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Linux terminal commands

linux is case-sensitive​

Current directory​

  • .

Previous directory​

  • ..

Home directory​

  • ~

Root directory​

  • /

Check present working directory​

  • pwd

Show list of folders and files​

  • ls
  • ls -a also display hidden folders and files

Change directory​

  • cd .. go back 1 directory
  • cd <folderName> change to folderName directory

Make directory​

  • mkdir <newFolderName>
  • mkdir <newFolderName> <newFolderName2> <newFolderName3> create multiple directories
  • mkdir -p <newFolderName/newFolderName2/newFolderName3> create nested directories

Create new file​

  • touch <newFileName>

Remove directory (can only remove empty directory)​

  • rmdir <folderName>

Remove file and/or folder​

  • rm <filename> only for files
  • rm -r <folderName> remove current and nested folders
  • rm -rf <folderName> remove current and nested folders and files

Copy file and/or folder​

  • cp <filename> only for 1 file
  • cp -r <folderName> for folders, nested folders and files

Move or rename folder or file​

  • mv <oldFilename> <newFilename> or mv <oldFilePath> <newFilePath>
  • cat <filename>

Search through text in a file​

  • grep "<text>" <filename>

Append the output of a command to a file (file will be created if it does not exist)​

  • <cmd> >> <filename>

Overwrite output of a command to a file (Output redirection, file will be created if it does not exist)​

  • <cmd> > <filename>

Direct output of a command to another command​

  • <cmd1> | <cmd2> cmd2 will use cmd1 output to execute

Input redirection​

  • <cmd> < <file> file will be fed into the command and then runned
    • ex: <sendingEmailCommand> < <fileToBeAttached>

Sort text in a file​

  • sort <file> sort by ascending order
  • sort -r <file> sort by descending order

Print unique text in a file (file contents must be sorted first)​

  • uniq <file>

Temporarily replace or substitute string in a file and prints the file contents​

  • sed "s/<oldString>/<newString>/" <file>

Disable sudo password prompt​

sudo visudo

  • add the following line at the bottom
    • {username} e.g.: myusername
{username} ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL