logout

Additional Notes

logout is a shell built-in that exits a login shell. When used in a login shell, it terminates the session. In a non-login shell or a subshell, logout is not valid and exit should be used instead.

It is commonly used to end SSH sessions, exit from console logins, or terminate a su - session. The command honors the shell's job control and will warn about stopped jobs before logging out.

Syntax

logout [n]

Parameters

• n: Optional exit status (an integer). Defaults to the exit status of the last command executed.

Examples

logout

Exit the current login shell.

logout 1

Exit with a non-zero status, indicating an error condition.

ssh user@host
# ... work ...
logout

End an SSH session.

Practical Notes

• In a non-login shell, logout will fail with not a login shell. Use exit instead.
• exit works in both login and non-login shells and is the more universal command.
• Some shells prompt about stopped background jobs before allowing logout. Use disown or kill to handle them first.
• In bash, logout is equivalent to exit only when the shell is a login shell.