Terminal Command History & Clearing

Jul 19, 2025

Overview

This lecture compares command history usage in Windows and Linux terminals and explains how to clear the terminal screen.

Command History in Terminals

  • Both Windows and Linux use the same command to access history.
  • Use up and down arrow keys to scroll through previous commands.
  • Press Control-R to search through the command history.

Clearing the Terminal

  • Use the clear command to clean up or clear the terminal screen.

Key Terms & Definitions

  • Command History — a record of previously entered commands in the terminal.
  • clear command — a terminal command that erases all previous output from the screen.

Action Items / Next Steps

  • Practice using up/down arrows and Control-R to navigate command history.
  • Use the clear command to clear your terminal.