An alias is a pseudonym for a command, tool, utility, their options, arguments or combinations thereof. Aliases can be used to put a shorter typing handle on lengthy commands that one frequently uses.
When using an alias the command and not the alias will show up in your shell history. This is in contrast to a script which does show up on one’s shell history rather than the commands it is composed of. The scope of the alias is limited to the user that creates it where-as a script can be placed in the local bin so that anyone on the system can use it.
In short an alias can be used to call a command with arguments by a short name. I shall discuss the alias tool in the next few posts.