> ## 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.

# Pane Management

> Splitting, resizing, swapping, breaking and joining panes in tmux

## Understanding Panes

A **pane** is a rectangular section within a tmux window. Each pane contains a separate pseudo terminal and can run its own program independently. Panes allow you to view and interact with multiple programs simultaneously within a single window.

<Note>
  Panes are numbered starting from 0 in the order they are created. Each pane has a unique pane ID (like %0, %1) that persists for its lifetime.
</Note>

## Splitting Panes

### Basic Splitting

The most common way to create panes is by splitting existing ones:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Horizontal Split">
    ```bash theme={null}
    C-b "  # Split into top and bottom panes
    ```

    Creates two panes stacked vertically (horizontal split line).
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Vertical Split">
    ```bash theme={null}
    C-b %  # Split into left and right panes
    ```

    Creates two panes side by side (vertical split line).
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Split-Window Command

More control over splitting:

```bash theme={null}
# Split vertically (default)
tmux split-window
tmux splitw

# Split horizontally
tmux split-window -h
tmux splitw -h

# Split in reverse direction (before current pane)
tmux split-window -b
tmux split-window -hb  # Horizontal, before

# Specify pane size
tmux split-window -l 10     # 10 lines
tmux split-window -h -l 40  # 40 columns
tmux split-window -l 30%    # 30% of window

# Full width/height split
tmux split-window -hf  # Full height
tmux split-window -f   # Full width
```

### Creating Panes with Commands

```bash theme={null}
# Run a command in new pane
tmux split-window htop
tmux split-window -h 'tail -f /var/log/syslog'

# Start in specific directory
tmux split-window -c /var/log

# Set environment variable
tmux split-window -e EDITOR=vim

# Create empty pane (no command)
tmux split-window ''

# Forward stdin to empty pane
make 2>&1 | tmux split-window -dI &
```

<Tip>
  The `-d` flag creates a pane without switching to it, useful in scripts.
</Tip>

## Navigating Panes

### Quick Navigation

| Keys        | Action                            |
| ----------- | --------------------------------- |
| `C-b o`     | Select next pane in order         |
| `C-b ;`     | Move to previously active pane    |
| `C-b Up`    | Move to pane above                |
| `C-b Down`  | Move to pane below                |
| `C-b Left`  | Move to pane on left              |
| `C-b Right` | Move to pane on right             |
| `C-b q`     | Display pane numbers              |
| `C-b q 0-9` | Display pane numbers, then select |

### Select-Pane Command

```bash theme={null}
# Select pane by ID
tmux select-pane -t %2

# Navigate directionally
tmux select-pane -U  # Up
tmux select-pane -D  # Down
tmux select-pane -L  # Left
tmux select-pane -R  # Right

# Select last active pane
tmux select-pane -l

# Select pane using special tokens
tmux select-pane -t '{top}'         # Top pane
tmux select-pane -t '{bottom}'      # Bottom pane
tmux select-pane -t '{left}'        # Leftmost pane
tmux select-pane -t '{right}'       # Rightmost pane
tmux select-pane -t '{top-left}'    # Top-left pane
tmux select-pane -t '{bottom-right}' # Bottom-right pane
tmux select-pane -t '{up-of}'       # Pane above active
tmux select-pane -t '{down-of}'     # Pane below active
tmux select-pane -t '{left-of}'     # Pane left of active
tmux select-pane -t '{right-of}'    # Pane right of active
```

## Resizing Panes

### Interactive Resizing

<Steps>
  ### Arrow Keys (Fine)

  ```bash theme={null}
  C-b C-Up      # Resize up by 1 cell
  C-b C-Down    # Resize down by 1 cell
  C-b C-Left    # Resize left by 1 cell
  C-b C-Right   # Resize right by 1 cell
  ```

  ### Alt+Arrow Keys (Coarse)

  ```bash theme={null}
  C-b M-Up      # Resize up by 5 cells
  C-b M-Down    # Resize down by 5 cells
  C-b M-Left    # Resize left by 5 cells
  C-b M-Right   # Resize right by 5 cells
  ```
</Steps>

### Resize-Pane Command

```bash theme={null}
# Resize by specific amount
tmux resize-pane -U 5   # Up 5 lines
tmux resize-pane -D 10  # Down 10 lines
tmux resize-pane -L 20  # Left 20 columns
tmux resize-pane -R 15  # Right 15 columns

# Resize to absolute size
tmux resize-pane -x 80  # Set width to 80 columns
tmux resize-pane -y 24  # Set height to 24 lines

# Use percentage
tmux resize-pane -x 50%  # Half window width
tmux resize-pane -y 30%  # 30% of window height

# Target specific pane
tmux resize-pane -t %3 -R 10
```

### Zoom Pane

Temporarily make a pane fill the entire window:

```bash theme={null}
C-b z  # Toggle zoom on current pane

tmux resize-pane -Z  # Command form
```

<Note>
  Zoomed panes are marked with a `Z` flag in the status line. Press `C-b z` again to unzoom.
</Note>

## Swapping and Moving Panes

### Swapping Panes

Exchange two panes:

```bash theme={null}
C-b {  # Swap with previous pane
C-b }  # Swap with next pane

# Command form
tmux swap-pane -U  # Swap with previous
tmux swap-pane -D  # Swap with next

# Swap specific panes
tmux swap-pane -s %1 -t %3

# Swap without changing active pane
tmux swap-pane -d -t %2

# Use marked pane as source
tmux select-pane -m     # Mark pane
tmux swap-pane          # Swap with marked
```

### Rotating Panes

Rotate all panes in the window:

```bash theme={null}
C-b C-o  # Rotate panes forwards
C-b M-o  # Rotate panes backwards

tmux rotate-window     # Rotate down/right
tmux rotate-window -U  # Rotate up/left
```

### Breaking Panes Out

Turn a pane into its own window:

```bash theme={null}
C-b !  # Break pane into new window

# Command with options
tmux break-pane

# Create window at specific index
tmux break-pane -t :3

# Give new window a name
tmux break-pane -n logs

# Insert before (-b) or after (-a)
tmux break-pane -a -t :2

# Don't switch to new window
tmux break-pane -d
```

### Joining Panes

Move a pane from one window to another:

```bash theme={null}
# Join pane from another window
tmux join-pane -s :2.0  # Join pane 0 from window 2

# Specify destination
tmux join-pane -s :1 -t :3.1  # Join to specific pane

# Split direction
tmux join-pane -h -s :2  # Join horizontally
tmux join-pane -v -s :2  # Join vertically (default)

# Join before destination
tmux join-pane -b -s :2

# Specify size
tmux join-pane -l 30% -s :2

# Use marked pane
tmux select-pane -m     # Mark source pane
tmux join-pane          # Join marked pane
```

<Tip>
  Marking panes is useful for moving panes between windows without typing IDs. Mark with `C-b m`, clear mark with `C-b M`.
</Tip>

## Killing Panes

### Interactive Kill

```bash theme={null}
C-b x  # Kill current pane (prompts for confirmation)
```

### Command Line Kill

```bash theme={null}
# Kill current pane
tmux kill-pane

# Kill specific pane
tmux kill-pane -t %3

# Kill all panes except current
tmux kill-pane -a
tmux killp -a -t %2  # All except pane %2
```

## Pane Layouts

### Preset Layouts

Quickly arrange panes:

```bash theme={null}
C-b Space    # Cycle to next layout
C-b M-1      # even-horizontal
C-b M-2      # even-vertical  
C-b M-3      # main-horizontal
C-b M-4      # main-horizontal-mirrored
C-b M-5      # main-vertical
C-b M-6      # main-vertical-mirrored
C-b M-7      # tiled

# Command form
tmux select-layout even-horizontal
tmux select-layout main-vertical

# Next/previous layout
tmux next-layout
tmux previous-layout
```

### Layout Descriptions

<Accordion title="even-horizontal">
  Panes spread evenly from left to right across the window.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="even-vertical">
  Panes spread evenly from top to bottom.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="main-horizontal">
  Large pane at top, remaining panes spread left to right at bottom. Control main pane height with `main-pane-height` option.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="main-vertical">
  Large pane on left, remaining panes spread top to bottom on right. Control main pane width with `main-pane-width` option.
</Accordion>

<Accordion title="tiled">
  Panes spread evenly in both rows and columns.
</Accordion>

### Custom Layouts

```bash theme={null}
# Save current layout
tmux display-message -p '#{window_layout}'
# Output: bb62,159x48,0,0{79x48,0,0,79x48,80,0}

# Restore saved layout
tmux select-layout 'bb62,159x48,0,0{79x48,0,0,79x48,80,0}'

# Undo layout change
tmux select-layout -o

# Spread panes evenly
tmux select-layout -E
```

## Pane Synchronization

Send input to multiple panes simultaneously:

```bash theme={null}
# Enable synchronization for current window
tmux set-option -w synchronize-panes on

# Disable
tmux set-option -w synchronize-panes off

# Toggle with key binding
bind-key S set-option -w synchronize-panes
```

<Warning>
  When synchronize-panes is on, all input goes to every pane in the window. This only affects panes that are not in any special mode (like copy mode).
</Warning>

## Pane Information and Display

### Display Panes

```bash theme={null}
C-b q     # Show pane numbers briefly
C-b q 0-9 # Show numbers and switch to pane

# Display panes command
tmux display-panes
tmux display-panes -d 5000  # Show for 5 seconds
tmux display-panes -d 0     # Show until keypress
```

### List Panes

```bash theme={null}
# List panes in current window
tmux list-panes
tmux lsp

# List panes in specific window
tmux list-panes -t :2

# List all panes in session
tmux list-panes -s

# List all panes on server
tmux list-panes -a

# Custom format
tmux list-panes -F "Pane #{pane_index}: #{pane_title}"

# Filter panes
tmux list-panes -f '#{==:#{pane_active},1}'

# Sort panes
tmux list-panes -O index   # By index
tmux list-panes -O size    # By area
tmux list-panes -O creation # By creation time
```

### Pane Format Variables

Useful format variables for panes:

```bash theme={null}
# #{pane_id}              - Unique pane ID (%0, %1, etc.)
# #{pane_index}           - Pane index in window
# #{pane_current_command} - Current command
# #{pane_current_path}    - Current working directory
# #{pane_title}           - Pane title
# #{pane_pid}             - PID of pane process
# #{pane_active}          - 1 if pane is active
# #{pane_width}           - Pane width
# #{pane_height}          - Pane height
# #{pane_left}            - Left position
# #{pane_top}             - Top position
# #{pane_in_mode}         - 1 if pane is in mode
# #{pane_synchronized}    - 1 if synchronized
```

## Pane Titles and Borders

### Setting Pane Titles

```bash theme={null}
# Set pane title
tmux select-pane -T "Database Console"

# From shell with escape sequence
printf '\033]2;My Title\033\\'
```

### Pane Border Styles

```bash theme={null}
# Pane border style
set-option -g pane-border-style fg=blue

# Active pane border
set-option -g pane-active-border-style fg=green,bold

# Display pane numbers/indicators
set-option -g display-panes-colour blue
set-option -g display-panes-active-colour red
set-option -g display-panes-time 2000
```

### Pane Border Status

Show information in pane borders:

```bash theme={null}
# Enable border status
set-option -g pane-border-status top
set-option -g pane-border-status bottom
set-option -g pane-border-status off

# Format for border status
set-option -g pane-border-format " #{pane_index} #{pane_current_command} "
set-option -g pane-border-format " [ #T ] #{pane_current_path} "
```

## Marking Panes

Mark a pane as the default target for operations:

```bash theme={null}
C-b m  # Mark current pane
C-b M  # Clear marked pane

# Commands that use marked pane
tmux join-pane    # Join marked pane to current window
tmux swap-pane    # Swap with marked pane
tmux swap-window  # Swap window containing marked pane

# Target marked pane explicitly
tmux select-pane -t '{marked}'
```

<Note>
  Only one pane can be marked at a time. Marking a new pane clears the previous mark.
</Note>

## Enabling and Disabling Panes

Control pane input:

```bash theme={null}
# Disable input to pane (read-only)
tmux select-pane -d

# Enable input to pane
tmux select-pane -e

# Toggle with last-pane
tmux last-pane -e  # Enable input
tmux last-pane -d  # Disable input
```

## Advanced Pane Management

### Capture Pane Content

```bash theme={null}
# Capture visible content
tmux capture-pane

# Capture to stdout
tmux capture-pane -p

# Capture with history
tmux capture-pane -S -1000  # Last 1000 lines

# Capture specific range
tmux capture-pane -S 0 -E 50  # Lines 0-50

# Save to file
tmux capture-pane -p > output.txt

# Include escape sequences (colors/attributes)
tmux capture-pane -ep

# Save to buffer
tmux capture-pane -b mybuffer
```

### Pipe Pane Output

Redirect pane output to a command:

```bash theme={null}
# Pipe to file
tmux pipe-pane -o 'cat >>~/output.log'

# Pipe with format expansion
tmux pipe-pane -o 'cat >>~/tmux-#S-#I-#P.log'

# Toggle with -o
bind-key C-p pipe-pane -o 'cat >>~/output.#I-#P'

# Pipe input to pane
tmux pipe-pane -I 'command-that-generates-input'

# Stop piping
tmux pipe-pane
```

### Respawn Pane

Restart a pane that has exited:

```bash theme={null}
# Respawn with original command
tmux respawn-pane

# Respawn with new command
tmux respawn-pane 'htop'

# Kill existing process first
tmux respawn-pane -k

# Change directory
tmux respawn-pane -c /var/log
```

## Practical Examples

### Development Layout

```bash theme={null}
#!/bin/bash
# Create a development layout

tmux split-window -h -p 30
tmux select-pane -t 0
tmux split-window -v -p 15

# Pane 0: Editor (top-left, 70% width, 85% height)
# Pane 1: Terminal (bottom-left, 70% width, 15% height)  
# Pane 2: Logs (right, 30% width, full height)

tmux select-pane -t 0
tmux send-keys 'vim' C-m

tmux select-pane -t 2
tmux send-keys 'tail -f log/development.log' C-m
```

### Monitoring Dashboard

```bash theme={null}
# Create 2x2 grid
tmux split-window -h
tmux split-window -v
tmux select-pane -t 0
tmux split-window -v

# Top-left: CPU
tmux send-keys -t 0 'htop' C-m

# Bottom-left: Disk
tmux send-keys -t 1 'watch df -h' C-m

# Top-right: Network
tmux send-keys -t 2 'iftop' C-m

# Bottom-right: Logs
tmux send-keys -t 3 'tail -f /var/log/syslog' C-m
```

### Custom Key Bindings

```bash theme={null}
# Better split commands
bind | split-window -h -c "#{pane_current_path}"
bind - split-window -v -c "#{pane_current_path}"

# Quick pane selection
bind -n M-Left select-pane -L
bind -n M-Right select-pane -R
bind -n M-Up select-pane -U
bind -n M-Down select-pane -D

# Pane resizing
bind -r H resize-pane -L 5
bind -r J resize-pane -D 5
bind -r K resize-pane -U 5
bind -r L resize-pane -R 5

# Break pane to new window
bind B break-pane -d

# Join pane from other window
bind j command-prompt -p "join pane from:" "join-pane -s '%%'"
```