READLINE(3) READLINE(3)
NNAAMMEE
readline - get a line from a user with editing
SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
##iinncclluuddee <<ssttddiioo..hh>>
##iinncclluuddee <<rreeaaddlliinnee//rreeaaddlliinnee..hh>>
##iinncclluuddee <<rreeaaddlliinnee//hhiissttoorryy..hh>>
_c_h_a_r _*
rreeaaddlliinnee (_c_o_n_s_t _c_h_a_r _*_p_r_o_m_p_t);
CCOOPPYYRRIIGGHHTT
Readline is Copyright (C) 1989-2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
rreeaaddlliinnee will read a line from the terminal and return it, using pprroommpptt
as a prompt. If pprroommpptt is NNUULLLL or the empty string, no prompt is
issued. The line returned is allocated with _m_a_l_l_o_c(3); the caller must
free it when finished. The line returned has the final newline
removed, so only the text of the line remains.
rreeaaddlliinnee offers editing capabilities while the user is entering the
line. By default, the line editing commands are similar to those of
emacs. A vi-style line editing interface is also available.
This manual page describes only the most basic use of rreeaaddlliinnee. Much
more functionality is available; see _T_h_e _G_N_U _R_e_a_d_l_i_n_e _L_i_b_r_a_r_y and _T_h_e
_G_N_U _H_i_s_t_o_r_y _L_i_b_r_a_r_y for additional information.
RREETTUURRNN VVAALLUUEE
rreeaaddlliinnee returns the text of the line read. A blank line returns the
empty string. If EEOOFF is encountered while reading a line, and the line
is empty, NNUULLLL is returned. If an EEOOFF is read with a non-empty line,
it is treated as a newline.
NNOOTTAATTIIOONN
An Emacs-style notation is used to denote keystrokes. Control keys are
denoted by C-_k_e_y, e.g., C-n means Control-N. Similarly, _m_e_t_a keys are
denoted by M-_k_e_y, so M-x means Meta-X. (On keyboards without a _m_e_t_a
key, M-_x means ESC _x, i.e., press the Escape key then the _x key. This
makes ESC the _m_e_t_a _p_r_e_f_i_x. The combination M-C-_x means ESC-Control-_x,
or press the Escape key then hold the Control key while pressing the _x
key.)
Readline commands may be given numeric _a_r_g_u_m_e_n_t_s, which normally act as
a repeat count. Sometimes, however, it is the sign of the argument
that is significant. Passing a negative argument to a command that
acts in the forward direction (e.g., kkiillll--lliinnee) causes that command to
act in a backward direction. Commands whose behavior with arguments
deviates from this are noted.
When a command is described as _k_i_l_l_i_n_g text, the text deleted is saved
for possible future retrieval (_y_a_n_k_i_n_g). The killed text is saved in a
_k_i_l_l _r_i_n_g. Consecutive kills cause the text to be accumulated into one
unit, which can be yanked all at once. Commands which do not kill text
separate the chunks of text on the kill ring.
IINNIITTIIAALLIIZZAATTIIOONN FFIILLEE
Readline is customized by putting commands in an initialization file
(the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file). The name of this file is taken from the value of
the IINNPPUUTTRRCC environment variable. If that variable is unset, the
default is _~_/_._i_n_p_u_t_r_c. If that file does not exist or cannot be read,
the ultimate default is _/_e_t_c_/_i_n_p_u_t_r_c. When a program which uses the
readline library starts up, the init file is read, and the key bindings
and variables are set. There are only a few basic constructs allowed
in the readline init file. Blank lines are ignored. Lines beginning
with a ## are comments. Lines beginning with a $$ indicate conditional
constructs. Other lines denote key bindings and variable settings.
Each program using this library may add its own commands and bindings.
For example, placing
M-Control-u: universal-argument
or
C-Meta-u: universal-argument
into the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c would make M-C-u execute the readline command _u_n_i_v_e_r_-
_s_a_l_-_a_r_g_u_m_e_n_t.
The following symbolic character names are recognized while processing
key bindings: _D_E_L, _E_S_C, _E_S_C_A_P_E, _L_F_D, _N_E_W_L_I_N_E, _R_E_T, _R_E_T_U_R_N, _R_U_B_O_U_T,
_S_P_A_C_E, _S_P_C, and _T_A_B.
In addition to command names, readline allows keys to be bound to a
string that is inserted when the key is pressed (a _m_a_c_r_o).
KKeeyy BBiinnddiinnggss
The syntax for controlling key bindings in the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file is simple.
All that is required is the name of the command or the text of a macro
and a key sequence to which it should be bound. The name may be speci-
fied in one of two ways: as a symbolic key name, possibly with _M_e_t_a_- or
_C_o_n_t_r_o_l_- prefixes, or as a key sequence. The name and key sequence are
separated by a colon. There can be no whitespace between the name and
the colon.
When using the form kkeeyynnaammee:_f_u_n_c_t_i_o_n_-_n_a_m_e or _m_a_c_r_o, _k_e_y_n_a_m_e is the name
of a key spelled out in English. For example:
Control-u: universal-argument
Meta-Rubout: backward-kill-word
Control-o: "> output"
In the above example, _C_-_u is bound to the function uunniivveerrssaall--aarrgguummeenntt,
_M_-_D_E_L is bound to the function bbaacckkwwaarrdd--kkiillll--wwoorrdd, and _C_-_o is bound to
run the macro expressed on the right hand side (that is, to insert the
text ``> output'' into the line).
In the second form, ""kkeeyysseeqq"":_f_u_n_c_t_i_o_n_-_n_a_m_e or _m_a_c_r_o, kkeeyysseeqq differs
from kkeeyynnaammee above in that strings denoting an entire key sequence may
be specified by placing the sequence within double quotes. Some GNU
Emacs style key escapes can be used, as in the following example, but
the symbolic character names are not recognized.
"\C-u": universal-argument
"\C-x\C-r": re-read-init-file
"\e[11~": "Function Key 1"
In this example, _C_-_u is again bound to the function uunniivveerrssaall--aarrgguummeenntt.
_C_-_x _C_-_r is bound to the function rree--rreeaadd--iinniitt--ffiillee, and _E_S_C _[ _1 _1 _~ is
bound to insert the text ``Function Key 1''.
The full set of GNU Emacs style escape sequences available when speci-
fying key sequences is
\\CC-- control prefix
\\MM-- meta prefix
\\ee an escape character
\\\\ backslash
\\"" literal ", a double quote
\\'' literal ', a single quote
In addition to the GNU Emacs style escape sequences, a second set of
backslash escapes is available:
\\aa alert (bell)
\\bb backspace
\\dd delete
\\ff form feed
\\nn newline
\\rr carriage return
\\tt horizontal tab
\\vv vertical tab
\\_n_n_n the eight-bit character whose value is the octal value
_n_n_n (one to three digits)
\\xx_H_H the eight-bit character whose value is the hexadecimal
value _H_H (one or two hex digits)
When entering the text of a macro, single or double quotes should be
used to indicate a macro definition. Unquoted text is assumed to be a
function name. In the macro body, the backslash escapes described
above are expanded. Backslash will quote any other character in the
macro text, including " and '.
BBaasshh allows the current readline key bindings to be displayed or modi-
fied with the bbiinndd builtin command. The editing mode may be switched
during interactive use by using the --oo option to the sseett builtin com-
mand. Other programs using this library provide similar mechanisms.
The _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file may be edited and re-read if a program does not pro-
vide any other means to incorporate new bindings.
VVaarriiaabblleess
Readline has variables that can be used to further customize its behav-
ior. A variable may be set in the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file with a statement of the
form
sseett _v_a_r_i_a_b_l_e_-_n_a_m_e _v_a_l_u_e
Except where noted, readline variables can take the values OOnn or OOffff
(without regard to case). Unrecognized variable names are ignored.
When a variable value is read, empty or null values, "on" (case-insen-
sitive), and "1" are equivalent to OOnn. All other values are equivalent
to OOffff. The variables and their default values are:
bbeellll--ssttyyllee ((aauuddiibbllee))
Controls what happens when readline wants to ring the terminal
bell. If set to nnoonnee, readline never rings the bell. If set to
vviissiibbllee, readline uses a visible bell if one is available. If
set to aauuddiibbllee, readline attempts to ring the terminal's bell.
bbiinndd--ttttyy--ssppeecciiaall--cchhaarrss ((OOnn))
If set to OOnn, readline attempts to bind the control characters
treated specially by the kernel's terminal driver to their read-
line equivalents.
ccoommmmeenntt--bbeeggiinn ((````##''''))
The string that is inserted in vvii mode when the iinnsseerrtt--ccoommmmeenntt
command is executed. This command is bound to MM--## in emacs mode
and to ## in vi command mode.
ccoommpplleettiioonn--ddiissppllaayy--wwiiddtthh ((--11))
The number of screen columns used to display possible matches
when performing completion. The value is ignored if it is less
than 0 or greater than the terminal screen width. A value of 0
will cause matches to be displayed one per line. The default
value is -1.
ccoommpplleettiioonn--iiggnnoorree--ccaassee ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, readline performs filename matching and completion
in a case-insensitive fashion.
ccoommpplleettiioonn--mmaapp--ccaassee ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, and ccoommpplleettiioonn--iiggnnoorree--ccaassee is enabled, readline
treats hyphens (_-) and underscores (__) as equivalent when per-
forming case-insensitive filename matching and completion.
ccoommpplleettiioonn--pprreeffiixx--ddiissppllaayy--lleennggtthh ((00))
The length in characters of the common prefix of a list of pos-
sible completions that is displayed without modification. When
set to a value greater than zero, common prefixes longer than
this value are replaced with an ellipsis when displaying possi-
ble completions.
ccoommpplleettiioonn--qquueerryy--iitteemmss ((110000))
This determines when the user is queried about viewing the num-
ber of possible completions generated by the ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommppllee--
ttiioonnss command. It may be set to any integer value greater than
or equal to zero. If the number of possible completions is
greater than or equal to the value of this variable, the user is
asked whether or not he wishes to view them; otherwise they are
simply listed on the terminal. A negative value causes readline
to never ask.
ccoonnvveerrtt--mmeettaa ((OOnn))
If set to OOnn, readline will convert characters with the eighth
bit set to an ASCII key sequence by stripping the eighth bit and
prefixing it with an escape character (in effect, using escape
as the _m_e_t_a _p_r_e_f_i_x).
ddiissaabbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonn ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, readline will inhibit word completion. Completion
characters will be inserted into the line as if they had been
mapped to sseellff--iinnsseerrtt.
eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee ((eemmaaccss))
Controls whether readline begins with a set of key bindings sim-
ilar to _E_m_a_c_s or _v_i. eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee can be set to either eemmaaccss or
vvii.
eecchhoo--ccoonnttrrooll--cchhaarraacctteerrss ((OOnn))
When set to OOnn, on operating systems that indicate they support
it, readline echoes a character corresponding to a signal gener-
ated from the keyboard.
eennaabbllee--kkeeyyppaadd ((OOffff))
When set to OOnn, readline will try to enable the application key-
pad when it is called. Some systems need this to enable the
arrow keys.
eennaabbllee--mmeettaa--kkeeyy ((OOnn))
When set to OOnn, readline will try to enable any meta modifier
key the terminal claims to support when it is called. On many
terminals, the meta key is used to send eight-bit characters.
eexxppaanndd--ttiillddee ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, tilde expansion is performed when readline
attempts word completion.
hhiissttoorryy--pprreesseerrvvee--ppooiinntt ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, the history code attempts to place point at the
same location on each history line retrieved with pprreevviioouuss--hhiiss--
ttoorryy or nneexxtt--hhiissttoorryy.
hhiissttoorryy--ssiizzee ((00))
Set the maximum number of history entries saved in the history
list. If set to zero, the number of entries in the history list
is not limited.
hhoorriizzoonnttaall--ssccrroollll--mmooddee ((OOffff))
When set to OOnn, makes readline use a single line for display,
scrolling the input horizontally on a single screen line when it
becomes longer than the screen width rather than wrapping to a
new line.
iinnppuutt--mmeettaa ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, readline will enable eight-bit input (that is, it
will not clear the eighth bit in the characters it reads),
regardless of what the terminal claims it can support. The name
mmeettaa--ffllaagg is a synonym for this variable.
iisseeaarrcchh--tteerrmmiinnaattoorrss ((````CC--[[ CC--JJ''''))
The string of characters that should terminate an incremental
search without subsequently executing the character as a com-
mand. If this variable has not been given a value, the charac-
ters _E_S_C and _C_-_J will terminate an incremental search.
kkeeyymmaapp ((eemmaaccss))
Set the current readline keymap. The set of legal keymap names
is _e_m_a_c_s_, _e_m_a_c_s_-_s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d_, _e_m_a_c_s_-_m_e_t_a_, _e_m_a_c_s_-_c_t_l_x_, _v_i_, _v_i_-_m_o_v_e_,
_v_i_-_c_o_m_m_a_n_d, and _v_i_-_i_n_s_e_r_t. _v_i is equivalent to _v_i_-_c_o_m_m_a_n_d;
_e_m_a_c_s is equivalent to _e_m_a_c_s_-_s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d. The default value is
_e_m_a_c_s. The value of eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee also affects the default
keymap.
mmaarrkk--ddiirreeccttoorriieess ((OOnn))
If set to OOnn, completed directory names have a slash appended.
mmaarrkk--mmooddiiffiieedd--lliinneess ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, history lines that have been modified are dis-
played with a preceding asterisk (**).
mmaarrkk--ssyymmlliinnkkeedd--ddiirreeccttoorriieess ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, completed names which are symbolic links to direc-
tories have a slash appended (subject to the value of
mmaarrkk--ddiirreeccttoorriieess).
mmaattcchh--hhiiddddeenn--ffiilleess ((OOnn))
This variable, when set to OOnn, causes readline to match files
whose names begin with a `.' (hidden files) when performing
filename completion. If set to OOffff, the leading `.' must be
supplied by the user in the filename to be completed.
mmeennuu--ccoommpplleettee--ddiissppllaayy--pprreeffiixx ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, menu completion displays the common prefix of the
list of possible completions (which may be empty) before cycling
through the list.
oouuttppuutt--mmeettaa ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, readline will display characters with the eighth
bit set directly rather than as a meta-prefixed escape sequence.
ppaaggee--ccoommpplleettiioonnss ((OOnn))
If set to OOnn, readline uses an internal _m_o_r_e-like pager to dis-
play a screenful of possible completions at a time.
pprriinntt--ccoommpplleettiioonnss--hhoorriizzoonnttaallllyy ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, readline will display completions with matches
sorted horizontally in alphabetical order, rather than down the
screen.
rreevveerrtt--aallll--aatt--nneewwlliinnee ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, readline will undo all changes to history lines
before returning when aacccceepptt--lliinnee is executed. By default, his-
tory lines may be modified and retain individual undo lists
across calls to rreeaaddlliinnee.
sshhooww--aallll--iiff--aammbbiigguuoouuss ((OOffff))
This alters the default behavior of the completion functions.
If set to OOnn, words which have more than one possible completion
cause the matches to be listed immediately instead of ringing
the bell.
sshhooww--aallll--iiff--uunnmmooddiiffiieedd ((OOffff))
This alters the default behavior of the completion functions in
a fashion similar to sshhooww--aallll--iiff--aammbbiigguuoouuss. If set to OOnn, words
which have more than one possible completion without any possi-
ble partial completion (the possible completions don't share a
common prefix) cause the matches to be listed immediately
instead of ringing the bell.
sskkiipp--ccoommpplleetteedd--tteexxtt ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, this alters the default completion behavior when
inserting a single match into the line. It's only active when
performing completion in the middle of a word. If enabled,
readline does not insert characters from the completion that
match characters after point in the word being completed, so
portions of the word following the cursor are not duplicated.
vviissiibbllee--ssttaattss ((OOffff))
If set to OOnn, a character denoting a file's type as reported by
_s_t_a_t(2) is appended to the filename when listing possible com-
pletions.
CCoonnddiittiioonnaall CCoonnssttrruuccttss
Readline implements a facility similar in spirit to the conditional
compilation features of the C preprocessor which allows key bindings
and variable settings to be performed as the result of tests. There
are four parser directives used.
$$iiff The $$iiff construct allows bindings to be made based on the edit-
ing mode, the terminal being used, or the application using
readline. The text of the test extends to the end of the line;
no characters are required to isolate it.
mmooddee The mmooddee== form of the $$iiff directive is used to test
whether readline is in emacs or vi mode. This may be
used in conjunction with the sseett kkeeyymmaapp command, for
instance, to set bindings in the _e_m_a_c_s_-_s_t_a_n_d_a_r_d and
_e_m_a_c_s_-_c_t_l_x keymaps only if readline is starting out in
emacs mode.
tteerrmm The tteerrmm== form may be used to include terminal-specific
key bindings, perhaps to bind the key sequences output by
the terminal's function keys. The word on the right side
of the == is tested against the full name of the terminal
and the portion of the terminal name before the first --.
This allows _s_u_n to match both _s_u_n and _s_u_n_-_c_m_d, for
instance.
aapppplliiccaattiioonn
The aapppplliiccaattiioonn construct is used to include application-
specific settings. Each program using the readline
library sets the _a_p_p_l_i_c_a_t_i_o_n _n_a_m_e, and an initialization
file can test for a particular value. This could be used
to bind key sequences to functions useful for a specific
program. For instance, the following command adds a key
sequence that quotes the current or previous word in
bbaasshh:
$$iiff Bash
# Quote the current or previous word
"\C-xq": "\eb\"\ef\""
$$eennddiiff
$$eennddiiff This command, as seen in the previous example, terminates an $$iiff
command.
$$eellssee Commands in this branch of the $$iiff directive are executed if the
test fails.
$$iinncclluuddee
This directive takes a single filename as an argument and reads
commands and bindings from that file. For example, the follow-
ing directive would read _/_e_t_c_/_i_n_p_u_t_r_c:
$$iinncclluuddee _/_e_t_c_/_i_n_p_u_t_r_c
SSEEAARRCCHHIINNGG
Readline provides commands for searching through the command history
for lines containing a specified string. There are two search modes:
_i_n_c_r_e_m_e_n_t_a_l and _n_o_n_-_i_n_c_r_e_m_e_n_t_a_l.
Incremental searches begin before the user has finished typing the
search string. As each character of the search string is typed, read-
line displays the next entry from the history matching the string typed
so far. An incremental search requires only as many characters as
needed to find the desired history entry. To search backward in the
history for a particular string, type CC--rr. Typing CC--ss searches forward
through the history. The characters present in the value of the
iisseeaarrcchh--tteerrmmiinnaattoorrss variable are used to terminate an incremental
search. If that variable has not been assigned a value the _E_s_c_a_p_e and
CC--JJ characters will terminate an incremental search. CC--GG will abort an
incremental search and restore the original line. When the search is
terminated, the history entry containing the search string becomes the
current line.
To find other matching entries in the history list, type CC--ss or CC--rr as
appropriate. This will search backward or forward in the history for
the next line matching the search string typed so far. Any other key
sequence bound to a readline command will terminate the search and exe-
cute that command. For instance, a newline will terminate the search
and accept the line, thereby executing the command from the history
list. A movement command will terminate the search, make the last line
found the current line, and begin editing.
Non-incremental searches read the entire search string before starting
to search for matching history lines. The search string may be typed
by the user or be part of the contents of the current line.
EEDDIITTIINNGG CCOOMMMMAANNDDSS
The following is a list of the names of the commands and the default
key sequences to which they are bound. Command names without an accom-
panying key sequence are unbound by default.
In the following descriptions, _p_o_i_n_t refers to the current cursor posi-
tion, and _m_a_r_k refers to a cursor position saved by the sseett--mmaarrkk com-
mand. The text between the point and mark is referred to as the
_r_e_g_i_o_n.
CCoommmmaannddss ffoorr MMoovviinngg
bbeeggiinnnniinngg--ooff--lliinnee ((CC--aa))
Move to the start of the current line.
eenndd--ooff--lliinnee ((CC--ee))
Move to the end of the line.
ffoorrwwaarrdd--cchhaarr ((CC--ff))
Move forward a character.
bbaacckkwwaarrdd--cchhaarr ((CC--bb))
Move back a character.
ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd ((MM--ff))
Move forward to the end of the next word. Words are composed of
alphanumeric characters (letters and digits).
bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd ((MM--bb))
Move back to the start of the current or previous word. Words
are composed of alphanumeric characters (letters and digits).
cclleeaarr--ssccrreeeenn ((CC--ll))
Clear the screen leaving the current line at the top of the
screen. With an argument, refresh the current line without
clearing the screen.
rreeddrraaww--ccuurrrreenntt--lliinnee
Refresh the current line.
CCoommmmaannddss ffoorr MMaanniippuullaattiinngg tthhee HHiissttoorryy
aacccceepptt--lliinnee ((NNeewwlliinnee,, RReettuurrnn))
Accept the line regardless of where the cursor is. If this line
is non-empty, it may be added to the history list for future
recall with aadddd__hhiissttoorryy(()). If the line is a modified history
line, the history line is restored to its original state.
pprreevviioouuss--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--pp))
Fetch the previous command from the history list, moving back in
the list.
nneexxtt--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--nn))
Fetch the next command from the history list, moving forward in
the list.
bbeeggiinnnniinngg--ooff--hhiissttoorryy ((MM--<<))
Move to the first line in the history.
eenndd--ooff--hhiissttoorryy ((MM-->>))
Move to the end of the input history, i.e., the line currently
being entered.
rreevveerrssee--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--rr))
Search backward starting at the current line and moving `up'
through the history as necessary. This is an incremental
search.
ffoorrwwaarrdd--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((CC--ss))
Search forward starting at the current line and moving `down'
through the history as necessary. This is an incremental
search.
nnoonn--iinnccrreemmeennttaall--rreevveerrssee--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((MM--pp))
Search backward through the history starting at the current line
using a non-incremental search for a string supplied by the
user.
nnoonn--iinnccrreemmeennttaall--ffoorrwwaarrdd--sseeaarrcchh--hhiissttoorryy ((MM--nn))
Search forward through the history using a non-incremental
search for a string supplied by the user.
hhiissttoorryy--sseeaarrcchh--ffoorrwwaarrdd
Search forward through the history for the string of characters
between the start of the current line and the current cursor
position (the _p_o_i_n_t). This is a non-incremental search.
hhiissttoorryy--sseeaarrcchh--bbaacckkwwaarrdd
Search backward through the history for the string of characters
between the start of the current line and the point. This is a
non-incremental search.
yyaannkk--nntthh--aarrgg ((MM--CC--yy))
Insert the first argument to the previous command (usually the
second word on the previous line) at point. With an argument _n,
insert the _nth word from the previous command (the words in the
previous command begin with word 0). A negative argument
inserts the _nth word from the end of the previous command. Once
the argument _n is computed, the argument is extracted as if the
"!_n" history expansion had been specified.
yyaannkk--llaasstt--aarrgg ((MM--..,, MM--__))
Insert the last argument to the previous command (the last word
of the previous history entry). With a numeric argument, behave
exactly like yyaannkk--nntthh--aarrgg. Successive calls to yyaannkk--llaasstt--aarrgg
move back through the history list, inserting the last word (or
the word specified by the argument to the first call) of each
line in turn. Any numeric argument supplied to these successive
calls determines the direction to move through the history. A
negative argument switches the direction through the history
(back or forward). The history expansion facilities are used to
extract the last argument, as if the "!$" history expansion had
been specified.
CCoommmmaannddss ffoorr CChhaannggiinngg TTeexxtt
ddeelleettee--cchhaarr ((CC--dd))
Delete the character at point. If point is at the beginning of
the line, there are no characters in the line, and the last
character typed was not bound to ddeelleettee--cchhaarr, then return EEOOFF.
bbaacckkwwaarrdd--ddeelleettee--cchhaarr ((RRuubboouutt))
Delete the character behind the cursor. When given a numeric
argument, save the deleted text on the kill ring.
ffoorrwwaarrdd--bbaacckkwwaarrdd--ddeelleettee--cchhaarr
Delete the character under the cursor, unless the cursor is at
the end of the line, in which case the character behind the cur-
sor is deleted.
qquuootteedd--iinnsseerrtt ((CC--qq,, CC--vv))
Add the next character that you type to the line verbatim. This
is how to insert characters like CC--qq, for example.
ttaabb--iinnsseerrtt ((MM--TTAABB))
Insert a tab character.
sseellff--iinnsseerrtt ((aa,, bb,, AA,, 11,, !!,, ......))
Insert the character typed.
ttrraannssppoossee--cchhaarrss ((CC--tt))
Drag the character before point forward over the character at
point, moving point forward as well. If point is at the end of
the line, then this transposes the two characters before point.
Negative arguments have no effect.
ttrraannssppoossee--wwoorrddss ((MM--tt))
Drag the word before point past the word after point, moving
point over that word as well. If point is at the end of the
line, this transposes the last two words on the line.
uuppccaassee--wwoorrdd ((MM--uu))
Uppercase the current (or following) word. With a negative
argument, uppercase the previous word, but do not move point.
ddoowwnnccaassee--wwoorrdd ((MM--ll))
Lowercase the current (or following) word. With a negative
argument, lowercase the previous word, but do not move point.
ccaappiittaalliizzee--wwoorrdd ((MM--cc))
Capitalize the current (or following) word. With a negative
argument, capitalize the previous word, but do not move point.
oovveerrwwrriittee--mmooddee
Toggle overwrite mode. With an explicit positive numeric argu-
ment, switches to overwrite mode. With an explicit non-positive
numeric argument, switches to insert mode. This command affects
only eemmaaccss mode; vvii mode does overwrite differently. Each call
to _r_e_a_d_l_i_n_e_(_) starts in insert mode. In overwrite mode, charac-
ters bound to sseellff--iinnsseerrtt replace the text at point rather than
pushing the text to the right. Characters bound to bbaacckk--
wwaarrdd--ddeelleettee--cchhaarr replace the character before point with a
space. By default, this command is unbound.
KKiilllliinngg aanndd YYaannkkiinngg
kkiillll--lliinnee ((CC--kk))
Kill the text from point to the end of the line.
bbaacckkwwaarrdd--kkiillll--lliinnee ((CC--xx RRuubboouutt))
Kill backward to the beginning of the line.
uunniixx--lliinnee--ddiissccaarrdd ((CC--uu))
Kill backward from point to the beginning of the line. The
killed text is saved on the kill-ring.
kkiillll--wwhhoollee--lliinnee
Kill all characters on the current line, no matter where point
is.
kkiillll--wwoorrdd ((MM--dd))
Kill from point the end of the current word, or if between
words, to the end of the next word. Word boundaries are the
same as those used by ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
bbaacckkwwaarrdd--kkiillll--wwoorrdd ((MM--RRuubboouutt))
Kill the word behind point. Word boundaries are the same as
those used by bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
uunniixx--wwoorrdd--rruubboouutt ((CC--ww))
Kill the word behind point, using white space as a word bound-
ary. The killed text is saved on the kill-ring.
uunniixx--ffiilleennaammee--rruubboouutt
Kill the word behind point, using white space and the slash
character as the word boundaries. The killed text is saved on
the kill-ring.
ddeelleettee--hhoorriizzoonnttaall--ssppaaccee ((MM--\\))
Delete all spaces and tabs around point.
kkiillll--rreeggiioonn
Kill the text between the point and _m_a_r_k (saved cursor posi-
tion). This text is referred to as the _r_e_g_i_o_n.
ccooppyy--rreeggiioonn--aass--kkiillll
Copy the text in the region to the kill buffer.
ccooppyy--bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd
Copy the word before point to the kill buffer. The word bound-
aries are the same as bbaacckkwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
ccooppyy--ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd
Copy the word following point to the kill buffer. The word
boundaries are the same as ffoorrwwaarrdd--wwoorrdd.
yyaannkk ((CC--yy))
Yank the top of the kill ring into the buffer at point.
yyaannkk--ppoopp ((MM--yy))
Rotate the kill ring, and yank the new top. Only works follow-
ing yyaannkk or yyaannkk--ppoopp.
NNuummeerriicc AArrgguummeennttss
ddiiggiitt--aarrgguummeenntt ((MM--00,, MM--11,, ......,, MM----))
Add this digit to the argument already accumulating, or start a
new argument. M-- starts a negative argument.
uunniivveerrssaall--aarrgguummeenntt
This is another way to specify an argument. If this command is
followed by one or more digits, optionally with a leading minus
sign, those digits define the argument. If the command is fol-
lowed by digits, executing uunniivveerrssaall--aarrgguummeenntt again ends the
numeric argument, but is otherwise ignored. As a special case,
if this command is immediately followed by a character that is
neither a digit or minus sign, the argument count for the next
command is multiplied by four. The argument count is initially
one, so executing this function the first time makes the argu-
ment count four, a second time makes the argument count sixteen,
and so on.
CCoommpplleettiinngg
ccoommpplleettee ((TTAABB))
Attempt to perform completion on the text before point. The
actual completion performed is application-specific. BBaasshh, for
instance, attempts completion treating the text as a variable
(if the text begins with $$), username (if the text begins with
~~), hostname (if the text begins with @@), or command (including
aliases and functions) in turn. If none of these produces a
match, filename completion is attempted. GGddbb, on the other
hand, allows completion of program functions and variables, and
only attempts filename completion under certain circumstances.
ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonnss ((MM--??))
List the possible completions of the text before point. When
displaying completions, readline sets the number of columns used
for display to the value of ccoommpplleettiioonn--ddiissppllaayy--wwiiddtthh, the value
of the environment variable CCOOLLUUMMNNSS, or the screen width, in
that order.
iinnsseerrtt--ccoommpplleettiioonnss ((MM--**))
Insert all completions of the text before point that would have
been generated by ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonnss.
mmeennuu--ccoommpplleettee
Similar to ccoommpplleettee, but replaces the word to be completed with
a single match from the list of possible completions. Repeated
execution of mmeennuu--ccoommpplleettee steps through the list of possible
completions, inserting each match in turn. At the end of the
list of completions, the bell is rung (subject to the setting of
bbeellll--ssttyyllee) and the original text is restored. An argument of _n
moves _n positions forward in the list of matches; a negative
argument may be used to move backward through the list. This
command is intended to be bound to TTAABB, but is unbound by
default.
mmeennuu--ccoommpplleettee--bbaacckkwwaarrdd
Identical to mmeennuu--ccoommpplleettee, but moves backward through the list
of possible completions, as if mmeennuu--ccoommpplleettee had been given a
negative argument. This command is unbound by default.
ddeelleettee--cchhaarr--oorr--lliisstt
Deletes the character under the cursor if not at the beginning
or end of the line (like ddeelleettee--cchhaarr). If at the end of the
line, behaves identically to ppoossssiibbllee--ccoommpplleettiioonnss.
KKeeyybbooaarrdd MMaaccrrooss
ssttaarrtt--kkbbdd--mmaaccrroo ((CC--xx (())
Begin saving the characters typed into the current keyboard
macro.
eenndd--kkbbdd--mmaaccrroo ((CC--xx ))))
Stop saving the characters typed into the current keyboard macro
and store the definition.
ccaallll--llaasstt--kkbbdd--mmaaccrroo ((CC--xx ee))
Re-execute the last keyboard macro defined, by making the char-
acters in the macro appear as if typed at the keyboard.
MMiisscceellllaanneeoouuss
rree--rreeaadd--iinniitt--ffiillee ((CC--xx CC--rr))
Read in the contents of the _i_n_p_u_t_r_c file, and incorporate any
bindings or variable assignments found there.
aabboorrtt ((CC--gg))
Abort the current editing command and ring the terminal's bell
(subject to the setting of bbeellll--ssttyyllee).
ddoo--uuppppeerrccaassee--vveerrssiioonn ((MM--aa,, MM--bb,, MM--_x,, ......))
If the metafied character _x is lowercase, run the command that
is bound to the corresponding uppercase character.
pprreeffiixx--mmeettaa ((EESSCC))
Metafy the next character typed. EESSCC ff is equivalent to MMeettaa--ff.
uunnddoo ((CC--__,, CC--xx CC--uu))
Incremental undo, separately remembered for each line.
rreevveerrtt--lliinnee ((MM--rr))
Undo all changes made to this line. This is like executing the
uunnddoo command enough times to return the line to its initial
state.
ttiillddee--eexxppaanndd ((MM--&&))
Perform tilde expansion on the current word.
sseett--mmaarrkk ((CC--@@,, MM--<<ssppaaccee>>))
Set the mark to the point. If a numeric argument is supplied,
the mark is set to that position.
eexxcchhaannggee--ppooiinntt--aanndd--mmaarrkk ((CC--xx CC--xx))
Swap the point with the mark. The current cursor position is
set to the saved position, and the old cursor position is saved
as the mark.
cchhaarraacctteerr--sseeaarrcchh ((CC--]]))
A character is read and point is moved to the next occurrence of
that character. A negative count searches for previous occur-
rences.
cchhaarraacctteerr--sseeaarrcchh--bbaacckkwwaarrdd ((MM--CC--]]))
A character is read and point is moved to the previous occur-
rence of that character. A negative count searches for subse-
quent occurrences.
sskkiipp--ccssii--sseeqquueennccee
Read enough characters to consume a multi-key sequence such as
those defined for keys like Home and End. Such sequences begin
with a Control Sequence Indicator (CSI), usually ESC-[. If this
sequence is bound to "\[", keys producing such sequences will
have no effect unless explicitly bound to a readline command,
instead of inserting stray characters into the editing buffer.
This is unbound by default, but usually bound to ESC-[.
iinnsseerrtt--ccoommmmeenntt ((MM--##))
Without a numeric argument, the value of the readline ccoomm--
mmeenntt--bbeeggiinn variable is inserted at the beginning of the current
line. If a numeric argument is supplied, this command acts as a
toggle: if the characters at the beginning of the line do not
match the value of ccoommmmeenntt--bbeeggiinn, the value is inserted, other-
wise the characters in ccoommmmeenntt--bbeeggiinn are deleted from the begin-
ning of the line. In either case, the line is accepted as if a
newline had been typed. The default value of ccoommmmeenntt--bbeeggiinn
makes the current line a shell comment. If a numeric argument
causes the comment character to be removed, the line will be
executed by the shell.
dduummpp--ffuunnccttiioonnss
Print all of the functions and their key bindings to the read-
line output stream. If a numeric argument is supplied, the out-
put is formatted in such a way that it can be made part of an
_i_n_p_u_t_r_c file.
dduummpp--vvaarriiaabblleess
Print all of the settable variables and their values to the
readline output stream. If a numeric argument is supplied, the
output is formatted in such a way that it can be made part of an
_i_n_p_u_t_r_c file.
dduummpp--mmaaccrrooss
Print all of the readline key sequences bound to macros and the
strings they output. If a numeric argument is supplied, the
output is formatted in such a way that it can be made part of an
_i_n_p_u_t_r_c file.
eemmaaccss--eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee ((CC--ee))
When in vvii command mode, this causes a switch to eemmaaccss editing
mode.
vvii--eeddiittiinngg--mmooddee ((MM--CC--jj))
When in eemmaaccss editing mode, this causes a switch to vvii editing
mode.
DDEEFFAAUULLTT KKEEYY BBIINNDDIINNGGSS
The following is a list of the default emacs and vi bindings. Charac-
ters with the eighth bit set are written as M-<character>, and are
referred to as _m_e_t_a_f_i_e_d characters. The printable ASCII characters not
mentioned in the list of emacs standard bindings are bound to the
sseellff--iinnsseerrtt function, which just inserts the given character into the
input line. In vi insertion mode, all characters not specifically men-
tioned are bound to sseellff--iinnsseerrtt. Characters assigned to signal genera-
tion by _s_t_t_y(1) or the terminal driver, such as C-Z or C-C, retain that
function. Upper and lower case metafied characters are bound to the
same function in the emacs mode meta keymap. The remaining characters
are unbound, which causes readline to ring the bell (subject to the
setting of the bbeellll--ssttyyllee variable).
EEmmaaccss MMooddee
Emacs Standard bindings
"C-@" set-mark
"C-A" beginning-of-line
"C-B" backward-char
"C-D" delete-char
"C-E" end-of-line
"C-F" forward-char
"C-G" abort
"C-H" backward-delete-char
"C-I" complete
"C-J" accept-line
"C-K" kill-line
"C-L" clear-screen
"C-M" accept-line
"C-N" next-history
"C-P" previous-history
"C-Q" quoted-insert
"C-R" reverse-search-history
"C-S" forward-search-history
"C-T" transpose-chars
"C-U" unix-line-discard
"C-V" quoted-insert
"C-W" unix-word-rubout
"C-Y" yank
"C-]" character-search
"C-_" undo
" " to "/" self-insert
"0" to "9" self-insert
":" to "~" self-insert
"C-?" backward-delete-char
Emacs Meta bindings
"M-C-G" abort
"M-C-H" backward-kill-word
"M-C-I" tab-insert
"M-C-J" vi-editing-mode
"M-C-M" vi-editing-mode
"M-C-R" revert-line
"M-C-Y" yank-nth-arg
"M-C-[" complete
"M-C-]" character-search-backward
"M-space" set-mark
"M-#" insert-comment
"M-&" tilde-expand
"M-*" insert-completions
"M--" digit-argument
"M-." yank-last-arg
"M-0" digit-argument
"M-1" digit-argument
"M-2" digit-argument
"M-3" digit-argument
"M-4" digit-argument
"M-5" digit-argument
"M-6" digit-argument
"M-7" digit-argument
"M-8" digit-argument
"M-9" digit-argument
"M-<" beginning-of-history
"M-=" possible-completions
"M->" end-of-history
"M-?" possible-completions
"M-B" backward-word
"M-C" capitalize-word
"M-D" kill-word
"M-F" forward-word
"M-L" downcase-word
"M-N" non-incremental-forward-search-history
"M-P" non-incremental-reverse-search-history
"M-R" revert-line
"M-T" transpose-words
"M-U" upcase-word
"M-Y" yank-pop
"M-\" delete-horizontal-space
"M-~" tilde-expand
"M-C-?" backward-kill-word
"M-_" yank-last-arg
Emacs Control-X bindings
"C-XC-G" abort
"C-XC-R" re-read-init-file
"C-XC-U" undo
"C-XC-X" exchange-point-and-mark
"C-X(" start-kbd-macro
"C-X)" end-kbd-macro
"C-XE" call-last-kbd-macro
"C-XC-?" backward-kill-line
VVII MMooddee bbiinnddiinnggss
VI Insert Mode functions
"C-D" vi-eof-maybe
"C-H" backward-delete-char
"C-I" complete
"C-J" accept-line
"C-M" accept-line
"C-R" reverse-search-history
"C-S" forward-search-history
"C-T" transpose-chars
"C-U" unix-line-discard
"C-V" quoted-insert
"C-W" unix-word-rubout
"C-Y" yank
"C-[" vi-movement-mode
"C-_" undo
" " to "~" self-insert
"C-?" backward-delete-char
VI Command Mode functions
"C-D" vi-eof-maybe
"C-E" emacs-editing-mode
"C-G" abort
"C-H" backward-char
"C-J" accept-line
"C-K" kill-line
"C-L" clear-screen
"C-M" accept-line
"C-N" next-history
"C-P" previous-history
"C-Q" quoted-insert
"C-R" reverse-search-history
"C-S" forward-search-history
"C-T" transpose-chars
"C-U" unix-line-discard
"C-V" quoted-insert
"C-W" unix-word-rubout
"C-Y" yank
"C-_" vi-undo
" " forward-char
"#" insert-comment
"$" end-of-line
"%" vi-match
"&" vi-tilde-expand
"*" vi-complete
"+" next-history
"," vi-char-search
"-" previous-history
"." vi-redo
"/" vi-search
"0" beginning-of-line
"1" to "9" vi-arg-digit
";" vi-char-search
"=" vi-complete
"?" vi-search
"A" vi-append-eol
"B" vi-prev-word
"C" vi-change-to
"D" vi-delete-to
"E" vi-end-word
"F" vi-char-search
"G" vi-fetch-history
"I" vi-insert-beg
"N" vi-search-again
"P" vi-put
"R" vi-replace
"S" vi-subst
"T" vi-char-search
"U" revert-line
"W" vi-next-word
"X" backward-delete-char
"Y" vi-yank-to
"\" vi-complete
"^" vi-first-print
"_" vi-yank-arg
"`" vi-goto-mark
"a" vi-append-mode
"b" vi-prev-word
"c" vi-change-to
"d" vi-delete-to
"e" vi-end-word
"f" vi-char-search
"h" backward-char
"i" vi-insertion-mode
"j" next-history
"k" prev-history
"l" forward-char
"m" vi-set-mark
"n" vi-search-again
"p" vi-put
"r" vi-change-char
"s" vi-subst
"t" vi-char-search
"u" vi-undo
"w" vi-next-word
"x" vi-delete
"y" vi-yank-to
"|" vi-column
"~" vi-change-case
SSEEEE AALLSSOO
_T_h_e _G_n_u _R_e_a_d_l_i_n_e _L_i_b_r_a_r_y, Brian Fox and Chet Ramey
_T_h_e _G_n_u _H_i_s_t_o_r_y _L_i_b_r_a_r_y, Brian Fox and Chet Ramey
_b_a_s_h(1)
FFIILLEESS
_~_/_._i_n_p_u_t_r_c
Individual rreeaaddlliinnee initialization file
AAUUTTHHOORRSS
Brian Fox, Free Software Foundation
bfox@gnu.org
Chet Ramey, Case Western Reserve University
chet@ins.CWRU.Edu
BBUUGG RREEPPOORRTTSS
If you find a bug in rreeaaddlliinnee,, you should report it. But first, you
should make sure that it really is a bug, and that it appears in the
latest version of the rreeaaddlliinnee library that you have.
Once you have determined that a bug actually exists, mail a bug report
to _b_u_g_-_r_e_a_d_l_i_n_e@_g_n_u_._o_r_g. If you have a fix, you are welcome to mail
that as well! Suggestions and `philosophical' bug reports may be
mailed to _b_u_g_-_r_e_a_d_l_i_n_e@_g_n_u_._o_r_g or posted to the Usenet newsgroup
ggnnuu..bbaasshh..bbuugg.
Comments and bug reports concerning this manual page should be directed
to _c_h_e_t_@_i_n_s_._C_W_R_U_._E_d_u.
BBUUGGSS
It's too big and too slow.
GNU Readline 6.2 2010 August 28 READLINE(3)