Linux Command Cheat Sheet

By : Mary Brent Updated March 16, 2024

In this Linux/Unix command line cheat sheet, you will learn:

Basic Linux commands

File Permission commands
Environment Variables command
User management commands of linux
Networking command
Process command
VI Editing Commands

Basic Linux commands

Command Description

Lists all files and directories in the present working

ls
directory

ls -R Lists files in sub-directories as well

ls -a Lists hidden files as well

Lists files and directories with detailed information like

ls -al
permissions,size, owner, etc.

cd or cd ~ Navigate to HOME directory

cd .. Move one level up

cd To change to a particular directory

cd / Move to the root directory

Command Description

cat > filename Creates a new file

cat filename Displays the file content

cat file1 file2 > Joins two files (file1, file2) and stores the output in a
file3 new file (file3)

mv file "new file

Moves the files to the new location
path"

mv filename
Renames the file to a new filename
new_file_name

Allows regular users to run programs with the security

sudo
privileges of the superuser or root

rm filename Deletes a file

man Gives help information on a command

Gives a list of all past commands typed in the current

history
terminal session

clear Clears the terminal

Creates a new directory in the present working

mkdir directoryname
directory or a at the specified path

rmdir Deletes a directory

mv Renames a directory

pr -x Divides the file into x columns

pr -h Assigns a header to the file

pr -n Denotes the file with Line Numbers

Command Description

lp -nc , lpr c Prints “c” copies of the File

lp-d lp-P Specifies name of the printer

apt-get Command used to install and update packages

mail -s 'subject'
-c 'cc-address'
Command to send email
-b 'bcc-address'
'to-address'

mail -s "Subject"
to-address < Command to send email with attachment
Filename

File Permission commands

Command Description

ls -l to show file type and access permission

r read permission

w write permission

x execute permission

-= no permission

Chown user For changing the ownership of a file/directory

Chown user:group change the user as well as group for a file or

filename directory

Environment Variables command

Command Description

echo $VARIABLE To display value of a variable

env Displays all environment variables

VARIABLE_NAME= variable_value Create a new variable

Unset Remove a variable

export Variable=value To set value of an environment variable

User management commands of linux

Command Description

sudo adduser username To add a new user

sudo passwd -l 'username' To change the password of a user

sudo userdel -r 'username' To remove a newly created user

sudo usermod -a -G GROUPNAME

To add a user to a group
USERNAME

sudo deluser USER GROUPNAME To remove a user from a group

Shows information of all the users

finger
logged in

finger username Gives information of a particular user

Networking command
Command Description

SSH username@ip-address or
login into a remote Linux machine using SSH
hostname
Command Description

To ping and Analyzing network and host

Ping hostname="" or =""
connections

Display files in the current directory of a

dir
remote computer

change directory to “dirname” on a remote

cd "dirname"
computer

put file upload ‘file’ from local to remote computer

Download ‘file’ from remote to local

get file
computer

quit Logout

Process command
Command Description

bg To send a process to the background

fg To run a stopped process in the foreground

top Details on all Active Processes

ps Give the status of processes running for a user

ps PID Gives the status of a particular process

pidof Gives the Process ID (PID) of a process

kill PID Kills a process

nice Starts a process with a given priority

renice Changes priority of an already running process

Command Description

df Gives free hard disk space on your system

free Gives free RAM on your system

VI Editing Commands
Command Description

i Insert at cursor (goes into insert mode)

a Write after cursor (goes into insert mode)

A Write at the end of line (goes into insert mode)

ESC Terminate insert mode

u Undo last change

U Undo all changes to the entire line

o Open a new line (goes into insert mode)

dd Delete line

3dd Delete 3 lines

D Delete contents of line after the cursor

Delete contents of a line after the cursor and insert new text. Press
C
ESC key to end insertion.

dw Delete word

4dw Delete 4 words

cw Change word

x Delete character at the cursor

Command Description

r Replace character

R Overwrite characters from cursor onward

s Substitute one character under cursor continue to insert

Substitute entire line and begin to insert at the beginning of the

S
line

~ Change case of individual character

Hope this Linux reference guide helps you!

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