# Tmux Command mode

**Command mode** lets you type raw tmux commands to control sessions, windows, and panes. Enter command mode with `Ctrl+B :`, type a command, and press `Enter`.

```
Ctrl+B :            enter command mode
```

Common commands:

```bash
# Window management
new-window -n name              create window named "name"
kill-window                     kill current window
rename-window new-name          rename current window

# Pane management
split-window -v                 split vertically (top/bottom)
split-window -h                 split horizontally (left/right)
kill-pane                       kill current pane
send-keys -t window "cmd" Enter  send command to window

# Session management
new-session -s name             create named session
kill-session -t name            kill session
rename-session -t old new       rename session

# General
list-sessions                   list all sessions
list-windows -t session         list windows in session
list-panes -t session:window    list panes in window
set-option -g option value      set global option
set-window-option -g option value  set window option
```

Most key bindings are shortcuts for commands. For example, `Ctrl+B c` is equivalent to `Ctrl+B :new-window Enter`. Some commands are easier to type than to remember the keybinding.

View all available commands:

```bash
$ tmux list-commands
```

Common patterns in scripts:

```bash
# Send a command to a window and execute it
tmux send-keys -t session:window "npm start" Enter

# Create a new window in an existing session
tmux new-window -t session -n build -c ~/build

# Set a variable for the current session
tmux set-option -t session option value

# Get the value of an option
tmux show-option -t session option
```

Command mode is powerful for automation and scripting. You can run multiple commands in sequence to set up complex layouts programmatically.