Linux bash scripting: How to search the command history (previously executed commands)

We often need to type long commands in the command line which we typed earlier. Instead of typing it again we can search the command history for the command we executed and execute it again. This technique will come handy when you are required to type a long command that you executed previously.

To search the command history and execute the command without editing it, Press Ctrl+R and type the keyword present in the previously executed command.

In the below example, I searched for the word "work", which displayed the previous command "cd /home/sittik/test/DDI/work" in the history that contained the word work.

$ [Press Ctrl+R from the command prompt, which will display the reverse-i-search prompt] (reverse-i-search)`work': cat /home/sittik/test/DDI/work [Note: Press enter when you see your command, which will execute the command from the history] $ cat /home/sittik/test/DDI/work This is my work data

Suppose if you need to edit the command before executing it, you can use the left or right arrow key without pressing enter. For example, you can search for "httpd" and which will display the command "service httpd stop" from the command history. You can change this command to "service httpd start" and execute it as shown below.

$ [Press Ctrl+R from the command prompt, which will display the reverse-i-search prompt] (reverse-i-search)`httpd': service httpd stop [Note: Press either left arrow or right arrow key when you see your command, which will display the command for you to edit, before executing it] $ service httpd start