Interesting Commands on Mac Terminal Last Updated:. Terminal is one of the most important tools in MacOS be it any field. To get good knowledge about the terminal is important. It teaches you many things in an innovative way which is liked by most of the developers. It's a knowledge that only geeks and geniuses have. Terminal (officially called Terminal.app) is, strictly speaking, an emulator and works off most typical UNIX commands (OS X is a UNIX-based system, as opposed to Windows, which is NT-based). Unlike OS X, which has a graphical user interface (shortened to GUI), Terminal works off a text-based interface and all commands have to be typed in - this. Typing Command-Period (.) is equivalent to entering Control-C on the command line. Soft reset terminal emulator state. Hard reset terminal emulator state. Hold down the Command key and double-click the URL. Add the complete path to a file. Microsoft access 2010 for mac. Drag the file from the Finder. Windows Terminal is the new update for the command line interface on Windows 10. In fact, this has been the best update and the first one for the command line prompt in over 30 years. The new version is backward compatible and should work efficiently with all editions in the past.
- Mac Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet Pdf
- Git Commands For Mac Terminal
- Mac Terminal Tutorial
- Basic Commands For Mac Terminal
This is a complete A- Z index of all Mac commands and the terminal events associated with those commands. We have compiled this list by using official sources and have explained more clearly and elaborately about each of them. We have also added two additional columns specifying whether or not the command is an inbuilt system one. The final column also displays the Mac version support for each of these commands.
IMPORTANT: If you are not an advanced user and have no knowledge on how to use the terminal commands, please do not try to experiment. These are meant for medium and advanced users ONLY.
Mac Terminal Commands – A to Z
Command | InBuilt | Command Action and Event | All |
alias | Yes | Creation of a Alias for current User | Yes |
alloc | No | Free Memory is Listed | Yes |
apropos | No | String search in What is database | NA |
awk | No | Scan and overwrite Text inside file and files | NA |
basename | No | Change full path name to path name | NA |
bash | No | Bourne-Again Shell | NA |
bg | Yes | Send to background | Yes |
bind | Yes | Read line Key is displayed | Yes |
bless | No | Assign Boot and start-up options | NA |
break | Yes | Exit a redundant loop | Yes |
builtin | Yes | Execute a built in shell command | Yes |
bzip2 | No | Compress and decompress a file | Yes |
cal | No | The calendar is displayed | Yes |
caller | Yes | Subroutine call context is returned | Yes |
case | Yes | Conditional statement | Yes |
cat | No | Append and Display file content | Yes |
cd | Yes | Change current Directory | Yes |
chflags | No | Change flags | NA |
chgrp | No | Modify Group Ownership | NA |
chmod | No | Change group permissions | NA |
chown | No | Modify File owner and permissions | NA |
chroot | No | Execute a command using another root directory | NA |
cksum | No | Print and display checksum | NA |
clear | No | Clear current terminal screen contents | NA |
cmp | No | Simply compares two files | NA |
comm | No | Line by line comparison of two sorted lines | Yes |
command | Yes | Run or Execute a command | Yes |
complete | Yes | Edit or modify completion of a command | Yes |
continue | Yes | Resume a loop | Yes |
cp | No | Copy Command | NA |
cron | No | Run or Execute a prescheduled command | NA |
crontab | No | Schedule command for execution after an assigned time | NA |
csplit | No | Split a file into context-determined pieces | NA |
curl | No | Upload or download data from a server | NA |
cut | No | Cut a file into parts | Yes |
date | No | Display or modify date time | Yes |
dc | No | Display Desk Calculator | NA |
dd | No | (Copy a file) Data Dump | NA |
declare | Yes | Declare and assign attributes for a variable | Yes |
defaults | No | Set visual preference options for hidden files | NA |
df | No | Show unused disk space | Yes |
diff | No | Show difference between two files | Yes |
diff3 | No | Show difference between three files | NA |
dig | No | Command to lookup DNS details | NA |
dirname | No | Convert full path name to path | NA |
dirs | Yes | Display cached directories | Yes |
diskutil | No | Disk utility command | Yes |
disown | Yes | Remove a job from current session | Yes |
ditto | No | Same as copy command | Yes |
dot_clean | No | Remove dots and underscores from a context files | NA |
drutil | No | Disk drive utility command | NA |
dscacheutil | No | Flush DNS or cache | NA |
dscl | No | Command-line utility for directory service | Yes |
dseditgroup | No | Manage groups and users Sonnox latest version. These guys literally invented the Digital EQ and Digital EQ emulations. Buyer pays the 25GBP transfer fee to Sonnox upon registration of the plugin. I will pay ilok and paypal fees.PM the offers. Runs TDM/HDX/AAX Native/VST/AU/RTAS of the Plugin - Full Featured.Check the website for full info. Guys up for sale is the famed Sonnox Oxford EQ - PM me offers. | Yes |
dsenableroor | No | Command to enable root access for a terminal | NA |
dsmemberutil | No | Show groups and users rights | NA |
du | No | File space usage estimation | NA |
echo | Yes | Display an entered message on the screen | Yes |
ed | No | A text editor program | Yes |
enable | Yes | Enable or disable system shell commands | Yes |
env | No | Display or Modify environment variables | Yes |
eval | Yes | Evaluate one or more commands or arguments | Yes |
exec | Yes | Execute command | Yes |
exit | Yes | Exit shell | Yes |
expand | No | Expand a Tab | NA |
expect | No | Pre assigned dialogue exchange for interactive programs | NA |
export | Yes | Assign environment variable | Yes |
expr | No | Evaluate an expression or set of expressions | Yes |
fc | No | Fix command | NA |
fdisk | No | Format disk command | NA |
fg | Yes | Bring a job to front | Yes |
file | No | Analyse file type | Yes |
find | No | File search matching requested criteria | NA |
fmt | No | Reformat Text in a paragraph | NA |
fold | No | Wrap text to automatically adjust with working area | NA |
for | Yes | Simple Loop command | Yes |
fs_usage | No | File system display usage | Yes |
fsactl | No | Enable or disable ACL support for File System | NA |
fsck | No | Check and repair file systems | NA |
ftp | No | FTP manager | NA |
getfileinfo | No | Get file attributes | Yes |
getopts | Yes | Parse the positional parameters | Yes |
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grep | No | Search file with a certain pattern | NA |
groups | No | Display a user's group name | NA |
gzip | No | Compress and decompress a file | Yes |
halt | No | Shutdown and Restart the system | NA |
hash | Yes | Refresh command cache and path names | Yes |
hdiutil | No | Hard drive interface Utility Tool | Yes |
head | No | Print first line from a text file | Yes |
history | Yes | History Command | Yes |
hostname | No | Display or modify System name | NA |
iconv | No | Convert character set of file(s) | NA |
id | No | Display user and group IDs | Yes |
if | Yes | Conditional Command statement | Yes |
info | No | Display help information | NA |
install | No | Copy and assign attributes of a file | Yes |
ipconfig | No | Configure network attributes and assign values | NA |
jobs | Yes | List all currently active jobs | Yes |
join | No | Join command | NA |
kextfind | No | List the kernel extension | NA |
kickstart | No | Configure and set Apple Remote Desktop properties | NA |
kill | No | Terminate a process directly | Yes |
l | No | List file in original long format | NA |
last | No | Indicate last login information of a users and additional info | NA |
launchctl | No | Launch daemons or agents | NA |
less | No | Display output on screen accommodating data per window | NA |
let | Yes | Evaluate an expression or set of expressions | Yes |
lipo | No | Convert binary format | Yes |
ll | No | List file in original long format, also display hidden files | Yes |
ln | No | Interlink files | NA |
local | Yes | Assign local variable | Yes |
locate | No | Find a file or files | Yes |
login | No | log-in your system | NA |
logname | No | Display current users login name | NA |
logout | Yes | Exit login shell | Yes |
lpr | No | Print file or files | Yes |
lprm | No | Remove queued print jobs | Yes |
lpstat | No | Printer info and current status | Yes |
ls | No | List a file information | NA |
lsof | No | List currently opened files | NA |
lsregister | No | Reset Launch Service database | NA |
man | No | Display Help manual | Yes |
mdfind | No | Spotlight search command | Yes |
mdutil | No | Spotlight search command utility | Yes |
mkdir | No | Create new directory | Yes |
mkfifo | No | Build FIFOs | Yes |
more | No | Display output data one screen at one time | NA |
mount | No | Mount a file system | NA |
mv | No | Cut or rename directories or files | NA |
nano | No | Bring up text editor | Yes |
net | No | Configure network resources | NA |
netstat | No | Display network information | NA |
networksetup | No | Assign network attributes | Yes |
nice | No | Set command priority | NA |
nohup | No | Hang-up a command | NA |
ntfs.util | No | NTFS utility command | Yes |
onintr | No | Control shell action | NA |
open | No | Open up a file or location | NA |
osacomplie | No | Command to Compile an Apple script | NA |
osasdript | No | Execute an AppleScript | NA |
passwd | No | Modify user password directly | Yes |
paste | No | Merge lines from two or more files | Yes |
pbcopy | No | Copy the data to clipboard | NA |
pbpaste | No | Paste the data from Clipboard | NA |
ping | No | Check a network connection | NA |
pkgutil | No | Display or change Installed packages info | NA |
plutil | No | Property list command utility | Yes |
pmset | No | Configure Power Management settings | Yes |
popd | Yes | Restore previous value of current directory | Yes |
pr | No | Modify Text files to print | Yes |
printenv | No | Display all environment variables | Yes |
printf | Yes | Print command | Yes |
ps | No | Display Process status | Yes |
pushd | No | Save and change current directory | NA |
pwd | Yes | Print currently Working Directory | Yes |
quota | No | Display disk limitation and usage | Yes |
rcp | No | Copy files across machines/systems | Yes |
read | Yes | Read first line from an output file | Yes |
readonly | Yes | Assign read only attribute to a file/directory | Yes |
reboot | Yes | Reboot a system | Yes |
return | Yes | Exit Function | Yes |
rev | No | Reverse file lines | NA |
rm | No | Remove file(s) | NA |
rmdir | No | Remove directory(ies) | Yes |
rpm | No | Bring up Remote Package Manager tool | Yes |
rsync | No | Remotely copy a file | NA |
say | No | Text to speech conversion | NA |
screen | No | Manage Multiplex terminal and run remote shells via ssh | NA |
screencapture | No | Capture the screen image | Yes |
sdiff | No | Merge or modify two files | Yes |
security | No | Configure security options for a system | Yes |
sed | No | Stream Editor Utility | NA |
select | Yes | Display list of Items | Yes |
set | Yes | Set shell variable | Yes |
setfile | No | Set file attributes | NA |
shift | Yes | Shift positional parameters | Yes |
shopt | Yes | Configure shell options | Yes |
shutdown | No | Shutdown/restart Mac OS X | NA |
sleep | No | Sleep after an assigned time frame | Yes |
softwareupdate | No | Software Update Command | Yes |
sort | No | Sort the text files | Yes |
source | Yes | Execute command from file | Yes |
split | No | Split files into like sized pieces | NA |
stop | No | Stop a process or currently running job | NA |
su | No | Substitute a user identity | Yes |
sudo | No | Execute command as some other user | Yes |
sum | No | Print checksum value for a file | NA |
suspend | Yes | Suspend shell execution | Yes |
sw_vers | No | Print Mac Operating System version | NA |
system_profiler | No | Report a system configuration | Yes |
tail | No | Display the last lines from a file | NA |
tar | No | Archiver Utility | Yes |
tcpdump | No | Network Traffic dump | NA |
tee | No | Redirect multiple file output | NA |
test | Yes | Conditional evaluation | Yes |
textutil | No | Modify Text file formats | NA |
time | No | Calculate Program Resource Usage | Yes |
times | Yes | Print shell along with shell process time | Yes |
top | No | Display process related information | Yes |
touch | No | Change the file timestamps info | Yes |
tr | No | Modify Characters or delete them | NA |
traceroute | No | Display Trace Route path to assigned host name | NA |
trap | Yes | Execute command when shell receives signal | Yes |
tty | No | Print terminal filename on stdin | NA |
type | Yes | Describe command name and type | Yes |
ufs.util | No | Mount or unmount a UFS file system | NA |
ulimit | Yes | Limit system resources usage | Yes |
unalias | Yes | Delete an alias | Yes |
unamask | No | Mask User file creation | NA |
uname | No | Print System Info | Yes |
unexpand | No | Space to tab converter | Yes |
uniq | No | Uniquify the files | Yes |
units | No | Unit scale converter command | NA |
unmount | No | Unmount a mounted device | NA |
unset | Yes | Remove function or variable names | Yes |
until | Yes | Loop command | Yes |
uptime | No | Display System Runtime information | NA |
users | No | Print all username of the current session | NA |
uucp | No | Unix to Unix copy command | Yes |
uudecode | No | Decode a file | NA |
uuencode | No | Encode a file | NA |
vi | No | Visual Text Editor | Yes |
wait | Yes | Wait for process completion | Yes |
whatis | No | Search what is database | NA |
where | No | Report all command instances | NA |
while | Yes | Loop command | Yes |
who | No | Print all names of the users of the current session | NA |
whoami | No | Display or Print current username and info details | NA |
write | No | Send a user a message | NA |
xargs | No | Execute utility by passing arguments | Yes |
yes | No | Print a string value until and unless interrupted by a user | NA |
Mac Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet Pdf
Foot note: N/A – Data not available.
If you feel this list lacks any particular command which has been recently added to the Mac terminal, you can improve this article by mentioning it in the comment section.
Git Commands For Mac Terminal
Make Terminal windows stand out with profiles
When you're logged in to several servers, unique background colors and window titles specified in profiles help you easily spot the right Terminal window. Use profiles built into Terminal, or create your own custom profiles.
Navigate Terminal windows
Add marks and bookmarks as you work, then use them to quickly navigate through lengthy Terminal window output.
No
Jump to an assigned point and then continue program execution
NA
grep
No
Search file with a certain pattern
NA
groups
No
Display a user's group name
NA
gzip
No
Compress and decompress a file
Yes
halt
No
Shutdown and Restart the system
NA
hash
Yes
Refresh command cache and path names
Yes
hdiutil
No
Hard drive interface Utility Tool
Yes
head
No
Print first line from a text file
Yes
history
Yes
History Command
Yes
hostname
No
Display or modify System name
NA
iconv
No
Convert character set of file(s)
NA
id
No
Display user and group IDs
Yes
if
Yes
Conditional Command statement
Yes
info
No
Display help information
NA
install
No
Copy and assign attributes of a file
Yes
ipconfig
No
Configure network attributes and assign values
NA
jobs
Yes
List all currently active jobs
Yes
join
No
Join command
NA
kextfind
No
List the kernel extension
NA
kickstart
No
Configure and set Apple Remote Desktop properties
NA
kill
No
Terminate a process directly
Yes
l
No
List file in original long format
NA
last
No
Indicate last login information of a users and additional info
NA
launchctl
No
Launch daemons or agents
NA
less
No
Display output on screen accommodating data per window
NA
let
Yes
Evaluate an expression or set of expressions
Yes
lipo
No
Convert binary format
Yes
ll
No
List file in original long format, also display hidden files
Yes
ln
No
Interlink files
NA
local
Yes
Assign local variable
Yes
locate
No
Find a file or files
Yes
login
No
log-in your system
NA
logname
No
Display current users login name
NA
logout
Yes
Exit login shell
Yes
lpr
No
Print file or files
Yes
lprm
No
Remove queued print jobs
Yes
lpstat
No
Printer info and current status
Yes
ls
No
List a file information
NA
lsof
No
List currently opened files
NA
lsregister
No
Reset Launch Service database
NA
man
No
Display Help manual
Yes
mdfind
No
Spotlight search command
Yes
mdutil
No
Spotlight search command utility
Yes
mkdir
No
Create new directory
Yes
mkfifo
No
Build FIFOs
Yes
more
No
Display output data one screen at one time
NA
mount
No
Mount a file system
NA
mv
No
Cut or rename directories or files
NA
nano
No
Bring up text editor
Yes
net
No
Configure network resources
NA
netstat
No
Display network information
NA
networksetup
No
Assign network attributes
Yes
nice
No
Set command priority
NA
nohup
No
Hang-up a command
NA
ntfs.util
No
NTFS utility command
Yes
onintr
No
Control shell action
NA
open
No
Open up a file or location
NA
osacomplie
No
Command to Compile an Apple script
NA
osasdript
No
Execute an AppleScript
NA
passwd
No
Modify user password directly
Yes
paste
No
Merge lines from two or more files
Yes
pbcopy
No
Copy the data to clipboard
NA
pbpaste
No
Paste the data from Clipboard
NA
ping
No
Check a network connection
NA
pkgutil
No
Display or change Installed packages info
NA
plutil
No
Property list command utility
Yes
pmset
No
Configure Power Management settings
Yes
popd
Yes
Restore previous value of current directory
Yes
pr
No
Modify Text files to print
Yes
printenv
No
Display all environment variables
Yes
printf
Yes
Print command
Yes
ps
No
Display Process status
Yes
pushd
No
Save and change current directory
NA
pwd
Yes
Print currently Working Directory
Yes
quota
No
Display disk limitation and usage
Yes
rcp
No
Copy files across machines/systems
Yes
read
Yes
Read first line from an output file
Yes
readonly
Yes
Assign read only attribute to a file/directory
Yes
reboot
Yes
Reboot a system
Yes
return
Yes
Exit Function
Yes
rev
No
Reverse file lines
NA
rm
No
Remove file(s)
NA
rmdir
No
Remove directory(ies)
Yes
rpm
No
Bring up Remote Package Manager tool
Yes
rsync
No
Remotely copy a file
NA
say
No
Text to speech conversion
NA
screen
No
Manage Multiplex terminal and run remote shells via ssh
NA
screencapture
No
Capture the screen image
Yes
sdiff
No
Merge or modify two files
Yes
security
No
Configure security options for a system
Yes
sed
No
Stream Editor Utility
NA
select
Yes
Display list of Items
Yes
set
Yes
Set shell variable
Yes
setfile
No
Set file attributes
NA
shift
Yes
Shift positional parameters
Yes
shopt
Yes
Configure shell options
Yes
shutdown
No
Shutdown/restart Mac OS X
NA
sleep
No
Sleep after an assigned time frame
Yes
softwareupdate
No
Software Update Command
Yes
sort
No
Sort the text files
Yes
source
Yes
Execute command from file
Yes
split
No
Split files into like sized pieces
NA
stop
No
Stop a process or currently running job
NA
su
No
Substitute a user identity
Yes
sudo
No
Execute command as some other user
Yes
sum
No
Print checksum value for a file
NA
suspend
Yes
Suspend shell execution
Yes
sw_vers
No
Print Mac Operating System version
NA
system_profiler
No
Report a system configuration
Yes
tail
No
Display the last lines from a file
NA
tar
No
Archiver Utility
Yes
tcpdump
No
Network Traffic dump
NA
tee
No
Redirect multiple file output
NA
test
Yes
Conditional evaluation
Yes
textutil
No
Modify Text file formats
NA
time
No
Calculate Program Resource Usage
Yes
times
Yes
Print shell along with shell process time
Yes
top
No
Display process related information
Yes
touch
No
Change the file timestamps info
Yes
tr
No
Modify Characters or delete them
NA
traceroute
No
Display Trace Route path to assigned host name
NA
trap
Yes
Execute command when shell receives signal
Yes
tty
No
Print terminal filename on stdin
NA
type
Yes
Describe command name and type
Yes
ufs.util
No
Mount or unmount a UFS file system
NA
ulimit
Yes
Limit system resources usage
Yes
unalias
Yes
Delete an alias
Yes
unamask
No
Mask User file creation
NA
uname
No
Print System Info
Yes
unexpand
No
Space to tab converter
Yes
uniq
No
Uniquify the files
Yes
units
No
Unit scale converter command
NA
unmount
No
Unmount a mounted device
NA
unset
Yes
Remove function or variable names
Yes
until
Yes
Loop command
Yes
uptime
No
Display System Runtime information
NA
users
No
Print all username of the current session
NA
uucp
No
Unix to Unix copy command
Yes
uudecode
No
Decode a file
NA
uuencode
No
Encode a file
NA
vi
No
Visual Text Editor
Yes
wait
Yes
Wait for process completion
Yes
whatis
No
Search what is database
NA
where
No
Report all command instances
NA
while
Yes
Loop command
Yes
who
No
Print all names of the users of the current session
NA
whoami
No
Display or Print current username and info details
NA
write
No
Send a user a message
NA
xargs
No
Execute utility by passing arguments
Yes
yes
No
Print a string value until and unless interrupted by a user
NA
Mac Terminal Commands Cheat Sheet Pdf
Foot note: N/A – Data not available.
If you feel this list lacks any particular command which has been recently added to the Mac terminal, you can improve this article by mentioning it in the comment section.
Git Commands For Mac Terminal
Make Terminal windows stand out with profiles
When you're logged in to several servers, unique background colors and window titles specified in profiles help you easily spot the right Terminal window. Use profiles built into Terminal, or create your own custom profiles.
Navigate Terminal windows
Add marks and bookmarks as you work, then use them to quickly navigate through lengthy Terminal window output.
Manage processes
Mac Terminal Tutorial
Use the inspector to view and manage running processes, and change window titles and background colors.
Basic Commands For Mac Terminal
To browse the Terminal User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page.
