clear javascript console in Google Chrome

Question

I was wondering if I could clear up the console with some command..

console.log(), can print... is there a command to clear up console?..

I've tried to console.log(console); and got this functions below...

assert: function assert() { [native code] }
constructor: function Console() { [native code] }
count: function count() { [native code] }
debug: function debug() { [native code] }
dir: function dir() { [native code] }
dirxml: function dirxml() { [native code] }
error: function error() { [native code] }
group: function group() { [native code] }
groupEnd: function groupEnd() { [native code] }
info: function info() { [native code] }
log: function log() { [native code] }
markTimeline: function markTimeline() { [native code] }
profile: function profile() { [native code] }
profileEnd: function profileEnd() { [native code] }
time: function time() { [native code] }
timeEnd: function timeEnd() { [native code] }
trace: function trace() { [native code] }
warn: function warn() { [native code] }
__proto__: Object

[ I guess there's no way to clear up the console... but I wanted someone to say it to me... ]

Related posts - [How to clear Chrome console by shortcut keys?](https://stackoverflow.com/q/5483451/465053) & [How to remove all recent console command](https://stackoverflow.com/q/21149156/465053) — RBT, Jun 21 '19 at 02:14

score 329 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 18 '21 at 12:41

329

Update: console.clear() is available in all browsers

Update: As of November 6, 2012, console.clear() is now available in Chrome Canary.

If you type clear() into the console it clears it.

I don't think there is a way to programmatically do it, as it could be misused. (console is cleared by some web page, end user can't access error information)

one possible workaround:

in the console type window.clear = clear, then you'll be able to use clear in any script on your page.

edited Jul 18 '21 at 12:41

mh-anwar

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answered Jun 10 '10 at 04:20

cobbal

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duh... the javascript function is `clear()` ... it's the same thing. – chakrit Jun 10 '10 at 04:22
@cobbal good point... but I don't get the 'it could be misused' part... can you share some knowledge about it? – Reigel Gallarde Jun 10 '10 at 04:25
1

A possible scenario where it would be annoying: some person develops a webpage, using the clear command and it makes its way into production code. You navigate to the page and something breaks. You can't figure out why since the console has been cleared by the page. – cobbal Jun 10 '10 at 04:28
@chakrit try opening the url `javascript:alert(clear)`. it will say "clear is not defined" – cobbal Jun 10 '10 at 04:29
@cobbal Indeed, my mistake. What I did binded a closure with `clear` from the console, so it works. Executing it outside of console doesn't. – chakrit Jun 10 '10 at 04:33
productivity hint: click the 'clear' button in the status bar. same effect, saves you 7 keystrokes. – schellmax Nov 23 '11 at 08:19
1

@schellmax Yeah, but you have to use the mouse. No fun. – Ken Bellows Jul 18 '12 at 20:28
41

console.clear() is now available in Chrome. Try it in Canary. – Paul Irish Nov 07 '12 at 20:03
25

You can simply hit CTRL+L while cursor is focused in the console. All console output will be wiped. – Lido Feb 05 '14 at 10:35
Well, I was able to access clear problematically, this must have changed. To be honest, I think it should be accessible, I mean, what if you have a Single Page app, that allows people to opt-in to logging. When someone logs off you don't really want the next person to come a long and look at all the logging. console.clear() on log-off completion is a good fix to this problem. – Josh Mc Apr 11 '14 at 00:23
19

Just a note, `clear()` doesn't work if you have checked "Preserve log upon navigation". – beatgammit Apr 24 '14 at 21:40
console object in [Chrome](https://developer.chrome.com/devtools/docs/console-api#consoleclear) browser. `if (console) { console.log('console command/object is defined ') }` If IE Browser throws an error console as undefined Object then make changes F12 ► [Browser mode menu](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg589500(v=vs.85).aspx) ► choose the Compatibility View option. To Open [BrowserConsel](http://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/8525/how-to-open-the-javascript-console-in-different-browsers). – Yash Aug 11 '15 at 11:29
I get the message `console.clear() was prevented due to 'Preserve log'` – Mar 19 '19 at 08:41

score 135 · Answer 2 · edited Apr 18 '20 at 17:37

135

There's always the good ol' trick:

console.log("\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n");

or a shorter variation of the above:

console.log('\n'.repeat('25'));

Not the most elegant solution, I know :) ... but works.

For me, I usually just print a long "-----" separator line to help make the logs easier to read.

edited Apr 18 '20 at 17:37

Sebastian Kaczmarek

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answered Jun 10 '10 at 04:35

chakrit

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When you can't use a scalpel, use an axe. +1 – mVChr Jun 10 '10 at 04:54
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`console.log(new Array(24 + 1).join('\n')` does the same thing, but it's much shorter. :) – alexia Feb 02 '11 at 15:08
18

@Nyuszika7H If you're after conciseness: `console.log(Array(25).join('\n'))`. Calling the `Array` constructor without the `new` operator is spec'd to return an array. – alex Apr 16 '12 at 23:49
2

Nice suggestions. I'm preparing a web presentation with console.info as "presenter notes" (following [Christian's advice](http://christianheilmann.com/2012/08/15/browsers-have-a-presenter-mode-console-info/)), and this is what I came up with, just in case I won't remember to assign `window.alert`: `var hasClear = (typeof clear == 'function'); if(hasClear) clear(); console.info('bla'); if(!hasClear) console.log(Array(18).join('\n'));` – Ronny Sep 06 '12 at 14:15
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I would opt for the hard coded string, as it is more readable code. You can look at it for 1 second and know exactly what it does. And I guess there is a performance gain too. – Kevin Wheeler Jun 06 '15 at 17:53
This answer has the most ghetto:upvotes ratio I've ever seen on SO – Chunky Chunk Jul 19 '16 at 00:00
@chakrit You made my day!) – voodoo417 Sep 19 '16 at 11:50
@chakrit Cool. But I get **undefined** above the blinking cursor :-D – Bharath theorare Jan 03 '17 at 12:54
1

`console.log('\n'.repeat(25))` without Array.join :) – dKorosec Jan 11 '17 at 22:06

score 44 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 15 '15 at 10:35

44

This seems to work just fine:

console.clear();

answered Sep 15 '15 at 10:35

RealWorldCoder

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Ben · Answer 4 · 2014-10-19T14:26:07.553

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If you use console.clear(), that seems to work in chrome. Note, it will output a "Console was cleared" message.

I tested this by racking up a ton of Javascript errors.

Note, I got an error right after clearing the console, so it doesn't disable the console, only clears it. Also, I have only tried this in chrome, so I dont know how cross-browser it is.

EDIT: I tested this in Chrome, IE, Firefox, and Opera. It works in Chrome, MSIE and Opera's default consoles, but not in Firefox's, however, it does work in Firebug.

edited Oct 19 '14 at 14:26

answered Oct 12 '14 at 17:23

Ben

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This is the only suggestion that worked for me. Chrome. – Jamie Hartnoll Feb 19 '18 at 11:40

Dean Meehan · Answer 5 · 2017-02-27T21:31:06.007

20

Chrome Console Clear button

If you want to just clear the console when debugging, you can simply click the "ban-circle" ⃠ button to clear console.log.

Alternatively just press "Ctrl+L" to clear the console using your keyboard.

edited Feb 27 '17 at 21:31

answered Feb 24 '14 at 15:22

Dean Meehan

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alexia · Answer 6 · 2014-10-10T12:07:37.353

14

Chrome:

console._commandLineAPI.clear();

Safari:

console._inspectorCommandLineAPI.clear();

You can create your own variable, which works in both:

if (typeof console._commandLineAPI !== 'undefined') {
    console.API = console._commandLineAPI;
} else if (typeof console._inspectorCommandLineAPI !== 'undefined') {
    console.API = console._inspectorCommandLineAPI;
} else if (typeof console.clear !== 'undefined') {
    console.API = console;
}

After that, you can simply use console.API.clear().

edited Oct 10 '14 at 12:07

answered Feb 02 '11 at 15:14

alexia

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This only works through the console itself on Chrome, in which case you can also just do `clear()` out of the box. – pimvdb Aug 12 '12 at 09:24

score 13 · Answer 7 · answered Feb 24 '17 at 07:21

13

you can use

console.clear();

if you are working with javascript coding.

else you can use CTR+L to clear cosole editor.

answered Feb 24 '17 at 07:21

Avinash Raut

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score 9 · Answer 8 · answered Aug 14 '15 at 08:28

9

Press CTRL+L Shortcut to clear log, even if you have ticked Preserve log option.
Hope this helps.

answered Aug 14 '15 at 08:28

AbhiNickz

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Used `clear()` for such a long time, yet I never thought to use Bash's notorious clear-terminal shortcut. :) Thanks! – iamdanchiv Jul 09 '17 at 13:38

score 8 · Answer 9 · answered Feb 11 '13 at 19:51

8

On the Mac you can also use ⌘+K just like in Terminal.

answered Feb 11 '13 at 19:51

this is the most useful / practical solution of the thead. thanks! :) – Mg Gm Feb 09 '19 at 15:55

score 6 · Answer 10 · answered Mar 31 '17 at 18:44

6

Instead of typing command just press:

CLTRL + L

to clear chrome console

answered Mar 31 '17 at 18:44

Ilyas karim

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`clear()` and `console.clear()` returns an annoying `Console was cleared` and `undefined` messages, this command really clears it ... Thanks a lot – Fennec Jan 04 '22 at 22:20
Yeah I always use this, this is nice! – Ilyas karim Jan 05 '22 at 12:41

score 5 · Answer 11 · answered Sep 04 '10 at 22:21

5

console._inspectorCommandLineAPI.clear()

That is working

answered Sep 04 '10 at 22:21

E-D

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`Uncaught TypeError: Cannot call method 'clear' of undefined` – Reigel Gallarde Sep 06 '10 at 02:35

score 5 · Answer 12 · answered Feb 20 '17 at 22:40

A handy compilation of multiple answers for clearing the console programmatically (from a script, not the console itself):

if(console._commandLineAPI && console._commandLineAPI.clear){
    console._commandLineAPI.clear();//clear in some safari versions
}else if(console._inspectorCommandLineAPI && console._inspectorCommandLineAPI.clear){
    console._inspectorCommandLineAPI.clear();//clear in some chrome versions
}else if(console.clear){
    console.clear();//clear in other chrome versions (maybe more browsers?)
}else{
    console.log(Array(100).join("\n"));//print 100 newlines if nothing else works
}

cookch10msu · Answer 13 · 2015-02-20T00:33:59.413

4

I use the following to alias cls when debugging locally in Chrome (enter the following JavaScript into the console):

Object.defineProperty(window, 'cls', {
    get: function () {
        return console.clear();
    }
});

now entering cls in the console will clear the console.

edited Feb 20 '15 at 00:33

answered Feb 18 '15 at 19:07

cookch10msu

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score 4 · Answer 14 · edited Jul 12 '16 at 15:23

4

Chrome - Press CTRL + L while focusing the console input.

Firefox - clear() in console input.

Internet Explorer - Press CTRL + L while focusing the console input.

Edge - Press CTRL + L while focusing the console input.

Have a good day!

edited Jul 12 '16 at 15:23

Allan Pereira

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answered May 10 '16 at 09:27

WingmanImd

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score 4 · Answer 15 · answered Dec 05 '11 at 07:01

4

On the Chrome console right click with the mouse and We have the option to clear the console

answered Dec 05 '11 at 07:01

Bhanu Kalyan

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Vignesh Raja · Answer 16 · 2018-07-05T16:57:19.860

On MacOS:

Chrome - CMD+K
Safari - CMD+K
Firefox - No shortcut

On Linux:

Chrome - CTRL+L
Firefox - No shortcut

On Windows:

Chrome - CTRL+L
IE - CTRL+L
Edge - CTRL+L
Firefox - No shortcut

To make it work in Firefox, userscripts can be used. Download GreaseMonkey extension for FF.

document.addEventListener("keydown",function(event){
    if(event.metaKey && event.which==75) //CMD+K
    {
        console.clear();
    }
});

In the script, update the metadata with the value, //@include *://*/*, to make it run on every pages. It will work only when the focus is on the page. It's just a workaround.

Jacksonkr · Answer 17 · 2015-08-07T19:31:37.883

Based on Cobbal's answer, here's what I did:

In my JavaScript I put the following:

setInterval(function() {
  if(window.clear) {
    window.clear();
    console.log("this is highly repeated code");
  }
}, 10);

The conditional code won't run until you ASSIGN window.clear (meaning your log is empty until you do so). IN THE DEBUG CONSOLE TYPE:

window.clear = clear;

Violà - a log that clears itself.

Mac OS 10.6.8 - Chrome 15.0.874.106

score 1 · Answer 18 · answered Aug 25 '11 at 17:51

1

I think this is no longer available due to 'security issues'.

console.log(console) from code gives:

Console
memory: MemoryInfo
profiles: Array[0]
__proto__: Console

From outside of code, _commandLineAPI is available. Kind of annoying because sometimes I want to just log and not see the old output.

answered Aug 25 '11 at 17:51

Tatsh

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Don't forget to follow the prototype chain when determining what methods are available on an object :) – alex Apr 16 '12 at 23:51

Cookra · Answer 19 · 2017-08-24T23:05:31.857

-1

I'm going to add to this, as it's a search that came out top on google..

When using ExtJS / Javascript I insert this and the console is cleared out - unless there is an error..

console.log('\033[2J');

I'm more than likely way off course, but this is how I clear the console for each page load/refresh.

edited Aug 24 '17 at 23:05

answered Aug 24 '17 at 21:51

Cookra

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You should restructure the language to make this a more appropriate answer. – Dov Benyomin Sohacheski Aug 24 '17 at 22:16

clear javascript console in Google Chrome

19 Answers19

Violà - a log that clears itself.

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