How to use the command reset (with examples)

The reset command is used to reinitialize the current terminal and clear the entire terminal screen. It can also display the terminal type instead of resetting the terminal.

Use case 1: Reinitialize the current terminal

Code:

reset

Motivation:

The reset command is useful when you want to clear the terminal screen and start afresh. It can be helpful in situations where the terminal becomes unresponsive or cluttered with too much output.

Explanation:

• reset: This is the command itself, which instructs the terminal to reinitialize.

Example output:

The terminal screen is cleared and the terminal is reinitialized.

Use case 2: Display the terminal type instead

Code:

reset -q

Motivation:

Sometimes, instead of resetting the terminal screen, you may just want to display the terminal type. This can be useful when you need to determine the type of terminal you are using for compatibility and configuration purposes.

Explanation:

• reset: This is the command itself, which instructs the terminal to display the terminal type.
• -q: This argument stands for “quiet” and is used to suppress the terminal reset and only display the terminal type.

Example output:

xterm-256color

Conclusion:

The reset command is a handy tool for reinitializing the terminal and clearing the terminal screen. It can be used to start afresh or display the terminal type. Whether you need to reset the terminal or just want to know the terminal type, the reset command has got you covered.