How to use the command `reset` (with examples)

The reset command is a useful utility for reinitializing and refreshing the state of a terminal. It effectively clears the screen and reestablishes the terminal’s default settings. When a terminal session is disrupted or misbehaving—perhaps due to a corrupted display or unexpected input—the reset command can help restore its functionality. It operates as a simple, quick fix to return the terminal to a clean state, facilitating continued productivity without needing to close and reopen the terminal window. Additionally, the reset command can be utilized to query and display the current terminal type.

Use case 1: Reinitialize the current terminal

Code:

reset

Motivation:

In a typical terminal session, there might arise situations where the terminal becomes unresponsive or displays corrupted text owing to erroneous input or command execution. Lines may overlap, or strange characters might appear on the screen, disrupting the workflow. This can especially occur after executing a command that alters terminal behavior—such as raw-mode programs or accidental binary execution. In these cases, you would want to return the terminal to its default settings without closing the session or losing historical command output. Using the reset command provides an efficient way to remedy such issues, thereby allowing you to regain control and continue with your tasks seamlessly.

Explanation:

The reset command here is invoked without any additional arguments. Simply calling reset by itself instructs the terminal to clear its display and reset the state to default settings. It reinitializes the input/output configuration, treating all control characters and sequences as they would be in a freshly opened terminal. This includes resetting screen buffer and scrollback, cancelling any text attributes, and setting the display cursor to its default position.

Example output:

After executing reset, one normally doesn’t observe visible output; the terminal clears itself, and the prompt reappears at the top of the screen, ready for new commands. If there were any visual inconsistencies or garbled text prior to execution, these are resolved, providing a refreshed, clean interface. You would simply see:

$

indicating the terminal is ready for input.

Use case 2: Display the terminal type instead

Code:

reset -q

Motivation:

While the reset command primarily serves to clear and restore terminal settings, there might be scenarios where a user wants to verify or log the type of terminal they are working with. This could be valuable when debugging terminal-specific issues or configuring terminal-based software, where knowledge about terminal capabilities is crucial. Some scripts or programs behave differently based on the terminal’s capabilities (such as its color support or control sequences). The need to identify terminal type concisely is thus an added utility provided by the reset command, facilitating informed decisions about terminal management or software deployment.

Explanation:

The reset command is employed here with the -q argument. The -q option stands for “query” and instructs the command to output the type of terminal in use instead of performing the usual reset function. This is useful for diagnostics or scripts where knowing the terminal type helps tailor output or performance. By querying the terminal type directly, users can quickly ascertain this characteristic without navigating through multiple system configurations or potentially ambiguous queries.

Example output:

Upon execution of reset -q, the terminal would respond with the concise identification of the terminal type. This could look something like:

xterm-256color

This output provides specific information regarding the terminal’s identity and capabilities, such as color support, which can then be leveraged for user setup customizations or troubleshooting.

Conclusion:

The reset command proves itself as a dual-purpose tool in managing terminal functionality. Whether it’s needed to clear a confusing display or simply ascertain the terminal type for configuration needs, reset offers immediate solutions with straightforward command execution. By understanding these use cases and effectively applying them, users can maintain a smoother, more efficient command-line environment, supporting both reactive problem-solving and proactive management of terminal settings.