A scrollback buffer is the history of terminal output that remains available after it moves above the visible screen. It lets you scroll back to inspect earlier commands and results. The amount retained depends on the terminal emulator or other program handling the session, and may be configurable.
What a scrollback buffer does
A terminal window can display only a limited number of lines at once. As new output appears, older lines move off the visible area. The scrollback buffer retains some of those lines so you can review them by scrolling upward.
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It stores terminal output for review; it is not a universal, permanent log of everything a session has displayed. Retention and controls vary by application and configuration.
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Terminal emulator
A terminal emulator can keep scrollback as a setting associated with a profile. In GNOME Terminal, open Preferences, select the active profile, then choose Scrolling. There you can set the line limit or disable Limit scrollback to to allow unlimited history. GNOME Terminal also documents a Scroll on keystroke preference. See the GNOME Terminal scrolling help.
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GNOME Terminal’s help says its scrollback data is kept in compressed and encrypted temporary files, with the space freed when the terminal closes. That describes GNOME Terminal’s documented behavior, not a rule for all terminal applications.
Terminal multiplexer
A multiplexer can keep a separate history buffer in addition to the emulator’s scrollback. For example, tmux maintains history for each window. Its manual says the default is up to 2,000 lines per window, configurable with the history-limit option. That is a tmux default, not a universal terminal setting. See the tmux manual.
If scrolling stops sooner than expected, the active layer matters: you may have reached the history limit of the emulator, the multiplexer, or both. Adjust the relevant application’s setting rather than assuming there is one shared buffer.
How much output does it retain?
There is no universal line count. The documented values differ by software:
- GNOME Terminal: offers an unlimited scrollback option in its profile settings. Its help page advises that a giant buffer can slow window resizing and gives around one million lines as a rule of thumb for noticeable slowdown. This is GNOME Terminal guidance, not a general performance threshold. GNOME Terminal scrolling help
- tmux: its manual states a default of up to 2,000 lines per window, adjustable through
history-limit. tmux manual - rxvt: its manual documents a 64-line default for
saveLinesand a limit of 65,535 on most machines. These are rxvt documentation values; the indexed reference does not establish a current version, so do not treat them as current defaults for other terminals. rxvt manual
Increasing retention can make more earlier output available, but the effect on storage and responsiveness depends on the application. GNOME Terminal specifically warns about slower resizing with very large buffers.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can scrollback be cleared or saved?
Controls vary by application. The clear utility documents clearing saved scrollback as well as the visible screen, using terminal control sequences; the effect depends on whether the terminal supports the relevant extension. See the clear manual.
Some terminal applications also provide an export function. Eterm, for example, documents saving scrollback to a file. This is an application-specific capability, not a feature guaranteed by every terminal. See the Eterm manual.
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