Linux Commands for Managing Files and Directories
pwd——Prints the current path of the user, print work directory, used in text mode
cd——Changes the current directory, change directory
Format: cd <directory_name>
[root@localhost~]# cd.. Go back to the parent directory
[root@localhost~]# cd Go to the user’s home directory
[root@localhost~]# cd/home Switch to the home directory using the path
ls——Displays the contents of the specified directory, list directory
Format: ls [options][directory or file]
| Option | Meaning |
| -a | Lists all files in the directory, including hidden files |
| -l | Lists details in the directory, including permissions, owner, group, size, creation date, whether the file is linked, etc. |
| -r | Reverses the order, lists the contents of the directory from back to front |
| -R | Recursively lists all contents in all subdirectories of the current directory |
| -s | Size: data blocks |
ex. ls -l 1.txt
[root@localhost~]# ls /home Displays the contents of the specified directory /home
[root@localhost~]# ls -l Displays detailed contents of the current directory
[root@localhost~]# ls -a Displays all files in the current directory, including hidden files
cat——Displays the contents of a text file
Syntax: cat
ex. cat 1.txt
touch——Creates a text file (cannot insert content)
Syntax: touch
ex. touch 12.txt
grep——Searches for a specific string in a pile of files, grep search is case-sensitive
ex. grep money test.txt Searches for the string ‘money’ in test.txt
cp——Copies files, copy
Format: cp [source_file][destination_file]
[root@localhost~]# ls
[root@localhost~]# cp hello.txt file1.txt Copies hello.txt and names it file1.txt
| Option | Meaning |
| -i | Interactive: if the file will overwrite the target file, it prompts for confirmation |
| -r | Recursive: this option will copy the entire directory, subdirectories, and more |
| -v | Verbose: displays the progress of the file copying |
[root@localhost~]# cp hello.txt /home/myfile.txt
Copies the file hello.txt from the current directory to the path /home and names it myfile.txt
ex. cp -r script /home
mv——Can move files or directories
Format: mv [source][destination]
| Option | Meaning |
| -i | Interactive: if the selected file will overwrite the target file, it prompts for confirmation |
| -f | Force: moves the file without prompting |
| -v | Verbose: displays the progress of the file moving |
ex. mv 4.txt /home
mv 3.txt /home/33.txt
mv /home/33.txt /etc
mkdir——Creates a directory, make directory
Format: mkdir [directory_name1][directory_name2]……
ex. mkdir dir2 Creates a directory
mkdir aa bb cc Creates multiple directories at once
mkdir -p a/b Only one directory can be nested in a directory
mkdir -p aa/bb/cc
rmdir——Removes empty directories, remove directory
Format: rmdir [options][directory_name1][directory_name2]……
ex. rmdir aa bb cc
rmdir -p aa/bb/cc Removes nested directories
rm——Removes files, remove
Format: rm [options][file]
ex. rm 2.txt , rm /etc/33.txt
rm -v /etc/test.txt , rm -r a
| Option | Meaning |
| -i | Interactive: prompts for confirmation to delete |
| -f | Force: replaces interactive mode, does not prompt for confirmation to delete |
| -v | Verbose: displays the progress of file deletion |
| -r | Recursive: deletes a directory and all its files and subdirectories |