How do I clear/delete the current line in terminal?

 

To clear or delete the current line in a terminal, you can use the following methods:

1. Using the Ctrl-U Shortcut:

   • Press Ctrl and U simultaneously (usually written as Ctrl-U).
   • This shortcut clears the text from the cursor position to the beginning of the line.

   Example:

   bash

$ This is some text you want to clear. [Press Ctrl-U]
$ [Cursor moves to the beginning of the line]

Using the Ctrl-K Shortcut:

• Press Ctrl and K simultaneously (usually written as Ctrl-K).
• This shortcut clears the text from the cursor position to the end of the line.

Example:

bash

$ This is some text you want to clear. [Press Ctrl-K]
$ This is some text you want to [Cursor stays here]

Using the clear Command (Clears the entire terminal screen):

• Type the clear command and press Enter.
• This command clears the entire terminal screen and moves the cursor to the top.

Example:

bash

$ clear
[Terminal screen is cleared]

Using ANSI Escape Codes (Customizable):

• You can use ANSI escape codes to move the cursor to the beginning of the line and clear the line.
• Here's an example using the echo command:

bash

4. $ echo -e "\033[1K"
   [Cursor moves to the beginning of the line and clears the line]
   

   You can incorporate this into scripts or custom functions for more control.

The method you choose depends on your preference and the specific use case. The Ctrl-U and Ctrl-K shortcuts are handy for quickly editing the current line in an interactive terminal session, while the clear command clears the entire screen. The ANSI escape codes provide a way to customize the behavior in scripts or custom applications.