The history command in Linux explained
The history command lists the commands you have run. It is one of the most useful commands for anyone using a live USB drive or a fresh Linux install.
Syntax
history
Examples
history | grep apt: find earlier apt commands
Tip
Press Ctrl+R to search previous commands as you type.
Keep learning
New to the terminal? Start with Linux terminal basics. You can try every command safely from a live session: see how to try Linux without installing it. Run man history in a terminal for the full manual.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see every option for history?
Run man history for the full manual, or try history --help for a short summary.
Do I need sudo to run history?
Not for your own files. You only need sudo when the command changes something owned by the system or another user.
Is it safe to practise history on a live USB drive?
Mostly yes, because a live session starts fresh each time. Be careful with commands that write to your internal disk, such as rm on a mounted drive or dd.