Below is an easy-to-read list of keyboard shortcuts and commands to navigate your Linux computer efficiently: (Note that some variations between systems may apply)
General Shortcuts:
Open Terminal: Ctrl + Alt + T
Close current application: Alt + F4
Switch between open applications: Alt + Tab
Logout from current session: Ctrl + Alt + Del
Navigating the File System:
Open File Manager (Nautilus): Super (Windows key) + E
Move back in directory: Alt + Left Arrow
Move forward in directory: Alt + Right Arrow
Go to Home directory: Ctrl + H
Go to Desktop: Ctrl + D
Open a folder or file: Enter
Rename a file or folder: F2
Copy selected item: Ctrl + C
Cut selected item: Ctrl + X
Paste copied/cut item: Ctrl + V
Delete selected item: Delete
Create a new folder: Ctrl + Shift + N
Navigating Applications:
Switch between open windows of the same application: Alt + `
Close the current window: Ctrl + W
Minimize the current window: Ctrl + M
Maximize/Restore the current window: Ctrl + Super + Up Arrow / Down Arrow
Navigating Web Browsers (e.g., Firefox, Chrome):
Open a new tab: Ctrl + T
Close the current tab: Ctrl + W
Switch to the next tab: Ctrl + Tab
Switch to the previous tab: Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Open a link in a new tab: Ctrl + Left Click
Go back in the browser history: Alt + Left Arrow
Go forward in the browser history: Alt + Right Arrow
System Controls:
Lock the screen: Ctrl + Alt + L
Open the system menu (context menu): Menu key (or Right-click key) or Shift + F10
Open the Run Command prompt: Alt + F2
These shortcuts may vary slightly depending on the Linux distribution and desktop environment you are using. Experiment with these shortcuts to navigate your Linux system faster and more efficiently without relying on the mouse.
Since websites are such an important interface for the information of today, I have here appended the list with some navigational hotkeys for web browsers (e.g., Firefox, Chrome) on Linux:
General Navigation:
Scroll down: Spacebar
Scroll up: Shift + Spacebar
Scroll horizontally: Hold Shift and scroll with the mouse wheel or arrow keys
Go to the top of the page: Home
Go to the bottom of the page: End
Refresh the page: F5 or Ctrl + R
Stop loading the page: Esc
Link and Page Navigation:
Move focus to the next link or interactive element: Tab
Move focus to the previous link or interactive element: Shift + Tab
Activate/follow a link or button: Enter
Open link in a new tab: Ctrl + Enter (Cmd + Enter on macOS)
Open link in a new background tab: Ctrl + Shift + Enter (Cmd + Shift + Enter on macOS)
Open link in a new window: Shift + Enter
Go back to the previous page: Backspace or Alt + Left Arrow
Go forward to the next page: Alt + Right Arrow
Searching:
Find text on the page: Ctrl + F
Find next occurrence: Ctrl + G
Find previous occurrence: Ctrl + Shift + G
Tab Management:
Open a new tab: Ctrl + T
Close the current tab: Ctrl + W
Reopen the last closed tab: Ctrl + Shift + T
Switch to the next tab: Ctrl + Tab
Switch to the previous tab: Ctrl + Shift + Tab
Switch to a specific tab (numbered from left to right): Ctrl + [1-8]
Switch to the last tab: Ctrl + 9
Form Interaction:
Move to the next form field: Tab
Move to the previous form field: Shift + Tab
Check/uncheck checkboxes and radio buttons: Spacebar
Select an option from a dropdown menu: Enter, then arrow keys to navigate options
Miscellaneous:
Open the browser's menu: Alt (sometimes F10)
Open the address bar (omnibox): Ctrl + L or Alt + D
Remember, the accessibility of websites can vary, and some sites might have different keyboard navigation implementations. In some cases, you may need to enable keyboard navigation in the browser's settings or extensions. Additionally, browser updates might introduce changes to keyboard shortcuts, so it's always good to check the latest documentation or help resources for your specific browser version.
But I hope this helps as an tldr and getting started with navigating your laptop the ways pro role.
Version controlled over at github gist
Also posted on nostr habla.news