File and Directory Commands

List all files in working directory:

ls -l
ls -al

Display the present working directory:

pwd

Display directory tree:

tree

Create a directory

mkdir directory_name

Create a recursive directory structure:

mkdir -p directory_name/subdir_name/test

Create an empty file:

touch filename

Create symbolic link:

ln -s /path/to/filename symlink_name

Remove file:

rm file
rm -f file # force removal of file without prompting for confirmation

Remove symlink:

unlink /pat/to/symlink_name

Remove the directory and its contents recursively:

rm -r directory_name
rm -rf directory_name

Copy files or/and directories:

cp original_file copy_file   # copy original_file to copy_file
cp -r original_dir copy_dir  # copy original_dir to copy_dir recursively
cp -pr original_dir copy_dir # copy original_dir to copy_dir recursively and keep permissions

Move or rename files/directories:

mv object object_moved

View the contents of file:

cat filename

Browse through a text file

less filename.log

Display the first 10 lines of file:

head filename.log

Display the last 10 lines of file:

tail filename.log

Display the last 10 lines of file and watch file content changes:

tail -f filename.log