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Clear the JavaScript console in Google Chrome

javascript
console-clearing
javascript-commands
web-development
Anton ShumikhinbyAnton Shumikhin·Feb 2, 2025
TLDR

To swiftly obliterate your console's history in Chrome, call

console.clear();

This command, when triggered, wipes your console clean lickety-split.

Stepping it up: Beyond the basics

The essential command console.clear() is an excellent starting point, but managing your console history can involve a wider range of strategies:

Hotkeys for speed demons

If you're all about those keyboard shortcuts, you can clear your console pressing Ctrl + L (Windows) or Cmd + K (MacOS). It's so fast, it'd leave Usain Bolt in the dust.

Taking the reins: Your JS script

Within your valiant JavaScript expositions, you're able to clear the console as part of the script's theatrical performance:

// Your code, starring console.clear() on-and-off-stage, in its Oscar-worthy role function taskHandler() { performTask(); // The task unfurls like a flowing epic console.clear(); // In comes the wiping twist, clearing the console clean }

Clickety-click: The manual approach

In Chrome’s console, you'll spot a snazzy "ban-circle" button (🚫) chomping on the bit up at the top left. Pressing this button clears the console's output, ideal for when you're feeling a click-happy manual cleanup.

Supercharge your toolbox: Advanced techniques

There's a treasure trove of additional, clever ways to manage your console's output in Chrome, with techniques more enthralling than a Nicolas Cage treasure hunt:

Script Power-up

Why type console.clear() when you can #levelup with a shorter syntax:

window.clear = console.clear; // Now you can just type clear() and the console's wiped clean. Magic!

Who said magicians never reveal their secrets?

Visually bluffing

If, for some reason, you're unable to truly clear the console, or you simply want a visual refresher, there's a trick for that:

console.log('\n'.repeat(50)); // It's like taking your old logs on a long vacation.

Using newlines as your personal console tour guide.

Separator Lines belong here

To maintain a clear, distinct vision between logging sessions, separator lines are the stylish sunglasses to your console:

console.log('-'.repeat(50)); // It's like the Berlin Wall of log sections.

Who knew - could be a knight in shining armor?

The browser spectrum

Some browsers play hard-to-get, like Firefox which demands Firebug's escort out for console.clear() to even strut its stuff.

Plot twist: Non-clearance Commands

Be cautious of the surprising console.log(console). It only lists console properties, not the expected spring cleaning.

Best practices: console.clear() utilisation

Commanding the console to clear can be a crafty tool, but like the One Ring, it should be used wisely:

In the realm of Dev vs. Prod

While it stands a trusty comrade during development, console.clear() should be shoved aside before stepping into the limelight of production.

History lessons can be crucial

Unless you're an amnesiac fish like Dory, preserving your history might be of crucial importance. Go easy on those console.clear() calls!

Handle with care, fellow devs

Clearing the console excessively is akin to those persistent sale tags, irritating your fellow developers. Debugging can be a scramble without the trail of breadcrumbs from those logs!

The A to Z of console clearance

Loop-de-loop clearance

Picture a loop in your script spewing out logs. To retain sanity:

for (let i = 0; i <= 5; i++) { console.log(`Loop iteration ${i}, faster than a hamster in a wheel.`); if (i % 2 === 0) console.clear(); // The console takes a breather every even iteration. }

Conditional Checkmate

In certain context-dependent flows, tactically clearing the console helps manage the output:

if (unfortunateError) { console.clear(); // When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Clear the console! // Handle error correctly after a well-deserved clear. }

Taking a console timeout

Like sending an unruly child to their room, you can time-out your console with a delayed clear:

console.log('Look Ma, temporary logs!'); setTimeout(console.clear, 2000); // The console's on a 2-second timeout

Watch as the console clears itself when the time's up!