Basic Linux commands for managing directories and files

Directory Commands

pwd: Print the current working directory.

pwd

ls: List directory contents.

ls
ls -l  # Long listing format
ls -a  # Include hidden files
ls -lh # Human-readable format

cd [directory]: Change the current directory.

cd /path/to/directory
cd ..   # Move up one directory
cd ~    # Change to home directory
cd -    # Change to the previous directory

mkdir [directory]: Create a new directory.

mkdir new_directory
mkdir -p /path/to/new_directory  # Create parent directories as needed

rmdir [directory]: Remove an empty directory.

rmdir empty_directory

rm -r [directory]: Remove a directory and its contents recursively.

rm -r directory_name

File Commands

touch [file]: Create an empty file or update the timestamp of an existing file.

touch new_file.txt

cp [source] [destination]: Copy files or directories.

cp file1.txt /path/to/destination/
cp -r /path/to/source_directory /path/to/destination_directory

mv [source] [destination]: Move or rename files or directories.

mv file1.txt /path/to/destination/ #  The directory where you want to move the file
mv old_name.txt new_name.txt      # rename a text file
mv job23.sh job45.sh              # rename a job script

rm [file]: Remove files or directories.

rm file1.txt
rm -r directory_name  # Remove a directory and its contents
rm -f file1.txt       # Force remove without prompting

cat [file]: Concatenate and display file content.

cat file1.txt
cat -E job.sh #display a $ at the end of each line, which can help visualize extra spacing

more [file]: View file content one screen at a time.

more file1.txt

less [file]: View file content with backward and forward navigation.

less file1.txt

head [file]: Display the first few lines of a file.

head file1.txt
head -n 20 file1.txt  # Display the first 20 lines

tail [file]: Display the last few lines of a file.

tail file1.txt
tail -n 20 file1.txt  # Display the last 20 lines