

# List with custom format
list-buffers -F "#{buffer_name}: #{buffer_size} bytes"

# List sorted by size
list-buffers -O size

# List in reverse order
list-buffers -r -O creation
```

## set-buffer

Alias: `setb`

```bash theme={null}
set-buffer [-aw] [-b buffer-name] [-t target-client] [-n new-buffer-name] [data]
```

Set the contents of a paste buffer or rename it.

<ParamField path="-a" type="flag">
  Append to the buffer instead of replacing.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-w" type="flag">
  Send the buffer to the clipboard for target-client using the xterm escape sequence.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-b" type="string">
  Name of the buffer. If not specified, a new automatically named buffer is created.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-t" type="string">
  Target client for sending to clipboard (with `-w`).
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-n" type="string">
  Rename the buffer to new-buffer-name.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="data" type="string">
  Data to set in the buffer. If not specified and `-n` is used, renames the buffer.
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Create a new buffer with data
set-buffer "Hello, World!"

# Create a named buffer
set-buffer -b mybuffer "Some text"

# Append to a buffer
set-buffer -a -b mybuffer " more text"

# Rename a buffer
set-buffer -b buffer0001 -n mybuffer

# Send buffer to clipboard
set-buffer -w -b mybuffer
```

## delete-buffer

Alias: `deleteb`

```bash theme={null}
delete-buffer [-b buffer-name]
```

Delete the specified paste buffer.

<ParamField path="-b" type="string">
  Name of the buffer to delete. If not specified, deletes the most recently added automatically named buffer.
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Delete the most recent buffer
delete-buffer

# Delete a specific buffer
delete-buffer -b mybuffer
```

## load-buffer

Alias: `loadb`

```bash theme={null}
load-buffer [-w] [-b buffer-name] [-t target-client] path
```

Load the contents of a file into a paste buffer.

<ParamField path="-w" type="flag">
  Send the buffer to the clipboard for target-client using the xterm escape sequence.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-b" type="string">
  Name for the buffer. If not specified, creates a new automatically named buffer.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-t" type="string">
  Target client for sending to clipboard (with `-w`).
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="path" type="string" required>
  Path to the file to load. Use `-` to read from stdin.
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Load from file
load-buffer /path/to/file.txt

# Load into named buffer
load-buffer -b mybuffer /path/to/file.txt

# Load from stdin
echo "test" | tmux load-buffer -

# Load and send to clipboard
load-buffer -w /path/to/file.txt
```

## save-buffer

Alias: `saveb`

```bash theme={null}
save-buffer [-a] [-b buffer-name] path
```

Save the contents of a paste buffer to a file.

<ParamField path="-a" type="flag">
  Append to the file instead of overwriting.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-b" type="string">
  Name of the buffer to save. If not specified, uses the most recently added automatically named buffer.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="path" type="string" required>
  Path to save to. Use `-` to write to stdout.
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Save to file
save-buffer /path/to/file.txt

# Save specific buffer
save-buffer -b mybuffer /path/to/file.txt

# Append to file
save-buffer -a /path/to/file.txt

# Write to stdout
save-buffer -
```

## show-buffer

Alias: `showb`

```bash theme={null}
show-buffer [-b buffer-name]
```

Display the contents of a paste buffer.

<ParamField path="-b" type="string">
  Name of the buffer to show. If not specified, shows the most recently added automatically named buffer.
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Show most recent buffer
show-buffer

# Show specific buffer
show-buffer -b mybuffer
```

## choose-buffer

```bash theme={null}
choose-buffer [-NryZ] [-F format] [-f filter] [-K key-format] 
              [-O sort-order] [-t target-pane] [template]
```

Put a pane into buffer mode, where a buffer may be chosen interactively from a list.

<ParamField path="-N" type="flag">
  Start without the preview.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-r" type="flag">
  Reverse the sort order.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-y" type="flag">
  Disable any confirmation prompts.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-Z" type="flag">
  Zoom the pane.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-F" type="string">
  Format for each item in the list.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-f" type="string">
  Initial filter (as a format expression).
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-K" type="string">
  Format for each shortcut key.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-O" type="string">
  Initial sort order: `creation` (time), `name`, or `size`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-t" type="string">
  Target pane.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="template" type="string">
  After a buffer is chosen, `%%` is replaced by the buffer name and the result is executed as a command. Default: `paste-buffer -p -b '%%'`
</ParamField>

### Buffer Mode Keys

* `Enter`: Paste selected buffer
* `Up`/`Down`: Navigate
* `C-s`: Search
* `n`/`N`: Repeat search forward/backward
* `t`: Toggle tag
* `T`/`C-t`: Tag none/all
* `p`/`P`: Paste selected/tagged buffers
* `d`/`D`: Delete selected/tagged buffers
* `e`: Open buffer in editor
* `f`: Enter filter
* `O`: Change sort order
* `r`: Reverse sort
* `v`: Toggle preview
* `q`: Exit

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Choose buffer interactively
choose-buffer

# Choose with custom action
choose-buffer "save-buffer -b '%%' /tmp/buffer.txt"

# Choose sorted by size
choose-buffer -O size
```

## clear-history

Alias: `clearhist`

```bash theme={null}
clear-history [-H] [-t target-pane]
```

Remove and free the history for the specified pane.

<ParamField path="-H" type="flag">
  Also remove all hyperlinks.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="-t" type="string">
  The target pane.
</ParamField>

### Examples

```bash theme={null}
# Clear history in current pane
clear-history

# Clear history in specific pane
clear-history -t 0

# Clear history and hyperlinks
clear-history -H
```