Java: Clear the console

Question

I have output in my Java console from running an application, how can I clear it using code?

Answer 1

In java, there is a function to clear console and not a command ,like in C++ there is a command :

system("CLS");

In java, there is a function :

public static void clearScreen() 

{     

System.out.print("\033[H\033[2J");  

 System.out.flush();  

}

Answer 2

Create a method in your class like this:

public static void clrscr(){

    //Clears Screen in java

    try {

        if (System.getProperty("os.name").contains("Windows"))

            new ProcessBuilder("cmd", "/c", "cls").inheritIO().start().waitFor();

        else

            Runtime.getRuntime().exec("clear");

    } catch (IOException | InterruptedException ex) {}

}

I haven’t checked this for Linux But this works in Windows.

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Also, there is an alternate method to write this code in clrscr():

for(int i = 0; i < 80*300; i++) // Default Height of cmd is 300 and Default width is 80

    System.out.print("\b"); // Prints a backspace

Answer 3

System.out.print("\f"); 

Paste the above code in your editor to clear the terminal screen when the program is running

Below is a sample code: 

public class ClearScreen
{
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        for(int i = 1 ; i < 4 ; i++)
        {
            System.out.println("This code will get erased after it is printed " + (4-i) + " more time(s)"); 
            try
            {
                Thread.sleep(2000);
            }
            catch(Exception e)
            {    
            }
        }
        // code to clear screen 
        System.out.print("\f");    
        // printing after erased
        System.out.println("Code was erased!!");
    }
}

Answer 4

You can use the following function to clear the command line console: 

For Windows:

public static void clrscr(){ 

//Clears Screen in java 

try { 

if (System.getProperty("os.name").contains("Windows")) 

new ProcessBuilder("cmd", "/c", "cls").inheritIO().start().waitFor();

else 

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("clear"); } catch (IOException | InterruptedException ex) {} 

}

For Linux:

System.out.print("\033\143");

Answer 5

In a Java program, clearing the terminal or console screen is possible using ANSI escape codes provided the terminal is able to support it:

public class ClearConsole {

public static void main(String[] args) {

clearConsole();

System.out.println("Console cleared!");

}

public static void clearConsole() {

System.out.print("\033[H\033[2J");

System.out.flush();

}

}

Note:

This is only applicable if the console in the windows is a UNIX system like Linux or MAC. In the Windows command prompt, it may not work in the proper manner. If an answer is required that can work in several operating systems, doing the following would suffice: print several new lines.

public static void clearConsole() {

for (int i = 0; i < 50; ++i) System.out.println();

}

This approach, however, does not really clear the output buffer, but rather gives the impression of clearing the console.