Bash Reference Manual. Node: Readline Init File

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8.3: Readline Init File

Although the Readline library comes with a set of emacs-like keybindings installed by default, it is possible to use a different set of keybindings. Any user can customize programs that use Readline by putting commands in an inputrc file in his home directory. The name of this file is taken from the value of the shell variable INPUTRC. If that variable is unset, the default is `~/.inputrc'.

When a program which uses the Readline library starts up, the init file is read, and the key bindings are set.

In addition, the C-x C-r command re-reads this init file, thus incorporating any changes that you might have made to it.

  • Readline Init File Syntax Syntax for the commands in the inputrc file.

  • Conditional Init Constructs Conditional key bindings in the inputrc file.

  • Sample Init File An example inputrc file.
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