gnome-terminal

Open a new GNOME terminal window

$ gnome-terminal

$ gnome-terminal -- [command]

$ gnome-terminal --tab

$ gnome-terminal --tab [[-t|--title]] "[title]"

gnome-terminal [options] [-- COMMAND [ARG...]]

--help
    Display a help message and exit.

--version
    Display version information and exit.

--window
    Open a new terminal window.

--tab
    Open a new tab in the last-used window.

--command=COMMAND or --execute=COMMAND
    Execute the specified command instead of a shell in the new terminal.

--profile=PROFILE_NAME
    Set the profile to use for the new terminal session.

--geometry=GEOMETRY
    Set the window size and position (e.g., '80x24+100+200').

--zoom=ZOOM_LEVEL
    Set the initial zoom level (e.g., '1.0' for normal, '2.0' for double size).

--working-directory=DIR
    Set the initial working directory for the new terminal.

gnome-terminal is the default terminal emulator for the GNOME desktop environment, providing a graphical interface to interact with the system's command-line shell. It offers a robust and user-friendly way to execute commands, run scripts, and manage files directly from the desktop.

Key features include support for multiple tabs within a single window, allowing users to manage several command-line sessions concurrently. It also provides highly customizable profiles, enabling users to define distinct settings for font, color schemes, background, and scrolling behavior. These profiles can be easily switched to suit different tasks or preferences. The terminal supports various standard features like copy/paste, text selection, and search, alongside more advanced capabilities such as URL detection and automatic resizing. It integrates seamlessly with the GNOME environment, making it a powerful and essential tool for developers, system administrators, and regular users alike.

gnome-terminal primarily operates within the GNOME desktop environment. While it can be run standalone, its full feature set, especially regarding profiles and seamless window/tab management, is best experienced within a graphical session. Long-running background processes started directly in gnome-terminal will terminate when the terminal window is closed, unless specifically detached (e.g., using `nohup` or `disown`).

gnome-terminal's strength lies in its customizable profiles. Users can create multiple profiles, each with unique settings for colors (foreground, background, palette), fonts, cursor style, scrollback lines, and even custom commands to run on startup. This allows for tailored environments for different tasks, such as a dark theme for coding or a high-contrast theme for log monitoring. Profiles significantly enhance productivity and user experience.

It supports a wide range of keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation and control, including creating new tabs (Ctrl+Shift+T), closing tabs (Ctrl+Shift+W), switching between tabs (Ctrl+PgUp/PgDown or Alt+number), and zooming (Ctrl++/-). These shortcuts allow users to perform common actions quickly without relying on mouse input.

gnome-terminal has been an integral part of the GNOME desktop environment since its early versions, providing the standard command-line interface for GNOME users. It was developed to offer a more feature-rich and integrated alternative to basic X terminals like `xterm`, aligning with GNOME's goal of a user-friendly and modern desktop experience. Over the years, it has evolved with the GNOME project, adding features like tabs, profiles, and improved Unicode support, reflecting changes in user needs and underlying system capabilities. Its design prioritizes ease of use and customization, making it a reliable and widely adopted terminal emulator in the Linux ecosystem.

bash(1), zsh(1), xterm(1), konsole(1), tmux(1), screen(1)