File Manager Presentation
Nautilus provides two modes in which you can interact with your filesystem: spatial and browser mode. You may decide which method your prefer and set Nautilus to always use this by selecting (or deselecting) Always open in browser windows in the Behavior tab of the Nautilus preferences dialog.
Spatial mode is the default in GNOME, but your distributor, vendor, or system administrator may have configured Nautilus to use browser mode by default.
The following explains the difference between the two modes:
- Browser mode: browse your files and folders
-
The file manager window represents a browser, which can display any location. Opening a folder updates the current file manager window to show the contents of the new folder.
As well as the folder contents, the browser window displays a toolbar with common actions and locations, a location bar that shows the current location in the hierarchy of folders, and a sidebar that can hold different kinds of information.
In Browser Mode, you typically have fewer file manager windows open at a time. For more information on using browser mode see Section 6.3 ― Browser Mode.
- Spatial mode: navigate your files and folders as objects
-
The file manager window represents a particular folder. Opening a folder opens the new window for that folder. Each time you open a particular folder, you will find its window displayed in the same place on the screen and the same size as the last time you viewed it (this is the reason for the name 'spatial mode').
Using spatial mode may lead to more open file manager windows on the screen. On the other hand, some users find that representing files and folders as though they were real physical objects with particular locations makes it easier to work with them. For more information on using spatial mode see Section 6.2 ― Spatial Mode
Notice how, when in spatial mode, Nautilus indicates an open folder with a different icon.
