zellij — Modern Terminal Multiplexer

Linux / Modern CLI Tools / zellij.html

Modern CLI ToolsOriginalRegistered 2026-01-19T18:00:00+09:00

💬 "zellij command"

zellij is a terminal workspace (multiplexer) tool. Like tmux or screen it splits the screen into panes and tabs, but it offers on-screen hints and shortcuts that beginners can pick up immediately.

Written in Rust, it includes floating panes, preset layouts, browser support, and plugins—a terminal workspace with batteries included.

Concept: Split the terminal into vertical/horizontal panes or tabs to work on several things at once.
Features: Pane splitting, tabs, floating panes, saved layouts, session persistence, and plugins.
Strength: No need to memorize keys—the bottom status bar and Ctrl+H help are always available.
Use when: You SSH into a server and want an editor, logs, and monitoring visible together.

Basic Usage

When you run zellij a session starts and the currently available shortcuts are always shown at the bottom of the screen.

1. Start / re-attach sessions

A named session keeps running even if your SSH connection drops.

zellij                     # start a new session
zellij attach --create work  # re-attach (create if missing)
zellij list-sessions       # list sessions

2. Split and move

Split the screen and move between panes.

Ctrl+P  # open the command palette
Ctrl+N  # new pane
Ctrl+T  # new tab
Alt+arrows  # move between panes

3. Save and quit

Leave without losing work, or quit fully.

Ctrl+Q  # quit zellij (session persists)
Ctrl+D  # close current pane

Installation & Download

zellij installs via cargo, a prebuilt binary, or a package manager.

Environment	Command
cargo	`cargo binstall zellij` (or `cargo install zellij`)
Release binary	github.com/zellij-org/zellij/releases
Ubuntu/Debian (if packaged)	`sudo apt install zellij`
macOS (Homebrew)	`brew install zellij`

Verify with zellij --version and run with zellij. Press Ctrl+H at any time for the in-app help.

Common Shortcuts

Command / Key	Description
`Ctrl+P`	Open the command palette to search and run actions
`Ctrl+N`	Split the current pane vertically into a new pane
`Ctrl+T`	Create a new tab
`Alt+arrows`	Move between panes
`Ctrl+Q`	Quit zellij (the session is kept)

3 Essential Command Combinations

zellij attach --create work — Create a work session and re-attach anytime
zellij list-sessions — Check live sessions
zellij run -- cmd — Run an external command inside the zellij session

💬 "Using zellij on a real server"

A step-by-step look at splitting the screen while working over SSH.

Step 1 · Create a session

Make a named work session.

zellij attach --create deploy

Step 2 · Split the screen

Logs on the left, editor on the right.

# After Ctrl+N to split
# One pane: tail -f /var/log/nginx/error.log
# Other pane: vi config.yaml

Step 3 · Persist and re-attach

Leave and come back later.

zellij list-sessions
zellij attach deploy

How it is used in practice

1. Logs and editor side by side

Situation — Watch logs and edit config during a deploy.

zellij attach --create deploy

Result — One pane tails logs while the other shows the editor.

Point — Keep status in view without tab-switching for faster response.

2. Keep work across disconnects

Situation — Do not lose work when SSH drops.

zellij attach --create longjob

Result — Start a long job, leave, and re-attach to find it still running.

Point — Safe for long builds and deploys on flaky networks.

Caveats

Default keys differ from tmux at first—use the bottom status bar and Ctrl+H help while learning.
If session names collide you attach to the existing one; check with list-sessions first.
Plugins and layouts need extra setup and work most reliably in standard terminals.