Corrupt `reverse i-search` database: why and how?

Question

I made a recording of this as it's never happened to me before and seemed pretty weird:

https://asciinema.org/a/qVSUzkIX2wLia7EzCFhCYHb9Q

1. Under which conditions would the bash completion database become corrupted?
2. Where do the files live so I can wipe them?
3. Should I be thinking about a new HDD right about now?

thanks!

Answer 1

This sort of thing usually happens because the terminal has been corrupted in some way, often by catting a binary file. Have you tried a reset?

If it really is the Bash history that is broken that is stored in ~/.bash_history.