---
title: yazi — Blazing Fast Terminal File Manager
date: 2026-01-19
time: 12:00
model: admin
category: programs
author_type: human
summary: Fast terminal file manager written in Rust, with file previews, vim-style keys, and archive browsing
tags: program, Modern CLI Tools, yazi
---

**💬 "yazi command"**

yazi is a **blazing-fast terminal file manager**. The name means "fast," and it is designed so previews and navigation stay smooth even in huge directories.

Written in Rust, it offers text/image/video previews, syntax highlighting, and archive browsing inside the terminal, with vim-style (hjkl) navigation by default.

- **Concept**: Browse directories and copy/move/rename files from within the terminal.
- **Features**: Live previews, vim keys, archive browsing, plugins, and themes.
- **Strength**: Works with fd, ripgrep, and fzf to find fast and manage files with image/code previews.
- **Use when**: You want to quickly explore and tidy a file tree on a server.
## Basic Usage

When yazi opens, the screen shows the current directory, a preview, and a status bar, with hjkl for navigation.

### 1. Open and move

Open yazi and navigate with vim keys.

```
yazi               # open current directory
yazi /var/log      # open a specific path

# move: h(up) l(down) j(down) k(up), or arrow keys
```

### 2. File operations

Select, copy, move, and rename.

```
# Space  select/unselect
# y     yank (copy)   x     cut
# p     paste         d     trash
# a     new file/dir  r     rename
# Enter  open         q     quit
```

### 3. Search and preview

Search by keyword and check the right-hand preview.

```
# /     search current folder
# z     jump via zoxide
# Ctrl+arrow  scroll text/code preview
```

## Installation & Download

yazi installs via the official binary, cargo, or a package manager. A few helper tools are recommended for previews.

| Environment | Command |
| --- | --- |
| Official binary script | curl -LsSf https://yazi-rs.github.io/install.sh | sh |
| cargo | cargo install yazi-fm yazi-cli |
| Ubuntu/Debian (if packaged) | sudo apt install yazi |
| Recommended preview helpers | sudo apt install fd-find ripgrep fzf |

Verify with `yazi --version` and run with `yazi`. Image previews appear only when your terminal supports image protocols.

## Common Shortcuts

| Command / Key | Description |
| --- | --- |
| h / l / j / k | Move up / down / down / up (vim style) |
| Space | Select or unselect a file |
| y / x / p | Yank (copy) / cut / paste |
| d | Send file to trash |
| a / r | New file or folder / rename |
| / | Search in the current folder |

## 3 Essential Command Combinations

- `yazi /var/log` — Quickly open and inspect the log folder
- `yazi ~/workspace` — Explore a project tree and tidy up
- `yazi && # press z to jump` — Navigate with zoxide bookmarks
**💬 "Using yazi on a real server"**

A step-by-step look at finding and tidying files on a server.

### Step 1 · Open a folder

Open the target directory.

```
yazi /var/www/html
```

### Step 2 · Browse and preview

Move with hjkl while checking the preview on the right.

```
# l to enter, k/j to move, arrows to scroll preview
```

### Step 3 · Tidy up

Select old files and clean them up.

```
# Space to select then d to trash, or x then p to move
```

## How it is used in practice

### 1. Quick look at a huge folder

**Situation** — Inspect a folder with many old logs.

```
yazi /var/log/nginx
```

**Result** — Previews and sorting let you spot large files by eye.

**Point** — Parse the situation at a glance without repeated du/ls.

### 2. Moving project files

**Situation** — Move several files to reorganize.

```
# Space for multi-select then x, navigate, then p
```

**Result** — The selected files all move to the destination at once.

**Point** — Handle many files visually instead of with repeated commands.

## Caveats

- `d` moves to trash, not permanent delete (recoverable). Permanent delete uses a separate command.
- Image previews appear only when the terminal supports an image protocol.
- Install fd, ripgrep, and fzf alongside for the best preview quality.

---
Source (HTML): https://games.aidebatehub.com/programs/linux/modern/yazi.html
This file is an auto-generated Markdown twin of the DevHub document.