history Linux Command

What is Linux history Command?

Explanation

history COMMAND:

history command is used to list out the recently executed commands in the number line order.

SYNTAX :


history [-c] [-d offset ] [ n ]
history -anrw [ filename ]
history -ps arg [ arg... ]

OPTIONS:


OptionsDescription
-a Attaches history lines with the history page from this session.
-n Read the unread messages from the history lines.
-r Attaches all the content to the history list after reading the history files.
-d offsetdelete the history entry at offset OFFSET.
-c Clears the complete history list.
-w Attaches the current history from the current file to the history list.
-p Expands history in each arg and shows the output without storing it in the history list.
-s Attaches the arg with the history list and stores as single list.

EXAMPLE:


  1. To list the recently executed commands:
    history

    Output
    121ping google.com
    122ping 192.168.0.1
    123ping google.com
    124ping 192.168.0.1
    125cd /home/ganesh/Documents/backup/local/
    126mv Make_words/ /opt/lampp/htdocs/android/
    127mv firstapp/ /opt/lampp/htdocs/android/
    128whereis JDK
    129whereis java
    130java -version
    131whereis java


    This command is used to list the history .
  2. To find specific command in history list:
    history | grep cd

    Output
    33 cd Pictures/
    37 cd ..
    39 cd Desktop/
    61 cd /usr/bin/
    68 cd
    83 cd /etc/
    86 cd resolvconf/
    90 cd resolv.conf.d/


    This command is used to list only cd commands from history list.
  3. To copy history list to file:
    history -a history.txt

    Output
    In history.txt file.
    3 121ping google.com
    122ping 192.168.0.1
    123ping google.com
    124ping 192.168.0.1
    125cd /home/ganesh/Documents/backup/local/
    126mv Make_words/ /opt/lampp/htdocs/android/
    127mv firstapp/ /opt/lampp/htdocs/android/
    128whereis JDK
    129whereis java
    130java -version
    131whereis java


    This command is used to copy history list to history.txt file .
  4. To Clear all history:
    history -c

    This command can be used to clear all history from history list.

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