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Why Every Dev Should Know These 20 Bash Keyboard Shortcuts

#bash #linux #productivity #terminal

A few years ago, I wasted hours scrolling through command history, retyping long file paths, and fixing typos the slow way. Then I discovered Bash keyboard shortcuts.

After incorporating just a handful of these, my terminal speed doubled.

If you're still using Bash inefficiently, this guide will show you the shortcuts that experienced Linux users rely on daily—from basic navigation to power-user tricks.

1. Rerun the Last Command Instantly (!!)

Skill Level: Beginner

Instead of retyping a failed command with sudo, just use:

sudo !!
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Quickly retry failed commands without retyping everything.

2. Edit and Reuse the Last Argument (!$)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Instead of manually copying the last argument:

mv file1.txt /backup/
ls -l !$
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This expands to:

ls -l /backup/file1.txt
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Saves keystrokes when working with long filenames.

3. Search Command History Like a Pro (Ctrl + R)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Stop pressing Up Arrow 20 times—use reverse search:

  1. Press Ctrl + R
  2. Start typing a previous command
  3. Press Enter to run it instantly

🔹 Real-World Use Case: Instantly finds a complex command without scrolling through history.

4. Move to the Beginning or End of a Command (Ctrl + A / Ctrl + E)

Skill Level: Beginner

Stop holding Left Arrow to edit a command. Use:

  • Ctrl + A → Jump to the start
  • Ctrl + E → Jump to the end

🔹 Real-World Use Case: Makes editing long commands much faster.

5. Delete a Whole Line (Ctrl + U)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Instead of holding Backspace, erase everything before the cursor instantly:

Ctrl + U
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Quickly clear mistakes without retyping everything.

6. Delete Everything After the Cursor (Ctrl + K)

Skill Level: Intermediate

echo "This is a test sentence"
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If the cursor is after "test", pressing Ctrl + K results in:

echo "This is a test"
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Remove unnecessary text without deleting the whole command.

7. Swap Two Characters (Ctrl + T)

Skill Level: Advanced

Instead of manually fixing typos:

grpe file.txt  # Typo
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Press Ctrl + T:

grep file.txt  # Fixed
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Quick typo correction without retyping.

8. Cancel a Running Command (Ctrl + C)

Skill Level: Beginner

Stops a command immediately.

ping google.com
# Press Ctrl + C to stop
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Kills unresponsive processes instantly.

9. Suspend a Process (Ctrl + Z)

Skill Level: Advanced

Pause a running task instead of quitting it:

vim file.txt  # Press Ctrl + Z
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Resume later with:

fg
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Temporarily switch tasks without losing progress.

10. Run a Process in the Background (&)

Skill Level: Intermediate

long-running-task.sh &
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Keeps the terminal free while running background tasks.

11. Kill a Background Process (jobs + kill %)

Skill Level: Advanced

List background jobs:

jobs
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Kill job #2:

kill %2
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Manages multiple background tasks efficiently.

12. Clear the Terminal (Ctrl + L)

Skill Level: Beginner

Same as clear, but faster.

Ctrl + L
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Keeps your workspace clean.

13. Copy the Previous Command Without Running It (!:)

Skill Level: Advanced

Instead of retyping a long command, use !:p to print the last command without running it.

!:
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Preview a command before executing it again.

14. Replace Text in the Last Command (^old^new)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Instead of retyping a command to fix a mistake:

ls /ect
^ect^etc
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Fixes typos without manually editing the command.

15. Scroll Through Past Commands (Up and Down)

Skill Level: Beginner

Navigate command history without retyping.

Up Arrow  → Previous command
Down Arrow → Next command
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Quickly re-execute previous commands.

16. Autocomplete File and Command Names (Tab)

Skill Level: Beginner

Type part of a filename or command, then press Tab to autocomplete.

ls /var/lo<Tab>  # Expands to /var/log
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Reduces typing mistakes.

17. Ignore Duplicate Commands in History (HISTCONTROL)

Skill Level: Advanced

Add this to your .bashrc to prevent duplicate history entries:

export HISTCONTROL=ignoredups
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Keeps history cleaner.

18. Repeat the First Argument of the Last Command (!^)

Skill Level: Advanced

cp myfile.txt backup/
mv !^ newlocation/
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🔹 Real-World Use Case: Saves keystrokes and reduces mistakes.

Final Thoughts: Save Hours with Bash Shortcuts

Mastering these shortcuts will speed up your workflow, reduce errors, and make you more efficient in the terminal.

Want a Structured Bash Reference?

If you need a Beginner Friendly Bash guide with easy to follow tips and explanations, check out my Bash Cheat Sheet:

👉 Download the Bash Cheat Sheet for just $3.99

Discussion: What’s Your Favorite Bash Shortcut?

Drop a comment below and share your most-used Bash keyboard shortcut!

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Top comments (1)

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Ben Sinclair •

Your example 2, the "edit(?) and reuse..." one, has a typo:

cp file1.txt /backup/
rm !$
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

will execute rm /backup/, not rm file1.txt.

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