(index)=

# libtmux

Typed Python API for [tmux](https://github.com/tmux/tmux). Control
servers, sessions, windows, and panes as Python objects.

::::{grid} 1 1 3 3
:gutter: 2 2 3 3

:::{grid-item-card} Quickstart
:link: quickstart
:link-type: doc
Install and make your first API call in 5 minutes.
:::

:::{grid-item-card} Topics
:link: topics/index
:link-type: doc
Architecture, traversal, filtering, and automation patterns.
:::

:::{grid-item-card} API Reference
:link: api/index
:link-type: doc
Every public class, function, and exception.
:::

:::{grid-item-card} Testing
:link: api/testing/index
:link-type: doc
pytest plugin and test helpers for isolated tmux environments.
:::

:::{grid-item-card} Contributing
:link: project/index
:link-type: doc
Development setup, code style, release process.
:::

::::

## Install

```console
$ pip install libtmux
```

```console
$ uv add libtmux
```

Tip: libtmux is pre-1.0. Pin to a range: `libtmux>=0.55,<0.56`

See [Quickstart](quickstart.md) for all methods and first steps.

## At a glance

```python
import libtmux

server = libtmux.Server()
session = server.sessions.get(session_name="my-project")
window = session.active_window
pane = window.split()
pane.send_keys("echo hello")
```

```
Server  →  Session  →  Window  →  Pane
```

Every level of the [tmux hierarchy](topics/architecture.md) is a typed
Python object with traversal, filtering, and command execution.

| Object | What it wraps |
|--------|---------------|
| {class}`~libtmux.server.Server` | tmux server / socket |
| {class}`~libtmux.session.Session` | tmux session |
| {class}`~libtmux.window.Window` | tmux window |
| {class}`~libtmux.pane.Pane` | tmux pane |

## Testing

libtmux ships a [pytest plugin](api/testing/pytest-plugin/index.md) with
isolated tmux fixtures:

```python
def test_my_tool(session):
    window = session.new_window(window_name="test")
    pane = window.active_pane
    pane.send_keys("echo hello")
    assert window.window_name == "test"
```

```{toctree}
:hidden:

quickstart
topics/index
api/index
api/testing/index
internals/index
project/index
history
migration
glossary
MCP <https://libtmux-mcp.git-pull.com>
GitHub <https://github.com/tmux-python/libtmux>
```