curs_clear - Linux

Overview

curs_clear is a command-line utility used to clear the cursor region on a terminal screen. It removes the current cursor position and any character or character attributes from the region, effectively resetting it to a defined state. This command is primarily used to clean up the console environment, improving readability and giving a consistent canvas for further text output.

Syntax

curs_clear [-atc] [<lines>]

Options/Flags

  • -a: Clear all lines from the cursor position to the end of the screen.
  • -t: Clear only the current line from the cursor position to the end of the line.
  • -c: Clear only the current cursor position. This is the default behavior without any options specified.
  • : An optional numeric value specifying the number of lines to clear from the cursor position. The default value is 1.

Examples

  • Clear the current cursor position:
curs_clear
  • Clear the current line from the cursor to the end:
curs_clear -t
  • Clear all lines from the cursor to the end of the screen:
curs_clear -a
  • Clear the next 3 lines from the cursor:
curs_clear 3

Common Issues

  • Cursor position not reset: Ensure that the cursor is not within a protected region or an active input field before attempting to clear the region.
  • Unexpected character attributes: If the cursor region contains character attributes such as color or font changes, they may persist after clearing. Use the tput sgr0 command to reset all attributes.

Integration

curs_clear can be combined with other commands to enhance terminal manipulation. For example:

  • Clear the screen and position the cursor:
clear && curs_clear -a
  • Create a scrolling region and clear the contents:
tput smcup && curs_clear -a && tput rmcup

Related Commands

  • clear: Clears the entire terminal screen.
  • tput: A command-line utility for controlling terminal attributes, including cursor positioning and character attributes.
  • reset: Resets the terminal settings and environment to their default state.