FISH\_SHOULD\_ADD\_TO\_HISTORY(1) fish-shell FISH\_SHOULD\_ADD\_TO\_HISTORY(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

fish\_should\_add\_to\_history - decide whether a command should be added to the history

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

```
fish_should_add_to_history
```

```
function fish_should_add_to_history


    ...
end
```

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

The **fish\_should\_add\_to\_history** function is executed before fish adds a command to history, and its return status decides whether that is done.

If it returns 0, the command is stored in history, when it returns anything else, it is not. In the latter case the command can still be recalled for one command.

The first argument to **fish\_should\_add\_to\_history** is the commandline. History is added *before* a command is run, so e.g. **status** <#envvar-status> can't be checked. This is so commands that don't finish like exec - execute command in current process <> and long-running commands are available in new sessions immediately.

If **fish\_should\_add\_to\_history** doesn't exist, fish will save a command to history unless it starts with a space. If it does exist, this function takes over all of the duties, so commands starting with space are saved unless **fish\_should\_add\_to\_history** says otherwise.

# [EXAMPLE](#EXAMPLE)

A simple example:

```
function fish_should_add_to_history


    for cmd in vault mysql ls


         string match -qr "^$cmd" -- $argv; and return 1


    end


    return 0
end
```

This refuses to store any immediate "vault", "mysql" or "ls" calls. Commands starting with space would be stored.

```
function fish_should_add_to_history


    # I don't want `git pull`s in my history when I'm in a specific repository


    if string match -qr '^git pull' -- "$argv"


    and string match -qr "^/home/me/my-secret-project/" -- (pwd -P)


        return 1


    end


    return 0
end
```

# [Copyright](#Copyright)

fish-shell developers

October 12, 2026 4.9

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Document: fish_should_add_to_history(1) from fish 4.9.3-r2 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://github.com/fish-shell/fish-shell