Renaming terminal tab titles can make managing multiple terminal windows much easier, especially when juggling numerous tasks. In Ubuntu 16, you can customize your terminal tab title with a simple command by adding a function to your ~/.bashrc file. Here’s how to do it.

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Why Rename Terminal Tabs?

When working with multiple terminal windows, the default tab titles can quickly become confusing. Customizing tab titles allows you to:

• Identify tasks quickly.
• Organize terminal sessions for specific projects.
• Improve overall productivity.

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Steps to Rename Terminal Tab Title

1. Edit Your ~/.bashrc File

The ~/.bashrc file is a script that runs whenever you open a new terminal session. To add the functionality to rename terminal tabs, follow these steps:

1. Open the ~/.bashrc file in your favorite text editor: nano ~/.bashrc
2. Add the following function to the file: function set-title() { if [[ -z "$ORIG" ]]; then ORIG=$PS1 fi TITLE="\[\e]2;$*\a\]" PS1=${ORIG}${TITLE} }
3. Save and close the file.

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2. Apply the Changes

To apply the changes, reload the ~/.bashrc file with the following command:

source ~/.bashrc

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3. Set Your Terminal Tab Title

Now, you can set your terminal tab title using the set-title command. For example:

set-title My New Tab Title

This command will immediately update the terminal tab title to “My New Tab Title.”

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Tips for Using Custom Terminal Titles

• Works with Spaces: The set-title function supports spaces in the title. For instance: set-title Project A - Server Monitoring
• Persistent Titles: Note that some programs, like SSH or custom scripts, may overwrite the terminal title. You can always reapply your custom title by running the set-title command again.
• Use Cases: Customize titles for different projects, environments, or tasks (e.g., “Database Backup,” “Frontend Dev,” or “SSH to Production”).

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Conclusion

Customizing terminal tab titles in Ubuntu 16 is a straightforward way to improve your workflow and navigation across multiple terminal windows. By adding the set-title function to your ~/.bashrc, you can rename your tabs with a single command, making it easier to stay organized.

Did this tip work for you? Share your experience or additional tricks in the comments below! 🚀