File Management in Linux Last Updated : 30 Jul, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes 55 Likes Like Report In Linux, most of the operations are performed on files. And to handle these files Linux has directories also known as folders which are maintained in a tree-like structure. Though, these directories are also a type of file themselves. Linux has 3 types of files: Gereral Files: It is the common file type in Linux. it includes files like - text files, images, binary files, etc. Such files can be created using the touch command. They consist of the majority of files in the Linux/UNIX system. The regular file contains ASCII or Human Readable text, executable program binaries, program data and much more.Directories: Windows call these directories as folders. These are the files that store the list of file names and the related information. The root directory(/) is the base of the system, /home/ is the default location for user's home directories, /bin for Essential User Binaries, /boot – Static Boot Files, etc. We could create new directories with mkdir command.Device Files: Represents a real physical device such as a printer which is used for IO operations. Device or special files are used for device Input/Output(I/O) on UNIX and Linux systems. You can see them in a file system like an ordinary directory or file.1. Files ListingTo perform Files listings or to list files and directories ls command is used $lsAll your files and directories in the current directory would be listed and each type of file would be displayed with a different color. Like in the output directories are displayed with dark blue color. $ls -lIt returns the detailed listing of the files and directories in the current directory. The command gives os the owner of the file and even which file could be managed by which user or group and which user/group has the right to access or execute which file. 2. Creating Filestouch command can be used to create a new file. It will create and open a new blank file if the file with a filename does not exist. And in case the file already exists then the file will not be affected. $touch filename3. Displaying File Contentscat command can be used to display the contents of a file. This command will display the contents of the 'filename' file. And if the output is very large then we could use more or less to fit the output on the terminal screen otherwise the content of the whole file is displayed at once. $cat filename4. Copying a Filecp command could be used to create the copy of a file. It will create the new file in destination with the same name and content as that of the file 'filename'. $cp source/filename destination/5. Moving a Filemv command could be used to move a file from source to destination. It will remove the file filename from the source folder and would be creating a file with the same name and content in the destination folder. $mv source/filename destination/6. Renaming a Filemv command could be used to rename a file. It will rename the filename to new_filename or in other words, it will remove the filename file and would be creating a new file with the new_filename with the same content and name as that of the filename file. $mv filename new_filename7. Deleting a Filerm command could be used to delete a file. It will remove the filename file from the directory. $rm filename Comment M manav014 Follow 55 Improve M manav014 Follow 55 Improve Article Tags : Technical Scripter Linux-Unix Technical Scripter 2019 Explore Linux/Unix Tutorial 5 min read Getting Started with LinuxWhat is Linux Operating System 10 min read LINUX Full Form - Lovable Intellect Not Using XP 2 min read Difference between Linux and Windows 7 min read What are Linux Distributions ? 8 min read Difference between Unix and Linux 5 min read Installation with LinuxHow to Install Arch Linux in VirtualBox? 7 min read Fedora Linux Operating System 12 min read How to install Ubuntu on VirtualBox? 6 min read How to Install Linux Mint? 3 min read How to Install Kali Linux on Windows? 2 min read How to Install Linux on Windows PowerShell Subsystem? 2 min read How to Find openSUSE Linux Version? 2 min read How to Install CentOS 2 min read Linux CommandsLinux Commands 15+ min read Essential Unix Commands 7 min read How to Find a File in Linux | Find Command 9 min read Linux File SystemLinux File System 12 min read Linux File Hierarchy Structure 6 min read Linux Directory Structure 6 min read Linux KernelLinux Kernel 4 min read Kernel in Operating System 3 min read How Linux Kernel Boots? 11 min read Difference between Operating System and Kernel 3 min read Linux Kernel Module Programming: Hello World Program 7 min read Linux Loadable Kernel Module 7 min read Loadable Kernel Module - Linux Device Driver Development 4 min read Linux Networking ToolsNetwork configuration and troubleshooting commands in Linux 5 min read How to configure network interfaces in CentOS? 5 min read Command-Line Tools and Utilities For Network Management in Linux 8 min read Linux - Network Monitoring Tools 4 min read Linux ProcessProcesses in Linux/Unix 6 min read How to Manage Process in Linux 4 min read Getting System and Process Information Using C Programming and Shell in Linux 2 min read Process states and Transitions in a UNIX Process 4 min read Linux FirewallLINUX Firewall 7 min read iptables command in Linux with Examples 7 min read How to Configure your Linux Firewall - 3 Methods 12 min read Shell Scripting & Bash ScriptingIntroduction to Linux Shell and Shell Scripting 8 min read What is Terminal, Console, Shell and Kernel? 5 min read How to Create a Shell Script in linux 7 min read Shell Scripting - Different types of Variables 4 min read Bash Scripting - Introduction to Bash and Bash Scripting 12 min read Bash Script - Define Bash Variables and its types 12 min read Shell Scripting - Shell Variables 6 min read Bash Script - Difference between Bash Script and Shell Script 4 min read Shell Scripting - Difference between Korn Shell and Bash shell 3 min read Shell Scripting - Interactive and Non-Interactive Shell 3 min read Shell Script to Show the Difference Between echo “$SHELL†and echo ‘$SHELL’ 4 min read Like