By default, programs usually run in the foreground. This prevents another application being run in the same terminal at the same time.

To have this first program run in the background:

Pause the running process by hitting CTRL-Z:

CTRL-Z

This will pause the running process:

Output

^Z
[1]+  Stopped                 sudo ls -R /

NOTE: You can restart the job in the background by typing bg:

bg

You should see a similar line of output, this time without the “Stopped” label and with an ampersand at the end to indicate that the process will be run in the background:

Output

[1]+ sudo ls -R / &

The command is now running in the background. We can now run the other application.

Once done, bring the first program out of the background by typing:

fg

Stop the process by holding the control key and hitting “c”:

CTRL-C