View source for GNOME Files

{{Short description|File manager}}
{{Infobox software
| logo = File:GNOME Files icon 2019.svg
| screenshot = CentOS Stream 10 GNOME Files 47.0 light - English.png
| caption = GNOME Files 47.0
| author = [[Eazel]]
| developer = [[GNOME]]
| released = {{Start date and age|2001|03|13}}
| latest_release_version = {{multiple releases

  | branch1  = 48:
  | version1 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|edit@end|reference|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
  | date1    = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}

  | branch2  = 47:
  | version2 = {{wikidata|property|preferred|edit@end|reference|P348|P548=Q6736813}}
  | date2    = {{start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P548=Q6736813|P577}}}}
}}
| latest preview version = <!-- {{wikidata|property|reference|edit|P348|P548=Q51930650}} -->
| latest preview date = {{start date and age | {{wikidata|qualifier|P348|P548=Q51930650|P577}} }}
| programming_language = [[C (programming language)|C]] ([[GTK]])
| operating_system = [[Unix-like]]
| platform = [[GNOME]]
| genre = [[File manager]]
| license = [[GNU General Public License|GPL-3.0-or-later]]<ref>{{cite web
 | title      = LICENSE
 | url        = https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/nautilus/blob/8d5adcbdf88ba3ddccd008a2e4b191963f43bb32/LICENSE
 | website    = GNOME Gitlab
 | date = 17 July 2017
 | access-date = 20 June 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''GNOME Files''', formerly and internally known as '''Nautilus''', is the official [[file manager]] for the [[GNOME]] desktop. GNOME Files, same as Nautilus, is a [[free and open-source]] software under the terms of the [[GNU Lesser General Public License]].

==History==
Nautilus, the predecessor of GNOME Files, was originally developed by [[Eazel]] and [[Andy Hertzfeld]] (founder of Eazel and a former [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] engineer) in 1999. The name "Nautilus" was a play on words, evoking the [[exoskeleton|shell]] of a [[nautilus]] to represent an [[shell (computing)|operating system shell]].

At the beginning of 2000, Richard Hestgray published the first screenshots of ''Nautilus'' <code>0.1</code> preview release<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hestgray |first=Richard |date=February 2000 |title=Nautilus Screenshots |url=http://www.ionet.net/~hestgray/nautilus/ |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010207202944/http://www.ionet.net/~hestgray/nautilus/ |archivedate=7 February 2001 |website=ionet.net/~hestgray |quote=The first of our screenshots shows the normal, default icon view of my home directory. Note how the icon layout is broken at the moment :-).}}</ref>:<gallery mode="packed" heights="220" perrow="2" caption="''Nautilus'' 0.1 (February 2000)">
File:Nautilus 0.1 About.jpg|About dialog of version 0.1.
File:Nautilus 0.1 Iconview.jpg|Main window of the same version, the very first one shown publicly.
</gallery>

In December 2000, article under the title ''«Nautilus, GNOME’s new file manager»'' was published in the [[Linux Magazine]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Warkus |first=Matthias |date=December 2000 |title=Nautilus, GNOME's new file manager |url=http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/03/Nautilus.pdf |journal=[[Linux Magazine]] |issue=3 |pages=116–119 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214013846/http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/03/Nautilus.pdf |archive-date=14 December 2004 |quote=The Nautilus Desktop Shell is intended to supersede the GMC file manager (which was derived from the venerable Midnight Commander) in new versions of GNOME. What looks superficially like Yet Another File Manager appears at second glance to be a great deal more.}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=The Nautilus Desktop Shell is intended to supersede the GMC file manager (which was derived from the venerable Midnight Commander) in new versions of GNOME. What looks superficially like Yet Another File Manager appears at second glance to be a great deal more.|author=Matthias Warkus|title=Nautilus, GNOME’s new file manager|source=Linux Magazine, Issue 3 (2000), C.116—119, http://www.linux-magazine.com/issue/03/Nautilus.pdf}}

Nautilus replaced [[Midnight Commander]] in [[GNOME 1|GNOME 1.4]] (2001)<ref>{{Citation |title=GNOME 1.4 Released: Desktop Environment Boasts Power, Stability, Polish and Integration |date=2 April 2001 |type=press release |url=https://www.gnome.org/press/2001/04/gnome-1-4-released-desktop-environment-boasts-power-stability-polish-and-integration/ |access-date=13 September 2016 |publisher=GNOME Foundation}}</ref> and has been the default file manager from version 2.0 onwards. Nautilus was the [[flagship product]] of the now-defunct [[Eazel]] Inc.

GNOME Files was first released in 2001 and development has continued ever since. The following is a brief timeline of its development history:
* Version 1.0 was released on March 13, 2001,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/3094/1/ | title=Review: Nautilus 1.0: Has Eazel Earned Its Place in GNOME? | author=Michael Hall | date=March 15, 2001 | work=LinuxPlanet | access-date=2007-02-19 | archive-date=2012-02-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205030008/http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/3094/1 | url-status=dead }}</ref> and incorporated into GNOME 1.4.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnome.org/press/releases/gnome14.html |title=GNOME 1.4 Released – Desktop Environment Boasts Power, Stability, Polish and Integration |author=GNOME |date=April 2, 2001 |work=GNOME press release |access-date=2007-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070303113728/http://www.gnome.org/press/releases/gnome14.html |archive-date=2007-03-03 }}</ref>
* Version 2.0 was a port to GTK+ 2.0.
* Version 2.2 included changes to make it more compliant with User Interface Guidelines.
* Version 2.4 switched the desktop folder to <code>~/Desktop</code> (the ~ represents the user's [[home directory|"Home"]] folder) to be compliant with [[freedesktop.org]] standards.
* In the version included with [[GNOME]] 2.6, Nautilus switched to a [[spatial file manager|spatial interface]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gnome.org/start/2.6/notes/rnwhatsnew.html | title=What's New In GNOME 2.6 | author=Murray Cumming |author2=Colin Charles |date=March 31, 2004 | publisher=GNOME | access-date=2006-12-24}}</ref> Several [[Linux distribution]]s have made "browser" mode the default. The "classic" interface is still available:
** By a [[filing cabinet]] shaped icon.
** By an option in the "Edit -> Preferences -> Behavior" menu in Nautilus.
** In a folder's context menu.
** By using the "--browser" switch when started by a command via a launcher or [[Unix shell|shell]]. 
* GNOME 2.14 introduced a version of Nautilus with improved searching, integrated optional [[Beagle (software)|Beagle]] support and the ability to save searches as [[virtual folder]]s.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gnome.org/start/2.14/notes/en/rnusers.html | title=GNOME 2.14 : What's New For Users | author=Davyd Madeley |date=March 15, 2006 | publisher=GNOME | access-date=2006-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.gnome.org/view/alexl/2005/12/07/0 |title=Seek and Ye Shall Find |author=Alexander Larsson |date=December 7, 2005 |work=Alexander Larsson's blog |access-date=2006-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061212051036/http://blogs.gnome.org/view/alexl/2005/12/07/0 |archive-date=2006-12-12 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* With the release of GNOME 2.22, Nautilus was ported to the newly introduced [[GVfs]], the replacement virtual file system for the aging [[GnomeVFS]].
* The 2.24 stable release of Nautilus adds some new features, mainly tabbed browsing and better tab completion.
* With GNOME 2.30, Nautilus reverted from a [[spatial file manager|spatial interface]] to a [[Navigational file manager|browser navigational model]]<ref>{{cite web |title=GNOME 2.30 Release Notes |url=https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/2.30/ |access-date=30 December 2024 |website=library.gnome.org}}</ref> by default.
* The 2.32 release introduced a dialog for handling conflicts when performing copy or move operations, transparency icon effect when cutting files into folder and enhanced the Wastebucket with Restore files.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/2.32/|title=GNOME 2.32 Release Notes|website=library.gnome.org|access-date=2012-10-15|archive-date=2012-12-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121222044211/http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/2.32/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Besides, this is the last version that is based on GTK2 before the move to GNOME 3.0 with GTK3. Nautilus 2.x was forked to Caja, as well as [[MATE_(software)|MATE Desktop]] from Gnome 2.x after Gnome 3.0. Today both Mate and Caja are based on GTK3.
* GNOME 3.0 completely revamped the UX of Nautilus with focus on sidebar and icons. Additionally, the Connect to Server dialog is also enhanced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.0/|title=GNOME 3.0 Release Notes|website=library.gnome.org|access-date=2012-10-15|archive-date=2013-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127020236/http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.0/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Nautilus was ported to GTK3.
* Version 3.4 added Undo functionality.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.4/|title=GNOME 3.4 Release Notes|website=library.gnome.org|access-date=2012-10-15|archive-date=2012-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330034004/http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.4/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Version 3.6 introduced a revamped [[User interface|UI]] design, symbolic sidebar icon, new search feature, removal of many features such as setting window background, emblems, split pane mode, spatial mode, scripts, compact view mode and tree view. Nautilus' application name was renamed to Files, Though it is still called Nautilus internally in some distributions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.6/|title=GNOME 3.6 Release Notes|website=library.gnome.org|access-date=2012-10-15|archive-date=2012-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121230052356/http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.6/|url-status=dead}}</ref> These major changes led to a lot of criticism, and various vendors such as [[Linux Mint]] decided to fork version 3.4.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 August 2012 |title=Linux Mint team forks Nautilus - The H Open: News and Features |url=http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Linux-Mint-team-forks-Nautilus-1660545.html |website=h-online.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=198|title=Introducing Nemo|access-date=2013-05-24|archive-date=2012-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905232228/http://cinnamon.linuxmint.com/?p=198|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Version 3.8 included a new option to view files and folders as a tree, a new Connect to Server item in the sidebar and [[Incremental search|incremental loading of search results]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.8/more-apps.html.en|title=Updates to GNOME Applications|website=help.gnome.org}}</ref> 
* Version 3.10 introduced a slightly revamped [[User interface|UI]] design in which titlebars and toolbars were merged into a single element called header bars.
* Version 3.18 introduced integration with [[Google Drive]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2015/09/gnome-3-18-google-drive-nautilus-support |title=GNOME 3.18 Will Let You Access Your Google Drive Files in Nautilus |date=2015-09-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/2987962/operating-systems/gnome-318-lands-with-google-drive-integrated-firmware-updates-and-new-apps.html |title=GNOME 3.18 lands with Google Drive |date=2015-09-30}}</ref> and GOA (gnome-online-accounts)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.gnome.org/Projects/GnomeOnlineAccounts|title=Projects/GnomeOnlineAccounts - GNOME Wiki!|website=wiki.gnome.org}}</ref> settings.
* Version 43 was ported to GTK4 and [[Adwaita (design language)|libadwaita]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Joey |date=2022-08-17 |title=The Best New Features in GNOME 43 |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/08/gnome-43-new-features |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=OMG! Ubuntu |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* Version 47 is used to implement GNOME's file open dialogs, which had previously been a separate codebase.<ref>{{Cite web |title=GNOME Release Notes |url=https://release.gnome.org/47/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=GNOME Release Notes |language=en}}</ref>

==Features==
[[File:GNOME Files 40 (released in 2021-03).png|thumb|GNOME Files 40 (released in 2021-03)]]
Bookmarks, window backgrounds, <!-- emblems, <ref>{{cite web | url=https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=665735 | access-date=2013-04-10}}</ref> --> notes, and add-on scripts are all implemented, and the user has the choice between icon, list, or compact list views. In browser mode, Nautilus keeps a history of visited folders, similar to web browsers, permitting quick revisiting of folders.

Nautilus can display previews of files in their icons, be they text files, images, sound or video files via thumbnailers such as [[Totem (software)|Totem]]. Audio files are previewed (played back over [[GStreamer]]) when the [[Pointer (graphical user interfaces)|pointer]] is hovering over them.

In earlier versions, Nautilus included original [[Vector graphics|vectorized]] icons designed by [[Susan Kare]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.gnome.org/projects/nautilus/about.html | title=Nautilus' contributors | year=2004 | publisher=GNOME | access-date=2007-10-31}}</ref>

===File system abstraction===
[[File:GNOME Files v3.34 (2019-10) -- Other Locations.png|thumb|GNOME Files provides a special page for managing storage devices.]]

GNOME Files relies on a file system [[abstraction layer]] (provided by [[GVfs]]) to browse local and remote file systems, including but not limited to [[File Transfer Protocol|FTP]] sites, Windows [[Server Message Block|SMB]] shares, [[OBject EXchange|OBEX]] protocol (often implemented on cellphones), [[files transferred over shell protocol]], [[HTTP]] and [[WebDAV]] and [[SSH file transfer protocol|SFTP]] servers.

Using the [[GIO (software)|GIO library]], Nautilus tracks modification of local files in real time, eliminating the need to refresh the display. GIO internally supports Gamin and [[File alteration monitor|FAM]], Linux's [[inotify]] and [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]]' File Events Notification system.

===File indexing and file search framework===
GNOME Files relies on [[Tracker (search software)|Tracker]] (formerly named "MetaTracker") to index files and is hence able to provide fast file search results.

===Batch renaming===
[[Batch renaming]] was introduced with GNOME Files version 3.22 (2016).<ref name="322omgu">{{Cite web|url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/08/quick-look-new-features-nautilus-3-22|title=Nautilus 3.22 Adds Batch File Renaming, Native Compression Features|date=August 31, 2016|website=OMG! Ubuntu!}}</ref>

===Archive handling===
GNOME Files version 3.22 adds native, integrated file compression and decompression. By default, handling of archive files (e.g. [[Tar (file format)|.tar]][[gzip|.gz]]) was handed off to [[File Roller]] (or another tool). Users now benefit from a progress bar, undo support, and an archive creation wizard.

The new ''"extract on open"'' behavior, which automatically extracts an archive file by double clicking it, can be disabled in the preferences.<ref name="322omgu" />

===MIME types===
[[MIME type]]s (also called "media type" or "content type") are standardized by the [[Internet Assigned Numbers Authority|IANA]], then the [[freedesktop.org]] project takes care that the implementation works across all free software desktops. <code>shared-mime-info</code> is the provided library.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/shared-mime-info/|title=shared-mime-info|website=freedesktop.org}}</ref> At this time, at least GNOME, KDE, [[Xfce]] and ROX use this database.{{cn|date=November 2017}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Linux|Free and open-source software}}
{{Commonscat}}
* [[Comparison of file managers]]
* [[Dolphin (file manager)]] - KDE file manager 
* [[MATE (desktop environment)#Components|Caja]] – a fork of Nautilus 2 for MATE
* [[Nemo (file manager)|Nemo]] – a fork of Nautilus 3 for Cinnamon, also used in [[Ubuntu Unity]]

{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Wikibooks-inline|Using GNOME/File manager}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/nautilus GNOME Files GitLab Repository]
* [https://www.bytebot.net/geekdocs/spatial-nautilus.html Introduction to spatial Nautilus]

{{GNOME}}
{{File managers}}

[[Category:2001 software]]
[[Category:File managers that use GTK]]
[[Category:Free file managers]]
[[Category:Free software programmed in C]]
[[Category:GNOME Core Applications]]
[[Category:Software that uses Meson]]