How do I pass a command line argument to alias?

If arguments are needed, a shell function should be used (see FUNCTIONS below). The easiest way, is to use function not alias. you can still call a function at any time from the cli. In bash, you can just add function name() { command } it loads the same as an alias.

How do you pass arguments to alias in bash?

24 Answers. Bash alias does not directly accept parameters. You will have to create a function.

How do I pass a parameter to alias in Linux?

Aliases are like commands in that all arguments to them are passed as arguments to the program they alias. For instance, if you were to alias ls to ls -la , then typing ls foo bar would really execute ls -la foo bar on the command line.

How do I make an alias command?

How to define a Linux alias

  1. Start with the alias command.
  2. Then type the name of the alias you want to create.
  3. Then an = sign, with no spaces on either side of the =
  4. Then type the command (or commands) you want your alias to execute when it is run. This can be a simple command, or can be a powerful combination of commands.

What is alias command and its arguments in Unix?

An alias is a short cut command to a longer command. Users may type the alias name to run the longer command with less typing. Without arguments, alias prints a list of defined aliases. A new alias is defined by assigning a string with the command to a name. To see ls without the color option, type \ls.

How do I add alias to Bash?

To create an alias in bash that is set every time you start a shell:

  1. Open your ~/. bash_profile file.
  2. Add a line with the alias—for example, alias lf=’ls -F’
  3. Save the file.
  4. Quit the editor. The new alias will be set for the next shell you start.
  5. Open a new Terminal window to check that the alias is set: alias.

Can you pass arguments to an alias?

Aliases can’t take arguments, but we can “simulate” that.

How does alias work in Linux?

An alias is a (usually short) name that the shell translates into another (usually longer) name or command. Aliases allow you to define new commands by substituting a string for the first token of a simple command. They are typically placed in the ~/. bashrc (bash) or ~/.

How do I permanently store my alias?

Steps to create a permanent Bash alias:

  1. Edit ~/. bash_aliases or ~/. bashrc file using: vi ~/. bash_aliases.
  2. Append your bash alias.
  3. For example append: alias update=’sudo yum update’
  4. Save and close the file.
  5. Activate alias by typing: source ~/. bash_aliases.

What are the benefits of a command alias?

A shell alias is a shortcut to reference a command. It can be used to avoid typing long commands or as a means to correct incorrect input. For common patterns it can reduce keystrokes and improve efficiency. A simple example is setting default options on commands to avoid having to type them each time a command is run.

How do I list all alias in Unix?

To see a list of aliases set up on your linux box, just type alias at the prompt. You can see there are a few already set up on a default Redhat 9 installation. To remove an alias, use the unalias command.

What’s the purpose of the alias command?

An alias lets you create a shortcut name for a command, file name, or any shell text. By using aliases, you save a lot of time when doing tasks you do frequently. You can create a command alias.