whatis terminal-multiplexer
Terminal Multiplexer
Also known as: tmux, GNU screen
A program like tmux or screen that runs multiple shells in one terminal and keeps them alive after you disconnect.
What Is a Terminal Multiplexer?
A multiplexer lets you split one terminal into panes and windows, then detach and reattach later. Processes inside keep running when your SSH connection drops, which makes it essential for long jobs on remote servers.
tmux is the modern default; GNU screen is older but still installed on many systems. Both use a prefix key (Ctrl+b in tmux, Ctrl+a in screen) followed by a command key.
Example
tmux new -s work
# detach: Ctrl+b d
tmux attach -t workLearn more about Terminal Multiplexer
- tmux Basics for Beginners tmux lets you run terminal sessions that survive disconnects and split a single terminal into multiple panes. This guide covers sessions, windows, panes, and the detach/reattach workflow that makes tmux essential for remote work over SSH.
- screen vs tmux: Which Terminal Multiplexer Why a multiplexer keeps your session alive when SSH drops, where screen still wins, and how to reattach to the session you left running last week.