Linux Terminal Commands

ls

Directory listing (list all files/folders on current directory)

ls -l

Formatted listing. A detailed list with file sizes, permissions, and dates.

ls -a

Lists all files, including hidden ones

ls -la

Formatted listing including hidden files

cd [dir]

Change directory to whatever directory is listed.

cd ..

Change to the parent directory

cd ../dir

Change to a directory within the parent directorycd

cd

Change to home directoryp

pwd

Show the current directory that you are in

mkdir [dir]

Make a directory [dir]

rm file

Delete a filerm

rm -f dir

Force remove a file

rm -r [dir]

Delete a directory

rm -rf /

Do not ever do this. Ever. Do not ever. Nuke your entire computer command.

cp file1 file2

Copy file1 to file2

mv file1 file2

Rename file1 to file2

mv file1 [dir]/file2

Move file1 to [dir] as file2

touch [file]

Create or update a file

cat file

output the contents of a file

cat > file

Write a standard input into the file

cat » file

Append standard input into a file

tail -f file

Output contents of a file as it grows