Linux Alias Command

The alias command in Linux is used to create shortcuts for long or frequently used commands. This can save time and reduce errors when typing commands.

Basic Syntax

alias name='command'

Here, name is the shortcut name, and command is the full command you want to alias.

Example

Suppose you frequently use the ls -la command to list all files with detailed information. You can create an alias for it:

alias ll='ls -la'

Now, typing ll will execute ls -la.

Making Aliases Permanent

Aliases created using the alias command are temporary and will be lost after you close the terminal. To make them permanent, add them to your shell configuration file:

• For bash: Add the alias to ~/.bashrc
• For zsh: Add the alias to ~/.zshrc

Example:

echo "alias ll='ls -la'" >> ~/.bashrc

Then, reload the configuration file:

source ~/.bashrc

Removing an Alias

To remove an alias, use the unalias command:

unalias ll

This will remove the alias ll.