How do I delete my commands quickly?
Use Ctrl+U to cut text from cursor position to the beginning of the command line. Later, if you want, use Ctrl+Y to paste the cut text.
If you just want to discard the current command line and get a new clean prompt hit Ctrl+C.
For more reference please check the Ubuntu documentation for Using The Terminal
Ctrl + U should help you.
Below are the rest of the options available. Grabbed from here
UNIX understands several control-key commands, commands you enter by holding down the control key (ctrl) while striking a second key
CTRL + S - freezes the screen and stops any display on the screen from continuing (equivalent to a no-scroll key) (sometimes takes a moment to work)
CTRL + Q - un-freezes the screen and lets screen display continue
CTRL + C - interrupts a running program
CTRL + \ - same as CTRL - C but stronger (used when terminal doesn't respond)
CTRL + Z - suspends a running program (use the fg command to continue the program, see s$
CTRL + H - deletes last character typed
CTRL + W - deletes last word typed
CTRL + U - deletes last line typed
CTRL + R - searches text from history
CTRL + D - ends text input for many UNIX programs, including mail and write.
Note:
When we delete using CTRL + W or CTRL + U, we are also performing a (edit) "cut" (yank in) operation (delete and store in buffer/clipboard). To paste (yank out) the string in buffer/clipboard, use CTRL + Y.
I'm usually using Alt+Backspace. If you are using bash
, this will let you delete untill the previous special character (/
, ;
, , etc.). If you are using
zsh
, it will remove the slashes and semicolons as well. It is a lot faster than just hitting Backspace.
In bash
, this is different from Ctrl+w in the sense that Ctrl+w deletes the previous word wheres Alt+Backspace deletes until the previous special character is found. In zsh
, both key combinations do the same thing