Keyboard shortcuts

Here are some useful keyboard shortcuts for working in the terminal:

• Abort a running command:

  • Linux and macOS: Use ctrl+c to abort a command. You can test this by running the silly command sleep 10 (does nothing for ten seconds) and abort it with ctrl+c before it finishes.

• Repeat previous commands:

  • Linux and macOS: Use up and down to cycle through previous commands.

• Auto-complete file/directory names:

  • Linux and macOS: Use tab to auto-complete long file/directory names. If there are multiple possible matches, press tab twice to see the alternatives.

• Move cursor word by word:

  • Linux: Use ctrl+right and ctrl+left

  • macOS: Use alt+right and alt+left

• Jump to the beginning/end of the line:

  • Linux and macOS: Use ctrl+a and ctrl+e

• Delete everything after the cursor:

  • Linux and macOS: Use ctrl+k. Thus, a quick way to clear the command line is to press ctrl+a and then ctrl+k. (Or you can press ctrl+c.)

• Copy/paste:

  • Linux: Use ctrl+shift+c and ctrl+shift+v

  • macOS: Use cmd+c and cmd+v

• Search previous commands:

  • Linux and macOS: Press ctrl+r and start typing a command. You can press ctrl+r again to cycle through alternative matches. Once you found it, press ctrl+j or an arrow key to start editing the command.

• Clear the terminal screen:

  • Linux and macOS: Press ctrl+l. You can also do this by running the command clear.