Linux alias Command: How to Use It With Examples

Introduction

Depending on the type of work you do on your Linux system, you may need to enter the same long and complicated commands frequently. The alias command lets you create shortcuts for these commands, making them easier to remember and use.

In this tutorial, we will show you how you can create, review, and remove command aliases in Linux.

Prerequisites

• A system running a Linux distribution
• An account with sudo privileges
• Access to the terminal window or command line
• A text editor, such as Vim or nano

What Is an Alias in Linux?

In Linux, an alias is a shortcut that references a command. An alias replaces a string that invokes a command in the Linux shell with another user-defined string.

Aliases are mostly used to replace long commands, improving efficiency and avoiding potential spelling errors. Aliases can also replace commands with additional options, making them easier to use.

Linux Alias Syntax

The alias command uses the following syntax:

alias [option] [name]='[value]'

The different elements of the alias command syntax are:

• alias: Invokes the alias command.
• [option]: Allows the command to list all current aliases.
• [name]: Defines the new shortcut that references a command. A name is a user-defined string, excluding special characters and 'alias' and 'unalias', which cannot be used as names.
• [value]: Specifies the command the alias references. Commands can also include options, arguments, and variables. A value can also be a path to a script you want to execute.

Create Aliases in Linux

There are two types of aliases to create in Linux:

• Temporary. Add them using the alias command.
• Permanent. These require to edit system files.

Create a Temporary Alias in Linux

Use the alias command to create a temporary alias that lasts until the end of the current terminal session. For instance, creating c as an alias for the clear command:

alias c='clear'

If you want to reference any additional command options when creating an alias, include them as a part of the value. For example, adding move as an alias for the mv command with the option of asking for confirmation before overwriting:

alias move='mv -i'

Another use for aliases is to create a shortcut for running scripts. To do this, provide the absolute path to the script as the value:

alias frename='Example/Test/file_rename.sh'

In this example, using frename as a command runs the file_rename.sh bash script.

Create a Permanent Alias in Linux

To make an alias permanent, you need to add it to your shell configuration file. Depending on the type of shell you are using, use:

• Bash shell: ~/.bashrc
• Zsh shell: ~/.zshrc
• Fish shell: ~/.config/fish/config.fish

Start by opening the shell configuration file in a text editor. In this example, we are using the Bash shell and nano text editor:

sudo nano ~/.bashrc

Scroll down until you find a section that lists default system aliases. For ease of use, create a separate section with a descriptive comment and add your aliases using the alias command syntax.

In our example:

#Custom aliases
alias c='clear'
alias move='mv -i'
alias frename='Example/Test/file_rename.sh'

Once you add all of the new alises, press Ctrl+X, type Y and press Enter to save the changes to the configuration file.

The new aliases automatically load in the next terminal session. If you want to use them in the current session, load the configuration file using the source command:

source ~/.bashrc

List All Aliases in Linux

Using the alias command on its own displays a list of all currently set aliases:

alias

Another method is to add the -p flag. This option displays the list in a format suitable for input to the shell:

alias -p

Remove Aliases in Linux

To remove an alias, use the unalias command with the following syntax:

unalias [name]

For instance, to remove the frename alias:

unalias frename

Adding the -a option allows you to remove all aliases:

unalias -a

The example above shows how alias does not return any results after the unalias -a command.

Conclusion

After reading this tutorial, you should be able to use the alias command to create and manage aliases on your Linux system. This will help streamline your work and make terminal commands easier to use.

To learn more about other commands in Linux, check out our Linux commands cheat sheet.