Linux CLI 10 🐧 create your aliases - KandZ

Aliases let you create custom shortcuts for commands — long commands, frequent combinations, or anything you type often. They save time and reduce typos.

Overview

alias
alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'
nano ~/.bashrc
# add at the end:
alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'
# save
source ~/.bashrc
unalias lmh

Command	Description
`alias`	Show all existing aliases
`alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'`	Create a temporary alias
`nano ~/.bashrc`	Edit shell config file
`source ~/.bashrc`	Apply changes
`unalias lmh`	Remove an alias

What Are Aliases?

An alias is a shortcut for a longer command (or a sequence of commands).

Without aliases:

$ cd ~/cli
$ ls -la
$ cd ~/projects/current
$ git status

With aliases:

$ cli           # → cd ~/cli; ls
$ gs            # → git status
$ ll            # → ls -la

Key points:

Aliases are shell features — not separate programs
They exist only in the current shell session unless saved
They can override existing commands (with caution!)
They’re evaluated before the command runs

Viewing Existing Aliases

alias

Example output:

$ alias
alias alert='notify-send --urgency=low -i "$([ $? = 0 ] && echo terminal || echo error)" "$(history|tail -n1|sed -e '\''s/^\s*[0-9]\+\s*//;s/[;&|]\s*alert$//'\'')"'
alias egrep='egrep --color=auto'
alias fgrep='fgrep --color=auto'
alias grep='grep --color=auto'
alias l='ls -CF'
alias la='ls -A'
alias ll='ls -alF'
alias ls='ls --color=auto'

Common pre-existing aliases (from /etc/bash.bashrc or ~/.bashrc):

Alias	Expands To
`ll`	`ls -alF`
`la`	`ls -A`
`l`	`ls -CF`
`ls`	`ls --color=auto`
`grep`	`grep --color=auto`

Check a specific alias:

$ alias ll
alias ll='ls -alF'

Creating Temporary Aliases

alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'

Syntax:

alias name='command'

Part	Description
`alias`	The command
`name`	The alias name
`command`	The actual command(s)

Rules:

Use single quotes to prevent immediate expansion
No spaces around =
The alias name is usually lowercase (convention)

Examples

Simple aliases:

alias ll='ls -la'                 # Long listing
alias la='ls -A'                  # Show hidden files
alias ..='cd ..'                  # Parent directory
alias ...='cd ../..'              # Two levels up
alias c='clear'                   # Clear screen
alias h='history'                 # Command history

Aliases with arguments:

alias grep='grep --color=auto'    # Colorize grep output
alias df='df -h'                  # Human-readable disk usage
alias du='du -h'                  # Human-readable disk usage

Aliases with multiple commands (; separator):

alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'                        # Change dir + list
alias update='sudo apt update; sudo apt upgrade' # System update
alias gitlog='git log --oneline --graph --all'  # Git history

Aliases with pipes:

alias biggest='du -sh * | sort -rh | head -10'  # Top 10 largest files
alias ports='netstat -tulanp | grep LISTEN'      # Open ports

Note: The ; separator runs commands sequentially — the second command runs after the first, regardless of success.

Temporary vs Permanent

Temporary (current session only):

$ alias ll='ls -la'
$ ll
# Works now
# But after closing terminal → gone!

Why this matters:

Great for testing an alias before saving it
Useful for one-off session customizations
Lost on shell exit, terminal close, or system restart

Making Aliases Permanent

To make an alias persist across sessions, add it to your shell’s configuration file.

nano ~/.bashrc

Shell config files:

File	When It’s Loaded
`~/.bashrc`	Every interactive bash session
`~/.bash_profile`	Login shells (rarely for aliases)
`~/.profile`	Login shells (alternative)
`/etc/bash.bashrc`	System-wide (all users)

For most cases, use ~/.bashrc.

Adding the Alias

Open the file:

nano ~/.bashrc

Scroll to the end of the file (or a section marked “Aliases”)
Add your alias:

# Custom aliases
alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'
alias ll='ls -la'
alias gs='git status'
alias ..='cd ..'

Save and exit:
- Ctrl + X → Y → Enter

Applying the Changes

After editing ~/.bashrc, you need to reload it:

source ~/.bashrc

Or the shorthand:

. ~/.bashrc

Why? The file is read once when the shell starts. Editing it doesn’t affect the current session until you reload.

Alternative: Open a new terminal — it will read the updated file.

Removing Aliases

unalias lmh

Command	Description
`unalias lmh`	Remove alias `lmh`
`unalias -a`	Remove all aliases
`\lmh`	Bypass the alias for one command

Examples:

# Remove a specific alias
$ unalias ll

# Remove all aliases
$ unalias -a

# Bypass an alias temporarily
$ \ls           # Runs the real ls, not the alias
$ command ls    # Also bypasses alias

Note: unalias removes the alias from the current session only. If you want to permanently remove it, delete it from ~/.bashrc and reload.

Complete Example Session

# ============================================
# PART 1: VIEW EXISTING ALIASES
# ============================================

$ alias
alias alert='notify-send ...'
alias egrep='egrep --color=auto'
alias fgrep='fgrep --color=auto'
alias grep='grep --color=auto'
alias l='ls -CF'
alias la='ls -A'
alias ll='ls -alF'
alias ls='ls --color=auto'

# Check a specific alias
$ alias ll
alias ll='ls -alF'

# ============================================
# PART 2: CREATE A TEMPORARY ALIAS
# ============================================

# Create a simple alias
$ alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'

# Use it
$ lmh
# Changes to ~/cli and lists files

# Create a few more
$ alias gs='git status'
$ alias ..='cd ..'
$ alias c='clear'

# Test them
$ gs
On branch main
Nothing to commit, working tree clean

$ ..              # Go up one directory
$ c               # Clear screen

# ============================================
# PART 3: VERIFY TEMPORARY ALIASES
# ============================================

$ alias
alias ..='cd ..'
alias c='clear'
alias gs='git status'
alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'
# ... plus existing aliases

# ============================================
# PART 4: MAKE PERMANENT
# ============================================

# Open bashrc
$ nano ~/.bashrc

# Scroll to the end, add:
# --------------------------------------------------
# Custom aliases
# --------------------------------------------------
alias lmh='cd ~/cli; ls'
alias gs='git status'
alias ..='cd ..'
alias c='clear'
alias ll='ls -la'
alias la='ls -A'
alias grep='grep --color=auto'
# --------------------------------------------------

# Save: Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter

# ============================================
# PART 5: APPLY CHANGES
# ============================================

$ source ~/.bashrc

# Verify they work
$ gs
On branch main
...

$ lmh
# Changes directory and lists

# ============================================
# PART 6: OPEN NEW TERMINAL
# ============================================

# Close and reopen the terminal
# The aliases should still be there!

$ alias gs
alias gs='git status'
# ✅ Persisted!

# ============================================
# PART 7: REMOVE AN ALIAS
# ============================================

# Remove from current session
$ unalias gs
$ gs
gs: command not found
# ✅ Removed

# But it's still in ~/.bashrc
$ grep gs ~/.bashrc
alias gs='git status'

# To remove permanently, edit ~/.bashrc
$ nano ~/.bashrc
# Delete the line, save, and reload
$ source ~/.bashrc
# Now gs is gone permanently

# ============================================
# PART 8: BYPASS AN ALIAS
# ============================================

$ alias ls='ls --color=auto'
$ \ls              # Runs real ls (no colors)
$ command ls       # Also bypasses alias

Quick Reference

Basic Alias Commands

Command	Description
`alias`	List all aliases
`alias name='cmd'`	Create an alias
`alias name`	Show a specific alias
`unalias name`	Remove an alias
`unalias -a`	Remove all aliases
`\cmd` or `command cmd`	Bypass an alias

Shell Config Files

File	Purpose
`~/.bashrc`	Interactive bash sessions
`~/.bash_profile`	Login shells
`~/.profile`	Login shells (fallback)
`/etc/bash.bashrc`	System-wide

Reload Config

Command	Description
`source ~/.bashrc`	Reload bashrc
`. ~/.bashrc`	Shorthand
(open new terminal)	Fresh shell reads config

Best Practices

✅ Do This:

# Use single quotes for aliases
alias ll='ls -la'

# Test temporary aliases first
alias myalias='long command'
# Test it...
# If good, add to ~/.bashrc

# Group aliases with comments
# In ~/.bashrc:
# ===== Navigation =====
alias ..='cd ..'
alias ...='cd ../..'
alias home='cd ~'

# ===== Git =====
alias gs='git status'
alias ga='git add'
alias gc='git commit'

# ===== System =====
alias update='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade'
alias ports='netstat -tulanp | grep LISTEN'

# Use \ or command to bypass when needed
\ls           # Real ls
command ls    # Real ls

❌ Don’t Do This:

# Don't use double quotes for aliases that contain $
alias myalias="echo $HOME"   # ❌ $HOME expanded NOW
alias myalias='echo $HOME'   # ✅ Expanded when alias runs

# Don't override commands you use
alias ls='rm -rf'            # ❌ DANGEROUS!
alias cd='ls'                # ❌ Breaks navigation

# Don't create confusing names
alias x='ls -la'             # ⚠️ Too vague
alias l='ls -la'             # ✅ Common convention

# Don't forget to reload after editing
nano ~/.bashrc
# ... add aliases ...
# Forgot: source ~/.bashrc
# Aliases won't work until you reload!

# Don't use alias for complex logic
alias myfunc='if [ -f file ]; then ...'  # ❌ Use a function!

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall	Problem	Solution
Forgot to reload	Aliases don’t work	`source ~/.bashrc`
Double quotes	Variables expand too early	Use single quotes
Spaces around `=`	Error	No spaces: `alias x='cmd'`
Alias lost after restart	Not saved	Add to `~/.bashrc`
Overwrote important command	Bad behavior	Avoid naming conflicts
Complex logic in alias	Doesn’t work	Use a shell function

Aliases vs Functions

When aliases aren’t enough, use functions:

Alias (simple):

alias ll='ls -la'

Function (complex):

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

Aspect	Alias	Function
Complexity	Simple substitution	Full shell logic
Arguments	Appended at end	Full control
Control flow	No	Yes (if, for, while)
Local variables	No	Yes
Best for	Shortcuts	Complex operations

Rule of thumb: If your alias needs if, for, while, or variable manipulation — use a function instead.

Real-World Examples

1. Web Developer Aliases

# In ~/.bashrc
alias ll='ls -la'
alias serve='python3 -m http.server 8000'
alias npmr='npm run'
alias gs='git status'
alias gp='git push'
alias gl='git log --oneline --graph --all'
alias db='docker build -t myapp .'
alias dr='docker run -p 3000:3000 myapp'

2. System Administrator Aliases

# In ~/.bashrc (or /etc/bash.bashrc for all users)
alias ll='ls -la'
alias df='df -h'
alias du='du -h'
alias free='free -h'
alias ports='netstat -tulanp | grep LISTEN'
alias update='sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y'
alias logs='sudo journalctl -xe'
alias services='systemctl list-units --type=service'

3. Quick Navigation

# In ~/.bashrc
alias ..='cd ..'
alias ...='cd ../..'
alias ....='cd ../../..'
alias home='cd ~'
alias docs='cd ~/Documents'
alias down='cd ~/Downloads'
alias proj='cd ~/projects'
alias cli='cd ~/cli'

4. Safety Aliases

# In ~/.bashrc
alias rm='rm -i'              # Interactive remove
alias cp='cp -i'              # Interactive copy
alias mv='mv -i'              # Interactive move
alias mkdir='mkdir -p'        # Create parents

⚠️ Warning: Interactive safety aliases are great for beginners but can be annoying for experienced users who know what they’re doing.

Visual: How Aliases Work

You type: ll
    │
    ▼
┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│  Shell checks for alias "ll"     │
│  → Found! Expands to: ls -alF    │
└──────────────┬───────────────────┘
               │
               ▼
┌──────────────────────────────────┐
│  Shell runs: ls -alF             │
│  (the real command)              │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

Without alias, the shell would search:
  1. Alias list
  2. Function list
  3. Builtins
  4. PATH for executable

Summary

Action	Command
View aliases	`alias`
Create temporary alias	`alias name='cmd'`
Edit config	`nano ~/.bashrc`
Apply changes	`source ~/.bashrc`
Remove alias	`unalias name`
Remove all aliases	`unalias -a`
Bypass alias	`\cmd` or `command cmd`

Key takeaways:

Aliases are shortcuts for longer commands
Temporary aliases exist only in the current session
Permanent aliases go in ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc applies changes immediately
unalias removes an alias
Single quotes prevent early variable expansion
; separates multiple commands in an alias
Use \cmd or command cmd to bypass an alias
For complex logic, use a function instead of an alias

Remember: Aliases are one of the simplest and most powerful productivity boosters on the command line. Start with a few — like ll for ls -la and .. for cd .. — and add more as you discover patterns in your workflow. Put them in ~/.bashrc, and they’ll be there every time you open a terminal!

Stop using slow, ad-bloated tool sites! 🤮

🔎 Search “KandZ Tools” on Google to use many professional utilities for free.

KandZ.me is the ultimate minimalist hub for:
✅ Finance (Mortgage, Interest, Inflation)
✅ Tech (Base64, JSON, Dev Suite, IP)
✅ Health (BMI, BMR, TDEE)
✅ Productivity (Timer, Workspace, QR)

⚡️ Fast & Private
🔒 No data leaves your device
💎 100% Free

🔗 Use it now: https://tools.kandz.me
🔖 Bookmark it—you’ll need it later!