Are you new to Linux and feeling overwhelmed by the command line?
Don’t worry, mastering a few essential commands can go a long way in helping you navigate and manage your system efficiently. In this guide, we’ll explore 15 fundamental Linux commands every user should know, complete with code examples and descriptions.
1. ls — List Directory Contents
The ls command is used to list the contents of a directory. When this command is executed, it displays all the files and directories within the current directory.
ls
2. pwd — Print Working Directory
pwd prints the current working directory.
pwd
3. cd — Change Directory
Use cd to change your current working directory.
cd ..
The cd command is used to change the current directory, and .. is a special notation that refers to the parent directory of the current one. So, cd .. would move you up one directory level. Andcd ./Downloadns would attempt to change the current directory to one called “Downloadns” within the current directory.
4. touch — Create Empty Files
touch creates an empty file or updates the access and modification times of an existing file.
touch new_file.txt
5. mkdir — Make Directory
Create a new directory using mkdir
mkdir new_directory
6. rmdir — Remove Directory
rmdir removes the specified empty directories
rmdir empty_directory
7. open — Open a File or Directory
open opens a file or directory using the default application associated with the file type
open file.txt
8. cp — Copy Files or Directories
Copy files or directories with cp
cp file.txt new_location/
9. nano — Text Editor
Edit text files using the nano text editor.
nano file.txt
10. sudo — Execute a Command as Superuser
Execute commands with superuser privileges using sudo
sudo apt update
11. mv — Move or Rename Files or Directories
Move or rename files and directories with mv
mv file.txt new_location/
12. cat — Concatenate and Display File Content
Display the contents of a file using cat
cat file.txt
13. find — Search for Files and Directories
Search for files and directories using find
find /path/to/search -name “filename”
14. grep — Search Inside Files
grep searches for patterns within files.
grep “pattern” file.txt
15. chmod — Change File Permissions
Modify file permissions with chmod
chmod 755 file.txt
These essential Linux commands the foundation for navigating and managing your Linux system effectively. Experiment with them in your terminal to gain confidence and familiarity. Happy exploring!
