Linux Cheat Sheet For File Commands

How to list a directory in linux#

$ ls

Formatted listing with hidden files ls -al. Nowadays most of the terminals come with ll command to do the trick.

How to change to a directory in linux#

$ cd ashokma

Just entering cd will get you home. ^_^

How to show current working directory in linux#

$ pwd

How to create a directory in linux#

$ mkdir ashokma

-p option with the above command, creates directories as needed like mkdir -p ashokma/ashkeys/sojiro

How to place the input into the file in linux#

$ cat >ashkeys
How are we doing today?
Good.
# Ctrl + C to exit

$ cat ashkeys
How are we doing today?
Good.

Comes in handy to quickly take notes. \O/

How to output the contents of a file in linux#

$ more ashkeys.txt

Use head ashkeys.txt to output the first 10 lines of the file and tail ashkeys.txt to output the last 10 lines of the file.

How to create or update a file in linux#

$ touch ashkeys.txt

As it says it can just be used to touch a file (simply update the timestamp) to make it look like updated recently. /O\

How to delete a file or directory in linux#

$ rm ashkeys.txt
$ rm -r ashokma

Use force option -f if necessary.

How to copy contents of a file or directory to the other in linux#

$ cp source.txt target.txt
$ cp -r source target

How to move file in linux#

$ mv ashkeys.txt ashokma/

Also widely used to rename a file quickly as mv oldname.txt newname.txt

How to create a file shortcut in linux (symbolic link)#

$ ln -s ashkeys.txt shortcut_to_ashkeys.txt