- Commands For Terminal On Macbook Pro
- Commands For Terminal On Mac
- Mac Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet
- Funny Commands For Terminal On Mac
- Useful Commands For Terminal On Mac
Terminal User Guide
Commands For Terminal On Macbook Pro
![Commands For Terminal On Mac Commands For Terminal On Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126581303/902374772.jpg)
You can use the command-line environment interactively by typing a command and waiting for a result, or you can use the shell to compose scripts that run without direct interaction.
Execute commands in the shell
- In the Terminal app on your Mac, enter the complete pathname of the tool’s executable file, followed by any needed arguments, then press Return.
If a command is located in one of the shell’s known folders, you can omit path information when entering the command name. The list of known folders is stored in the shell’s PATH environment variable and includes the folders containing most command-line tools.
Terminal (officially called Terminal.app) is, strictly speaking, an emulator and works off most typical UNIX commands (OS X is a UNIX-based system, as opposed to Windows, which is NT-based). Unlike OS X, which has a graphical user interface (shortened to GUI), Terminal works off a text-based interface and all commands have to be typed in - this. Typing Command-Period (.) is equivalent to entering Control-C on the command line. Soft reset terminal emulator state. Hard reset terminal emulator state. Hold down the Command key and double-click the URL. Add the complete path to a file. Drag the file from the Finder. The command line is not only powerful, it can also be dangerous. Learn how to use commands for deleting files and folders correctly to make sure your time with Terminal is a productivity godsend. If you’re working in Terminal on your Mac, you need to know the most important UNIX commands: those that work with directories, those that work with files, and miscellaneous but commonly used commands. Folders are called directories in UNIX. Commands that refer to filenames, as most do, assume that you’re talking about files in the.
For example, to run the
ls
command in the current user’s home folder, enter the following at the command prompt, then press Return:To run a command in the current user’s home folder, precede it with the folder specifier. For example, to run
MyCommandLineProg
, use the following:% ~/MyCommandLineProg
To open an app, use the open command:
When entering commands, if you get the message
command not found
, check your spelling. Here’s an example:% opne -a TextEdit.app
zsh: opne: command not found
Terminate commands
- In the Terminal app on your Mac, click the Terminal window that is running the command you want to terminate.
- Press Control-C.This sends a signal that causes most commands to terminate.
Repeat previously entered commands
The commands you enter during a session are saved so you can repeat a previously used command without retyping it.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/5/126581303/721458664.png)
- In the Terminal app on your Mac, press the Up Arrow key.The last command you entered appears on the command line.
- Continue pressing the Up Arrow key until you see the command you want, then press Return.
See alsoSpecify files and folders in Terminal on MacRedirect Terminal input and output on MacDrag files into a Terminal window to specify paths on MacKeyboard shortcuts in Terminal on MacApple Developer website: Command Line Primer
If you’re working in Terminal on your Mac, you need to know the most important UNIX commands: those that work with directories, those that work with files, and miscellaneous but commonly used commands.
Commands For Terminal On Mac
Folders are called directories in UNIX. Commands that refer to filenames, as most do, assume that you’re talking about files in the working directory. When you open the Terminal window, the working directory is set to your home directory, abbreviated ~. Bash shows you the current working directory and your username to the left of its prompt. The following table lists common directory-related commands.
Command | What It Does |
---|---|
ls | Lists the names of the files in the working directory. For more complete information, use ls –alF (. |
cd directoryname | Changes the working directory to the one you named. |
cd .. | Brings you up one directory level. |
cd | Returns you to your home directory. |
pwd | Displays the pathname of the current directory. |
mkdir newdirectoryname | Makes a new directory. |
rmdir directoryname | Removes (deletes) an empty directory. |
As in Windows, you can redirect the output of a command to a text file. So if you want a record of the files in a folder, type cd, followed by a space, drag the folder’s icon to the Terminal window, and press Return. Type ls > mydirectorylist.txt and press Return again. A file named mydirectorylist.txt will appear in the folder you chose. You can open the file in TextEdit to see a list of the files in that directory.
This table lists commands commonly used when working with files in the Terminal window.
Mac Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet
Command | What It Does |
---|---|
cp filename1 filename2 | Copies a file. |
chmod | Changes permissions for access to a file. Study the man page before using this one. |
diff | Compares two files line by line (assumes text). |
more filename | Displays a text file one page at a time. Press the spacebar to see the next page; press Q to quit. The man command works through more. |
mv filename1 filename2 | Moves a file or changes its name. |
rm filename | Removes (deletes) a file. |
Funny Commands For Terminal On Mac
This last table explains other handy commands that anyone getting started in Terminal will likely want to know.
Command | What It Does |
---|---|
Control+C | Terminates most operations. |
date | Displays the current date and time. |
echo | Repeats whatever appears after the command (after expansion). |
help | Displays a partial list of bash commands. |
history | Displays the last commands you typed. You can redo a command by typing an exclamation point (!) followed immediately (no space) by the number of that command in the history list. To repeat the last command, type !!. To repeat the last filename, type !*. |
pico | A simple UNIX text editor. |
ps | Displays a list of running processes. |
sudo | Lets you carry out commands for which the account you are using lacks authority. You will be asked for an administrator’s password. |
Useful Commands For Terminal On Mac
When you’re working in Terminal, you don’t have a Trash Can to which deleted files are moved pending ultimate disposal. Delete it, and it’s gone. In general, UNIX has no Undo function.