How to Create Bash Aliases

Introduction

Before we begin talking about how to create bash aliases, let's briefly understand – What is a Bash Alias ?

You can use aliases in Bash to create a shortcut command for a longer command. When working on the command line, bash aliases are essentially shortcuts that can save you from having to remember long commands and eliminate a lot of typing. You could, for example, make the alias tgz a shortcut for the tar -xvfz command.

By using Bash alias, individuals can boost their productivity and simplify repetitive tasks. This unique functionality helps reduce typing effort and improves command-line navigation.

In this tutorial, you will use bash aliases. We will also address a few FAQs on how to use bash aliases.

Advantages of Bash Alias

1. Efficiency: Bash aliases reduce the need to repeatedly type long or complex commands, saving time and effort.
2. Productivity: Custom shortcuts enhance workflow and make command execution faster, improving overall efficiency.
3. Simplification: Alias creation streamlines repetitive tasks, making them easier to perform with a shorter and more manageable syntax.
4. Customization: Users can personalize their command-line experience by creating aliases that suit their preferred working style.
5. Navigation: Bash aliases facilitate quick navigation through directories and files, enabling seamless movement within the command-line interface.

Creating Bash Aliases

Creating aliases in bash is a simple process. The following is the syntax:

alias alias_name="command_to_run"

The alias keyword is followed by the alias name, an equal sign, and the command to run when you type the alias. The command must be surrounded in quotes and the equal sign should not be spaced. Each alias should be stated on its own line.

One of the most commonly used commands on the Linux command line is ls. I normally use the -la parameter with this command to get a full list of all files and directories, even hidden ones.

Let's make an alias called ll, which will be a shortcut for the ls -la command. To do so, open a terminal window and type the following:

alias ll="ls -la"

Now, when you type ll in your terminal, you'll get the same result as if you typed ls -la.

Only the current shell session will have access to the ll alias. The alias will not be available if you end the session or start a new one from another terminal.

You must define the alias in the ~/.bash profile or ~/.bashrc file to make it persistent.

In your text editor, open the following file:

nano ~/.bashrc

as well as your aliases:

# Aliases
# alias alias_name="command_to_run"

# Long format list
alias ll="ls -la"

# Print my public IP
alias myip='curl ipinfo.io/ip'

The aliases should be given names that are simple to recall. It's also a good idea to leave a note for future reference.

Save and close the file when you're finished. Type the below command to make the aliases available in your current session:

source ~/.bashrc

As you can see, generating basic bash aliases is simple and quick.

Creating Bash Aliases with Arguments (Bash Functions)

You may need to build an alias that accepts one or more arguments from time to time. Bash features come in handy in this situation.

Creating a bash function has a fairly simple syntax. They can be expressed in one of two ways:

function_name () {
  [commands]
}

or

function function_name {
  [commands]
}

Put any number of arguments following the function's name, separated by a space, to provide them to the bash function. The passed parameters are $1, $2, $3, and so on, corresponding to the parameter's position after the function's name. The function name is stored in the $0 variable.

Let's make a basic bash function that creates a directory and then navigates through it:

mkcd ()
{
  mkdir -p -- "$1" && cd -P -- "$1"
}

As with aliases, add the function to your ~/.bashrc file and reload the file with source ~/.bash profile.

Instead of typing mkdir to make a new directory and then cd to go into it, you can now just type:

mkcd new_directory

If you're not sure what -- and && are, here's a quick explanation.

• --  - ensures that you don't unintentionally provide the command an extra argument. If you try to create a directory without using -- , for example, the directory name will be regarded as a command argument.
• && - assures that the second command is only executed if the first one succeeds.

FAQs to Create Bash Aliases

Conclusion

By now, you should have a good idea of how to develop bash aliases and functions that will make your life easier and more productive on the command line.

If you have any queries, please leave a comment below and we’ll be happy to respond to them.