Erlang Shell下有很多內建的命令，在平時互動的時候很好用，文件裡面都是一行帶過，大家可能沒什麼感覺。

$ erl
Erlang R14B04 (erts-5.8.5) 1[/source] [smp:2:2] [rq:2] [async-threads:0] [hipe] [kernel-poll:false]
 
Eshell V5.8.5  (abort with ^G)
1> help().
** shell internal commands **
b()        -- display all variable bindings
e(N)       -- repeat the expression in query 
f()        -- forget all variable bindings
f(X)       -- forget the binding of variable X
h()        -- history
history(N) -- set how many previous commands to keep
results(N) -- set how many previous command results to keep
catch_exception(B) -- how exceptions are handled
v(N)       -- use the value of query 
rd(R,D)    -- define a record
rf()       -- remove all record information
rf(R)      -- remove record information about R
rl()       -- display all record information
rl(R)      -- display record information about R
rp(Term)   -- display Term using the shell's record information
rr(File)   -- read record information from File (wildcards allowed)
rr(F,R)    -- read selected record information from file(s)
rr(F,R,O)  -- read selected record information with options
 

f() – forget all variables
f(X) – forget X

1> Pid=spawn(fun()-> receive _->ok end end).
<0.33.0>
2>
2> Pid=spawn(fun()-> receive _->ok end end).
** exception error: no match of right hand side value <0.35.0>
3> f(Pid).
ok
4> Pid=spawn(fun()-> receive _->ok end end).
<0.39.0>
5> f().                                     
ok
6> Pid=spawn(fun()-> receive _->ok end end).
<0.42.0>
7>

v(42) – recall result from line 42
v(-1) – recall result from previous line

$ erl
1> spawn(fun()-> receive _->ok end end). %%忘記賦值，有spawn這樣的命令有副作用，不能重複執行
<0.33.0>
2> Pid=v(-1).  %% 補救
<0.33.0>
3> v(2).
<0.33.0>

rr(foo) – read record definitions from module foo

$ touch test.dat
$ locate file.hrl
/usr/local/lib/erlang/lib/kernel-2.14/include/file.hrl
$ erl
1> file:read_file_info("test.dat").  %%資訊很亂
{ok,{file_info,38914,regular,read_write,
               {{2011,10,5},{14,56,49}},
               {{2011,10,5},{14,56,49}},
               {{2011,10,5},{14,56,49}},
               33261,1,234881026,0,4577608,501,20}}
2>
2> rr("/usr/local/lib/erlang/lib/kernel-2.14/include/file.hrl").
[file_descriptor,file_info]
3>
3> file:read_file_info("test.dat"). %%自描述                           
{ok,#file_info{size = 38914,type = regular,
               access = read_write,
               atime = {{2011,10,5},{14,56,49}},
               mtime = {{2011,10,5},{14,56,49}},
               ctime = {{2011,10,5},{14,56,49}},
               mode = 33261,links = 1,major_device = 234881026,
               minor_device = 0,inode = 4577608,uid = 501,gid = 20}}
4>

h()

$ erl
1> X=1.
1
2> Y=2.
2
3> Z=3.
3
4> h().
1: X = 1
-> 1
2: Y = 2
-> 2
3: Z = 3
-> 3
ok
5>