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fg MacOS Command Guide

The fg command in MacOS is used to bring a background process to the foreground. By specifying the job number or command name, you can easily resume a suspended process or switch between multiple tasks. This command is helpful for managing tasks efficiently in the terminal and can improve your workflow by allowing you to focus on the task at hand.

fg Syntax:

Terminal window
fg [job_spec]

Options:

OptionDescription
NoneBring the most recently suspended or backgrounded job to the foreground.

Parameters:

ParameterDescription
job_specThe job number or job ID of the job to bring to the foreground.

fg Command Samples:

Resume the most recently suspended process in the foreground

Terminal window
fg

Brings the most recently suspended process to the foreground.

Resume a specific job by its job ID

Terminal window
fg %1

Brings the job with ID 1 to the foreground.

Resume a specific job by its process ID

Terminal window
fg %12345

Brings the job with the process ID 12345 to the foreground.

Move a job to the foreground by specifying its process ID

Terminal window
fg 12345

Brings the job with the process ID 12345 to the foreground.

Resume a background job that was started with commands like emacs or vi

Terminal window
fg %[emacs]

Brings the background job started with Emacs to the foreground.

Move the second most recently suspended job to the foreground

Terminal window
fg %-

Brings the second most recently suspended job to the foreground.

Resume a job by its job specification

Terminal window
fg %1

Brings the job with the job number 1 to the foreground.

How do I use fg in MacOS?

To use the fg command in MacOS, execute the following command:

Terminal window
fg %1

What is the purpose of the fg command in MacOS?

The fg command in MacOS is used to bring a background process to the foreground.

How can I view the currently running background processes in MacOS using fg?

To view the currently running background processes in MacOS, you can use the jobs command followed by the fg command to bring the desired process to the foreground.

Terminal window
jobs
fg %1

Can I specify a specific background process to bring to the foreground with fg in MacOS?

Yes, you can specify a specific background process to bring to the foreground by providing the job number associated with that process when using the fg command in MacOS.

Is it possible to suspend a foreground process and bring it back to the foreground with fg in MacOS?

Yes, you can suspend a foreground process in MacOS by pressing Ctrl + Z, and then bring it back to the foreground using the fg command.

Terminal window
Ctrl + Z
fg

Applications of the fg command

  1. Bring a background job to the foreground in the shell.