Bash PS1 customization examples

The special shell variable is used to control the bash prompt. These shell variables are PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4. Each variable is used for specific purposes. The value of these variables is executed as a command before displaying the primary prompt. The PS1 variable contains the value of the default prompt. It is used to change the looks and environment of the shell command prompt. Different examples of using the PS1 variable have been shown in this tutorial.

Commonly used escape sequences:

The primary command prompt PS1 displays when the interactive shell executes. The prompt string can be customized by using different types of backslash-escaped special characters. The most commonly used backslash-escaped characters are given below.

Check the default value of PS1

The default value of PS1 contains three information. The username, hostname, and the full path of the current working directory. Run the following command to display the default values of the PS1.

Output:

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Example-1: Display the date and time

You can add the date and time values with the command by using d and t escaped characters. Run the following command to set the PS1 values to display the username, date, and time values into the command prompt. Here, the export keyword is used to change the current command prompt temporarily.

Output:

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/echo/2-25.jpg" data-lazy- height="86" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1174″>

If you re-open the terminal, then the default command prompt will appear. To save the PS1 value permanently, open the ~/.bashrc file by using any text editor. Here, nano editor has been used.

Add the following line at the end of the file, save the file and quit from the editor.

Run the following command update the current command prompt for adding the line in the ~/.bashrc file.

Output:

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/echo/3-24.jpg" data-lazy- height="114" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1137″>

Run the following command to display the command prompt into multiple lines using the ‘n’ escaped character. It is useful for long command prompt.

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Example-2: Change the background and foreground color

Different color values can be used to set different colors for the background and foreground of the command prompt. The list of the background and the foreground color names with values is given below.

Run the following command to change the background color of the command prompt to purple. Here, ‘e’ escaped character with color value 45 has been used to set the purple background. The ‘m’ character has been used to set the sequence.

Output:

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/echo/5-21.jpg" data-lazy- height="85" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1112″>

Run the following command to change the foreground color of the command prompt to white. Here, ‘e’ escaped character with color value 37 has been used to set the white foreground. Like the previous command, the ‘m’ character has been used to set the sequence.

Output:

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/echo/6-20.jpg" data-lazy- height="82" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1187″>

Example-3: Display emoji in the command prompt using the script

The emoji can be added to the command prompt in different ways. The bytes value of the emoji character has used in this example. Run the following command from the terminal to display the emoji in the command prompt based on the exit status value.

Output:

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/echo/7-19.jpg" data-lazy- height="104" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”1025″>

Example-4: Display emoji in the command prompt using the script

The way to generate emoji is by executing a bash file, as shown in this example. Create a bash file with the following script. The script will check the type of the currently logged-in user. If the current user is the normal user, it will display an emoji with a start face and if the current user is the root user, it will display an emoji with a sunglass face.

user.sh

Run the following command to execute the above script to change the command prompt of the current shell.

Next, run the following commands to log in as a root user and go to the folder location of the script.

Run the following command again to execute the script as a root user.

Output:

According to the output, the first emoji has appeared for the normal user and the second emoji appeared for the root user.

<img alt="" data-lazy- data-lazy-src="https://kirelos.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/echo/8-15.jpg" data-lazy- height="162" src="data:image/svg xml,” width=”988″>

Conclusion:

The ways to change the default command prompt in different ways by modifying the value of PS1 have been shown in this tutorial. Some commonly used escaped characters have been used in the examples of this tutorial to help the readers to know the use of PS1 for changing the current command prompt temporarily or permanently.