Intro To 'logout' Command In Linux

2024-11-13 - By Robert Elder

     I use the 'logout' command to log out from a login shell:

logout

Return To Login Prompt

     I can use the 'logout' command to log out from the shell on the Linux command prompt:

logout

     When I run the 'logout' command from a login shell, I'll be prompted to provide my credentials again before I can regain access to a command prompt:

Login Shells Vs. Non-Login Shells

     If I run the 'logout' command from a graphical shell, I'll see an error message:

     According to the bash shell documentation:

man bash

...
INVOCATION
       A login shell is one whose first character of argument zero is a -, or one started with the --login option.
...

     Here is the value of argument zero in a raw tty environment:

     Here is the value of argument zero in a desktop terminal window, followed by the value when logged into a remote machine over SSH:

     And that's why the 'logout' command is my favourite Linux command.