$ Linux Command

Terminal

screen

Run persistent terminal sessions that can be detached and resumed.

terminalsessiondetachremotelong-runningmultiplexer

Additional Notes

screen runs persistent terminal sessions that survive network disconnects and can be detached and reattached. It multiplexes several virtual terminals inside one physical or SSH connection, so a long-running job keeps going even after you log out.

Each session holds one or more windows. Inside a session, keystrokes are sent to the program unless they begin with the command prefix Ctrl-a, which screen intercepts.

Syntax

screen [options] [command]

Parameters

  • options: Flags that change how screen behaves.
  • command: Program to run inside the new session (optional).

Common Options

  • -S NAME: Start a session with a recognizable name.
  • -ls / -list: List existing screen sessions.
  • -r [NAME]: Reattach to a detached session.
  • -R [NAME]: Reattach if possible, otherwise create a session.
  • -d -r NAME: Detach the session from elsewhere and reattach here.
  • -X NAME: Send a command to a running session.
  • -x NAME: Attach to a session already attached elsewhere (shared screen).

In-Session Keys

All begin with Ctrl-a (C-a):

  • C-a d: Detach from the session.
  • C-a c: Create a new window.
  • C-a n / C-a p: Next / previous window.
  • C-a 0–9: Switch to window by number.
  • C-a " : List windows.
  • C-a A: Rename the current window.
  • C-a k: Kill the current window.
  • C-a S / C-a Q: Split / remove a horizontal region.
  • C-a ?: Show the key binding help.

Examples

screen -S deploy

Start a named session and run a shell inside it.

screen -ls

List detached and attached sessions with their PIDs.

screen -r deploy

Reattach to the session named deploy.

screen -d -r deploy

Detach deploy from any other terminal and attach here.

screen -S backup bash long-backup.sh

Run a specific script inside a named session.

screen -X -S deploy quit

Send a quit command to a running session from outside it.

screen -x deploy

Share a session with another user who is already attached.

Practical Notes

  • Press C-a d to detach; the program keeps running in the background.
  • Use -S NAME so screen -r is unambiguous when several sessions exist.
  • screen sessions survive SSH drops, which makes them ideal for long jobs.
  • For richer split-screen and tiling, tmux is a common modern alternative.
  • Type C-a ? inside a session to see all key bindings.