How to Create and Use Bash Aliases in Linux

How to Create and Use Bash Aliases in Linux

If you find yourself typing long terminal commands repeatedly in Linux, bash aliases are here to save your time and sanity. Aliases let you create shortcuts for complex or frequently used commands. This guide shows you how to create, manage, and remove bash aliases in just a few steps.

Step 1: What is a Bash Alias?

A bash alias is a custom shortcut for a longer command. For example, instead of typing:  

ls -la --color=auto


you could create an alias:

alias ll='ls -la --color=auto'

Now, typing ll runs the full command.

Step 2: Create a Temporary Alias

To create an alias for the current terminal session:

alias gs='git status'

This alias works until you close the terminal.

Step 3: Make the Alias Permanent

To keep aliases available in every terminal session, add them to your shell’s configuration file.

For most users, that’s ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_aliases:

nano ~/.bashrc

Add your alias at the bottom:

alias gs='git status'

Then reload the file:

source ~/.bashrc

Step 4: List and Remove Aliases

• To list all active aliases:

alias

• To remove an alias (only for current session):
  
  

unalias gs

Tips

• Use quotes if your alias contains spaces.
• Avoid naming aliases the same as existing commands.

How to Create and Use Bash Aliases in Linux (F.A.Q)