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alias

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The alias command is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux/Unix-like operating systems. alias The alias command creates or lists command aliases, allowing users to create shortcuts for longer commands or to customize command behavior with predefined options.
See ExamplesView Syntax

Quick Reference

Command Name:

alias

Category:

shell

Platform:

linux

Basic Usage:

alias [options] [arguments]

Common Use Cases

  • 1

    Command shortcuts

    Create shorter, easier-to-remember names for frequently used commands

  • 2

    Workflow optimization

    Streamline repetitive tasks with custom command aliases

  • 3

    Cross-platform compatibility

    Create aliases that work consistently across different systems

  • 4

    Shell customization

    Personalize your shell environment with custom command names

Syntax

alias [name[=value] ...]

Options

The alias command doesn't have traditional command-line options, but rather uses the following format:

Format Description
alias Without arguments, it lists all currently defined aliases
alias name Lists the alias definition for the specified name
alias name=value Defines an alias called 'name' with the value 'value'

Examples

How to Use These Examples

The examples below show common ways to use the alias command. Try them in your terminal to see the results. You can copy any example by clicking on the code block.

Basic Examples:

Create a simple alias
alias ll='ls -la'
List all defined aliases
alias
Create an alias with multiple commands
alias update='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y'
Create an alias with quotes
alias echohi='echo "Hello World"'

Advanced Examples:

Create an alias with complex command substitution
alias gitlog='git log --graph --pretty=format:"%Cred%h%Creset -%C(yellow)%d%Creset %s %Cgreen(%cr) %C(bold blue)<%an>%Creset" --abbrev-commit'
Create an alias that uses parameters
alias mcd='function _mcd() { mkdir -p "$1"; cd "$1"; }; _mcd'
Create an alias for safer file operations
alias rm='rm -i'
alias cp='cp -i' alias mv='mv -i'
Create an alias that includes environment variables
alias path='echo $PATH | tr ":" "
"'
Create an alias with sudo that preserves the environment
alias sudoe='sudo -E'

Try It Yourself

Practice makes perfect! The best way to learn is by trying these examples on your own system with real files.

Understanding Syntax

Pay attention to the syntax coloring: commands, options, and file paths are highlighted differently.

Notes

Understanding Alias Behavior:

The alias command is a shell builtin in Bash and most other shells. Key points to understand:

  • Aliases defined on the command line only exist for the current shell session
  • To make aliases permanent, add them to your shell's initialization file (e.g., ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc)
  • Aliases are expanded when a command is read, not when it's executed
  • Aliases are not expanded when the shell is not interactive, unless the expand_aliases shell option is set
  • The first word of each simple command is checked for an alias

Alias Limitations:

Aliases have some limitations compared to functions:

  • Aliases cannot contain parameters or arguments (unlike functions)
  • Complex command sequences are better defined as shell functions
  • Aliases cannot be exported to subshells or child processes
  • Alias names cannot contain special characters except underscores
  • The alias value must be quoted if it contains spaces or special characters

Making Aliases Permanent:

To make aliases permanent, add them to your shell configuration file:

# For Bash users
echo "alias ll='ls -la'" >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

# For Zsh users
echo "alias ll='ls -la'" >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

# For Fish shell users
echo "alias ll='ls -la'" >> ~/.config/fish/config.fish
source ~/.config/fish/config.fish

Disabling Aliases:

There are several ways to bypass or remove aliases:

  • Use \command to bypass an alias once (backslash before the command)
  • Use command command_name to bypass an alias
  • Use unalias name to remove a specific alias
  • Use unalias -a to remove all aliases

Common Use Cases:

  • Creating shortcuts for frequently used commands
  • Adding default options to commands (e.g., alias grep='grep --color=auto')
  • Creating safer versions of commands (e.g., alias rm='rm -i')
  • Correcting common typos (e.g., alias sl='ls')
  • Combining multiple commands into a single command

Important Notes:

  • Recursive aliases are prevented by the shell (an alias cannot call itself directly)
  • When setting up an alias that uses the same command name, be careful to include all necessary options
  • To include variables in aliases that will be expanded at runtime, use single quotes for the alias definition
  • For more complex requirements, consider using shell functions instead of aliases
  • The type command can be used to see if a command is an alias, builtin, or external program

Common Use Cases

Command shortcuts

Create shorter, easier-to-remember names for frequently used commands

Workflow optimization

Streamline repetitive tasks with custom command aliases

Cross-platform compatibility

Create aliases that work consistently across different systems

Shell customization

Personalize your shell environment with custom command names

Team standardization

Share common aliases across team members for consistency

Related Commands

These commands are frequently used alongside alias or serve similar purposes:

unalias
bash
zsh
source
type
which
command
function
export
Explore All Commands

Use Cases

1

Command shortcuts

Create shorter, easier-to-remember names for frequently used commands

2

Workflow optimization

Streamline repetitive tasks with custom command aliases

3

Cross-platform compatibility

Create aliases that work consistently across different systems

4

Shell customization

Personalize your shell environment with custom command names

5

Team standardization

Share common aliases across team members for consistency

Learn By Doing

The best way to learn Linux commands is by practicing. Try out these examples in your terminal to build muscle memory and understand how the alias command works in different scenarios.

See ExamplesTry Lab Exercises
$ alias
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