System and processes

The bg command

Resumes a stopped job in the background, so it keeps going without occupying the terminal.

Syntax

bg [%N]

Most useful options

%NThe job number (bg %1); with no number, the last one

Copy-ready examples

$ sleep 100 & && kill -STOP %1 && jobsSuspend it and see it in jobs
$ sleep 100 & && kill -STOP %1 && bg %1Continue in the background

You can try them in the browser terminal: it does not touch your computer.

Typical mistakes

  • A stopped job does not advance until you resume it with bg or bring it back with fg.
  • bg does not start anything new: it only resumes something that already existed.

Related commands

fgjobskillsleep

FAQ

How do I stop it?

In the foreground with Ctrl+Z; if it is already in the background, with kill -STOP %N.

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