alias

Create shorthand names for commands

TLDR

List all aliases

$ alias

Create a simple alias

$ alias [ll]='ls -la'

Create alias with arguments

$ alias [grep]='grep --color=auto'

Remove an alias

$ unalias [ll]

Create persistent alias (add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc)

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

alias is a shell builtin that creates shorthand names for commands or command sequences. When you type an alias name, the shell substitutes the associated value before execution.Aliases are useful for creating shortcuts for frequently used commands with specific options, reducing typing and preventing repetitive mistakes.

PARAMETERS

Without arguments, alias displays all defined aliases. With name, it shows that alias's definition. With name=value, it creates or updates an alias.

PERSISTENT ALIASES

To make aliases permanent, add them to your shell configuration.Bash

~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_aliases

Zsh

~/.zshrc or ~/.zsh_aliases

Fish

Use alias --save or edit ~/.config/fish/config.fish

CAVEATS

Aliases are not expanded in shell scripts by default. They don't accept arguments in the middle of the expansion (use functions for that). Aliases are shell-specific and must be defined in the shell's configuration file for persistence.

HISTORY

The alias command has been a feature of Unix shells since the C shell (csh) in the late 1970s. It was adopted by Bash, Zsh, and most other modern shells with similar syntax.