Last Updated on May 22, 2022
Appendix – Explanation of Shell Builtins
| Shell Builtin Commands | |
|---|---|
| . | Execute commands from a file in the current shell |
| .. | Do nothing beyond expanding arguments and performing redirections |
| [ | Square bracket |
| alias | Define or display aliases |
| bg | Move jobs to the background |
| bind | Change how bash responds to keys, and combinations of keys |
| break | Exit for, while, or until loops |
| builtin | Execute shell builtins |
| cd | Change the shell working directory |
| command | Execute a simple command or display information about commands |
| compgen | Display possible completions depending on the options |
| complete | Specify how arguments are to be completed by Readline |
| compopt | Modify or display completion options |
| continue | Resume for, while, or until loops |
| declare | Set variable values and attributes |
| dirs | Display directory stack |
| disown | Remove jobs from current shell |
| echo | Prints an expression or variable |
| enable | Enable and disable shell builtins |
| eval | Execute arguments as a shell command |
| exec | Replace the shell with the given command |
| exit | Exit the shell |
| export | Set export attribute for shell variables |
| false | Do nothing, returning a non-zero (false) exit status |
| fc | Display or execute commands from the history list |
| fg | Move job to the foreground |
| getopts | Used by shell procedures to parse positional parameters as options |
| hash | Remember or display program locations |
| help | Display information about builtin commands |
| history | Display or manipulate the history list |
| jobs | Display status of jobs |
| kill | Send a signal to a job |
| let | Evaluate arithmetic expressions on variables |
| local | Define local variables |
| logout | Exit a login shell |
| mapfile | Read lines from the standard input into an indexed array variable |
| popd | Remove directories from stack |
| printf | Formats and prints ARGUMENTS under control of the FORMAT |
| pushd | Add directories to stack |
| pwd | Print the name of the current working directory |
| read | Read a line from the standard input and split it into fields |
| readarray | Read lines from a file into an array variable |
| readonly | Mark shell variables as unchangeable |
| return | Return from a shell function |
| set | Set or unset values of shell options and positional parameters |
| shift | Shift positional parameters |
| shopt | Set and unset shell options |
| source | Execute commands from a file in the current shell |
| suspend | Suspend shell execution |
| test | Evaluate a conditional expression expr and return a status of 0 (true) or 1 (false) |
| times | Display process times |
| trap | Trap signals and other events |
| true | Exit with a status code indicating success |
| type | Display information about command type |
| typeset | Set variable values and attributes |
| ulimit | Modify shell resource limits |
| umask | Remove each NAME from the list of defined aliases |
| unalias | Unset values and attributes of shell variables and functions |
| unset | Unset values and attributes of shell variables and functions |
| wait | Wait for job completion and return exit status |
| To learn about each command type the command followed by --help | |
Pages in this article:
Page 1 – Types of Commands
Page 2 – Shell Builtins
Page 3 – Aliases
Page 4 – External Commands
Page 5 – Navigate the shell efficiently
Page 6 – Appendix – Explanation of Shell Builtins
All articles in this series:
This is for beginners? Every other word seems undefined. I can read Supreme Court briefs and medical research but not this! The most important thing unexplained is what can be accomplished with these commands. If someone is willing to talk to me to explain these things, I am willing to suggest easier explanations.
Every other word seems undefined?? I think you should read more of the guide before coming to your discourteous comment.
You’ll learn a lot from Part 11, as that shows you how to find what you can do with the commands.
Well, I have not figured out just who you all really are yet….. maybe I won’t be able to>?. But, this is the best “Everything About Linux” I have ever found, on the Internet! And I have been doing Linux in many flavors from 1994! Mostly, I go between Debian and Kubuntu, which I use because of the KDE desktop, which I really like, works great for me to do anything I need!
Wow….. I now have a place to send those I try to talk into using Linux and out of paying that expensive Microsoft tax. I bailed out of Microsoft Windows 95SE in 94′. Furthermore, I have never looked back, and I have kept my money to donate to the many parts of Linux that don’t fly the “Blue Screen Of Death” for a fortune.
Don’t go away anytime soon, I’m going to work even harder now to talk others into dumping Windoz!