Related

Change Directory

linux

Change the current working directory to a specified path.

Print Working Directory

linux

Display the full path of the current working directory.

Make Directory

linux

Create new directories, including nested ones with the `-p` flag.

linux/ls

List Directory Contents

List files and directories in the current or specified directory with various formatting options.

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linux

Command

ls

Explanation

`ls` is one of the most commonly used commands in Linux. Without arguments, it lists non-hidden files in the current directory. Flags like `-l` show detailed information, `-a` includes hidden files (those starting with `.`), and `-h` makes file sizes human-readable when used with `-l`.

Common Use Cases

  • •View directory contents
  • •Inspect file permissions and ownership
  • •Display hidden files and directories
  • •Check file modification times

Best Practices

  • ✓Use `ls -lh` for human-readable file sizes
  • ✓Combine `-a` and `-l` as `ls -la` for detailed views
  • ✓Pipe output to `less` for viewing long listings

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • ⚠Forgetting to use `-a` to show hidden files
  • ⚠Misinterpreting permissions or ownership in `ls -l` output
  • ⚠Using `ls` without quotes for paths containing spaces

Troubleshooting

Problem: Output truncated or hard to read

Solution: Pipe output to `less` (e.g., `ls -l | less`) for easier scrolling.

Problem: Permission denied on directory

Solution: Use `sudo ls` if you have administrative privileges.

Examples

List files in current directory

ls

Long listing format with details

ls -l

Show hidden files

ls -a

More

Copy Files

linux

Copy files and directories from one location to another.

Remove Files or Directories

linux

Delete files or directories permanently.

Move or Rename Files

linux

Move or rename files and directories.