$ Linux Command

System

beep

Play a tone through the PC speaker when supported.

soundalertterminalspeaker

Additional Notes

beep plays a simple tone using the PC speaker or system support for terminal beeps. It is useful for audible notifications in scripts, long-running jobs, and local terminals.

Many modern systems disable PC speaker access by default, so the command may require permissions or may not work at all.

Syntax

beep [options]

Parameters

  • options: Frequency, length, repeat, delay, and melody controls.

Common Options

  • -f FREQ: Frequency in hertz.
  • -l MS: Length in milliseconds.
  • -r NUM: Repeat count.
  • -d MS: Delay between repeats.
  • -n: Start a new beep segment.

Examples

beep

Play the default tone.

beep -f 1000 -l 200

Play a short 1000 Hz tone.

make && beep -f 1200 -l 150 || beep -f 300 -l 500

Use different tones for success and failure.

Practical Notes

  • This often requires local hardware support and permissions.
  • On desktop systems, notification tools may be more reliable.
  • Avoid using loud or repeated beeps on shared machines.