How to clear the interpreter console?

Question

Like most Python developers, I typically keep a console window open with the Python interpreter running to test commands, dir() stuff, help() stuff

Answer 1

Here are two nice ways of doing that:

1.

import os

# Clear Windows command prompt.
if (os.name in ('ce', 'nt', 'dos')):
    os.system('cls')

# Clear the Linux terminal.
elif ('posix' in os.name):
    os.system('clear')

2.

import os

def clear():
    if os.name == 'posix':
        os.system('clear')

    elif os.name in ('ce', 'nt', 'dos'):
        os.system('cls')


clear()

Answer 2

I use iTerm and the native terminal app for Mac OS.

I just press ⌘ + k

Answer 3

The easiest way is to use os module

>>> import os
>>> clear = lambda: os.system('clear')
>>> clear()

Answer 4

This is the simplest thing you can do and it doesn't require any additional libraries. It will clear the screen and return >>> to the top left corner.

print("\033[H\033[J")

Answer 5

Here's the definitive solution that merges all other answers. Features:

1. You can copy-paste the code into your shell or script.

2. You can use it as you like:

   >>> clear()
   >>> -clear
   >>> clear  # <- but this will only work on a shell
   

3. You can import it as a module:

   >>> from clear import clear
   >>> -clear
   

4. You can call it as a script:

   $ python clear.py
   

5. It is truly multiplatform; if it can't recognize your system
   (ce, nt, dos or posix) it will fall back to printing blank lines.

---

You can download the [full] file here: https://gist.github.com/3130325
Or if you are just looking for the code:

class clear:
 def __call__(self):
  import os
  if os.name==('ce','nt','dos'): os.system('cls')
  elif os.name=='posix': os.system('clear')
  else: print('\n'*120)
 def __neg__(self): self()
 def __repr__(self):
  self();return ''

clear=clear()

Answer 6

for the mac user inside the python console type

import os
os.system('clear')

for windows

os.system('cls')