fg Command
Intermediate Process Management man(1)Bring a background job to the foreground
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📅 Updated: Apr 29, 2026
SYNTAX
fg [JOB_SPEC]
What Does fg Do?
The fg command brings a background or suspended job to the foreground, making it the active process in your terminal. It is the complement to bg — fg brings jobs forward, bg sends them back.
fg is a shell built-in used for job control. Without arguments, it brings the most recent background/suspended job to the foreground. With %N, it brings a specific job number.
This command is essential for interacting with background processes — for example, bringing a text editor back to the foreground after checking something in the shell.
fg is a shell built-in used for job control. Without arguments, it brings the most recent background/suspended job to the foreground. With %N, it brings a specific job number.
This command is essential for interacting with background processes — for example, bringing a text editor back to the foreground after checking something in the shell.
Options & Flags
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| %N | Bring job number N to foreground | fg %1 |
| %% | Bring current (most recent) job to foreground | fg |
| %- | Bring previous job to foreground | fg %- |
| %string | Bring job whose command starts with string | fg %vim |
Practical Examples
#1 Bring last job to foreground
Resumes the most recent background/suspended job in the foreground.
$ fg#2 Bring specific job
Brings job number 2 to the foreground.
$ fg %2#3 Bring job by name
Brings the job whose command starts with "vim" to the foreground.
$ fg %vim#4 Typical workflow
Suspend editor, run a quick command, return to editor.
$ vim file.txt
# Press Ctrl+Z to suspend
ls -la
# Check files
fg
# Back to vimTips & Best Practices
Quick task switching: Use Ctrl+Z and fg to quickly switch between editing and shell commands without opening another terminal.
fg vs bg: fg makes the job active in your terminal (you interact with it). bg runs it in background (no interaction, terminal is free).
One foreground process: Only one process can be in the foreground at a time. The previous foreground process will be suspended.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I bring a background process to the foreground?
Type fg to bring the most recent one, or fg %N for job number N (from jobs output).
How do I return to a suspended editor?
If you pressed Ctrl+Z in vim/nano, type fg to return to it. Your editing session is preserved.
What if I have multiple background jobs?
Use jobs to list them, then fg %N to bring the specific one you want.
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