Linux has many keyboard shortcuts. Knowing them makes using Linux much easier.
Console/terminal
-
-
- shuts down computer- -
(
, 
, 
,…) - switch to n-th console - -
or -
- switch to next/previous virtual terminal - -
- clears command line from cursor position to end of line.
- -
- clears command line from cursor position to beginning of line. - -
- clears word to the left - -
- moves cursor to beginning of command line. 
- command-line autocompletion. Automatically completes current command line.
If autocompletion script is enabled, then also options and applications parameters are autocompleted.
- locks terminal input/output - allows to read console contents when output is going too fast. To unlock, press Scroll Lock once again.
Alternatively, Scroll Lock can be enabled using
-
and disabled with -
. Try last shortcut if your console hangs for unknown reason - it happened to me many times that I’ve locked it accidentaly by pressing CTRL-S.
-
and -
- scrolls console buffer up/down. Works also when is enabled. After changing the terminal (-) buffer contents is erased and it is impossible to scroll it. - -
- screen refresh
Kernel shortcuts
Following shortcuts must be enabled in kernel, they also must be enabled using proc interface (echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq).
- -
- - sync all mounted filesystem. Data in buffers is immediately written to disks. - -- - remounts mounted filesystems read-only
- --
- performs immediate reboot. Don’t do it without syncing and unmounting as it can cause massive filesystem corruption - --, then --, then -- - attempts to sync all mounted filesystems, remounts them read-only and immediately reboots computer. Fastest way to reboot Linux.
X-Windows shortcuts
- --
or --
-
changes screen resolution (higher/lower). Only if X-Windows server is configured for multiple resolutions. - --
- kill X-server. Running applications will be terminated. - -- (, , ,…) - switches to n-th text console.
Do you know any other shortcuts that are worth to know?