history Command
Beginner Shell Scripting man(1)Display or manipulate command history
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📅 Updated: Apr 30, 2026
SYNTAX
history [OPTION]... [N]
What Does history Do?
history displays the command history list, showing previously executed commands with their line numbers. It allows you to search, recall, and re-execute past commands, dramatically increasing shell productivity.
Bash stores command history in memory during a session and saves it to ~/.bash_history on exit. The HISTSIZE variable controls how many commands are kept in memory, and HISTFILESIZE controls the file size.
history supports searching (Ctrl+R), re-execution (!N, !!), and editing. Mastering history navigation is one of the biggest productivity gains for Linux users.
Bash stores command history in memory during a session and saves it to ~/.bash_history on exit. The HISTSIZE variable controls how many commands are kept in memory, and HISTFILESIZE controls the file size.
history supports searching (Ctrl+R), re-execution (!N, !!), and editing. Mastering history navigation is one of the biggest productivity gains for Linux users.
Options & Flags
| Option | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| N | Show last N commands | history 20 |
| -c | Clear the history list | history -c |
| -d N | Delete entry number N | history -d 150 |
| -w | Write history to file | history -w |
| -r | Read history from file | history -r |
| -a | Append new entries to history file | history -a |
Practical Examples
#1 Show recent commands
Shows the last 20 commands you executed.
$ history 20
Output:
151 git status\n 152 git add .\n 153 git commit -m "fix"
#2 Search history
Finds all SSH commands you have previously run.
$ history | grep ssh
Output:
45 ssh user@server1\n 89 ssh admin@server2
#3 Re-execute last command
Runs the previous command again. Useful for: sudo !!
$ !!#4 Re-execute by number
Runs the command at history line 151.
$ !151#5 Re-execute by prefix
Runs the most recent command starting with "ssh".
$ !ssh#6 Reverse search
Interactive reverse search — type to find matching commands.
$ Ctrl+R then type search term#7 Clear history
Clears history in memory and overwrites the history file.
$ history -c && history -w#8 Delete specific entry
Removes a specific command from history (useful for passwords accidentally typed).
$ history -d 150Tips & Best Practices
Ctrl+R reverse search: Press Ctrl+R and type to search backwards through history. Press Ctrl+R again to find older matches. Enter to execute, Ctrl+G to cancel.
sudo !! pattern: Forgot sudo? Type sudo !! to re-run the last command with sudo. !! is replaced with the previous command.
Sensitive data in history: Commands with passwords appear in history. Use HISTCONTROL=ignorespace and prefix sensitive commands with a space to exclude them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I search command history?
Press Ctrl+R for interactive search, or use history | grep pattern for all matches.
How do I repeat the last command?
Type !! to repeat the last command. Use !N for a specific history number. Use !prefix for the last command starting with prefix.
How do I prevent a command from being saved?
Set HISTCONTROL=ignorespace in .bashrc, then prefix commands with a space: " secret-command" (note the leading space).
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