GNU Readline is a library that provides command-line editing and history searching capabilities for Bash and other interactive command-line programs. Use this tag for questions relating to the use of Readline functionality in Bash and other software.
readline should be used for questions pertaining to the configuration and use of GNU Readline in Bash and other command-line software as Python or MySQL (see bash, python and mysql). Use inputrc for questions about Readline's configuration file and its syntax.
GNU Readline is a library for command line editing. The most prominent program that uses it is Bash, and Bash and Readline have the same maintainer. Many other programs with a command line interface use it, for example the Python toplevel. Readline's capabilities include basic editing facilities, command history, (internal) copy-paste and completion. Readline has different modes such as Emacs mode and vi mode which provides Emacs/vi-like bindings for line-editing.
Readline's configuration file is ~/.inputrc, see inputrc for questions and answers specific to its syntax.
The rlwrap utility provides Readline's capabilities to programs that just read from standard input.
Further reading
- How do I switch to vi editing mode in readline?
- Execute a readline function without keybinding?
- readline tag on Ask Ubuntu and Stack Overflow
