Boundary layer flow of a nanofluid towards a permeable stretching surface saturated by porous medium with a convective boundary condition is considered. After employing viable similarity transforms, equations governing the flow are reduced to a system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Well known numerical technique Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method is applied to solve the system. Concrete graphical analysis is carried out to study the effects of different emerging parameters on velocity, temperature, solute and nanoparticle concentration profiles coupled with a comprehensive discussion. Tables are also constructed to compare current study with already existing results in the literature. Numerical effects of local Nusselt number, local Sherwood number and nanofluid Sherwood number are also discussed.