commandLinux tput Command Usage Guide

1. Introduction

When working with the Linux terminal, there are many commands that can be used to perform various tasks. One of these commands is the "tput" command, which is used to manipulate terminal settings. In this guide, we will explore the usage of the "tput" command in Linux.

2. tput Command Syntax

The basic syntax for the "tput" command is as follows:

tput option

The "option" argument indicates the specific action that you want to perform using "tput". There are many different options available, such as changing the color of the text, erasing the screen, or positioning the cursor.

2.1 Examples of tput Command Syntax

Here are some examples of how the "tput" command can be used:

tput setaf 2 # Changes the text color to green

tput clear # Clears the screen
tput cup 10 10 # Positions the cursor at row 10, column 10

In the first example, the "setaf" option is used to change the text color to green. In the second example, the "clear" option is used to clear the screen. In the third example, the "cup" option is used to position the cursor at row 10, column 10.

3. tput Command Options

There are many different options available when using the "tput" command. Here are some of the most commonly used options:

3.1. setaf

The "setaf" option is used to set the foreground (text) color of the terminal. The syntax for using "setaf" is:

tput setaf color

Where "color" is the number that corresponds to the desired color. Here is a table of the most commonly used colors:

For example, to set the text color to green, you would use the following command:

tput setaf 2

This sets the foreground color to green.

3.2. setab

The "setab" option is used to set the background color of the terminal. The syntax for using "setab" is:

tput setab color

The "color" argument is the number that corresponds to the desired color. The same color table shown above for "setaf" can be used for "setab". For example, to set the background color to blue, you would use the following command:

tput setab 4

This sets the background color to blue.

3.3. clear

The "clear" option is used to clear the terminal screen. The syntax for using "clear" is simply:

tput clear

This clears the screen and positions the cursor at the top-left corner.

3.4. bel

The "bel" option is used to make the terminal beep. The syntax for using "bel" is:

tput bel

This makes the terminal beep once.

3.5. cup

The "cup" option is used to position the cursor at a specific location on the screen. The syntax for using "cup" is:

tput cup row column

Where "row" and "column" are the row and column numbers, respectively, where you want the cursor to be positioned. For example, to position the cursor at row 10, column 10, you would use the following command:

tput cup 10 10

This positions the cursor at row 10, column 10.

4. Conclusion

The "tput" command is a powerful tool for manipulating terminal settings in Linux. With the various options available, you can change the text and background colors, clear the screen, beep the terminal, and position the cursor. By understanding the syntax and options of the "tput" command, you can customize your terminal experience to meet your specific needs.