Linux Commands with Examples
The Linux command is a utility of the Linux operating system. All
basic and advanced tasks can be done by executing commands. The
commands are executed on the Linux terminal. The terminal is a
command-line interface to interact with the system, which is similar
to the command prompt in the Windows OS. Commands in Linux
are case-sensitive.
Linux terminal is a user-friendly terminal as it provides various
support options. To open the Linux terminal, press "CTRL + ALT +
T" keys together, and execute a command by pressing the 'ENTER'
key,
Linux Directory Commands
1. pwd Command
The pwd command is used to display the location of the current
working directory.
Syntax:
pwd
Output:
To UGE e hah
(Deueyaexeesuss
2. mkdir Command
The mkdir command is used to create a new directory under any
directory.
Syntax:mkdir
3. rmdir Command
The rmdir
command is used to delete a directory.
Syntax:
tmdir
uo r cea ener in mm esi]
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542
4. 1s Command
The Is
command is used to display a list of content of a directory.
Syntax:
Is
ries ory aS
5 pe eee aa)
Akash race
la out 0 ates
Eee cs ints
foe " ciety
oeeers core rae
ceed
5. ed Command
The cd
command is used to change the current directory.Syntax:
ed
Output:
Linux File commands
6. touch Command
The touch
command is used to create empty files. We can create multiple empty
files by executing it once.
Syntax
. touch
. touch ....
Output:
Perens ss
7. cat Command
The cat
command is a multi-purpose utility in the Linux system. It can be
used to create a file, display content of the file, copy the content of
one file to another file, and more.
Syntax:
cat [OPTION]... [FILE].To create a file, execute it as follows
. cat >
// Enter file content
Press "CTRL+ D" keys to save the file.
file, execute it as follows:
cat
FESO ese
This is @ text file
Pere ns Fee et eee
Wem Cece
8. rm Command
The rm
command is used to remove a file.
Syntax:
rm
Output:
GEE Er kas
9. cp Command
The op
‘0 display the content of the
ee eo word
acu ea
rn a
eee
command is used to copy a file or directory.
Syntax:To copy in the same directory:
cp
rent directory:
es cores
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ cp demo.txt Documents
10. my Command
The my
command is used to move a file or a directory form one location to
another location.
Syntax:
mv
Output:
Bech on Cars rainy
11. rename Command
The rename
command is used to rename file
group of files.
It is useful for renaming a large
Syntax:
rename 's/old-name/new-name'' files
For example, to convert all the text files into pdf files, execute the
below command:rename 's/\.txt$/\.pdf/" *.txt
Output:
PEEiane east ce
PDE Sera Tac ac
- eC ac
ace
ace
acy
Linux File Content Commands
12. head Command
The head
command is used to display the content of a file. It displays the first
10 lines of a file.
Syntax:
head
Output:Pea p cect trier rem rt carers
13. tail Command
The tail
command is similar to the head command. The difference between
both commands is that it displays the last ten lines of the file content.
It is useful for reading the error message.
Syntax:
tail
14, tac CommandThe tac
command is the reverse of cat command, as its name specified. It
displays the file content in reverse order (from the last line).
Syntax:
tac
Output:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ tac Demo. txt
15. more command
The more
command is quite similar to the cat command, as it is used to display
the file content in the same way that the cat command does. The only
difference between both commands is that, in case of larger files, the
more command displays screenful output at a time.
In more command, the following keys are used to scroll the page:
ENTER key: To scroll down page by line.
Space bar: To move to the next page.
b key: To move to the previous page.
/ key: To search the string.Syntax:
more
Output:
FPR en ee en oe
Copyright (c) 2012 Google Inc. All rights reserved
RES eee cea Nn Rees Mee a
found tn the LICENSE file.
ree eee aCe Tee)
(require ‘gyp)
(Gee NS)
(require ‘cl)
CN Gem Reo Sa ears OL OS Le LT Og
rca Cee Te ME ee ee eT Le
Dee eres ee Cee ee Ce rer a
BP Sheet a DD)
(defadvice python-indent-calculate-levels (after gyp-outdent-closing-parens
activate)
Pree aS Dee Le Ce Cen
CUCU CCRC SL Can Nee)
(string-match "* *[])}][],)}]* *$"
Clie et ite Ene Laat
~-Nore-- (7%)
16. less Command
The les
command is similar to the more command. It also includes some extra
features such as ‘adjustment in width and height of the terminal."
Comparatively, the more command cuts the output in the width of the
terminal.
Syntax:less
Output:
PA Seen sie ee acon
I; Copyright (c) 2012 Google Inc. All rights reserved
Pere eee en Se en ea ccna
Pati is eco oa ae
Pee eee Cee LT
(require 'ayp)
etre)
(require ‘cl)
CRG e Or se ree eT a) ee CM gE Coat DD
Cmca he a ae CC ee Lee
ee Crh a
"python-mode.el")))
(defadvice python-indent-calculate-levels (after gyp-outdent-closing-paren:
activate)
Linux User Commands
17. su Command
The su
command provides administrative access to another user. In other
words, it allows access of the Linux shell to another user.
Syntax:
su Berets att ernie ee wet ters rats
Password:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ ff
18. id Command
The id
command is used to display the user ID (UID) and group ID (GID).
Syntax:
id
Output:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ id
Tet G rt some ees G Ee SM Tea esl G reat a eee UD ELCs
WDPPAAeT PECL DRC GLP PECL GND Eee CSIC
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ ff
19. useradd Command
The useradd
command is used to add or remove a user on a Linux server.
Syntax:
useradd username
Output:
Pets biuse ct tree ter tenet mime Ren
[sudo] password for javatpoint:
PE MCh arc Leela20. passwd Command
The passwd
command is used to create and change the password for a user.
Syntax:
passwd
Output:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ sudo passwd JTP
iene Pear cern ia)
Retype new UNIX password:
CEE Ee eee scene
21. groupadd Command
The groupadd
command is used to create a user group.
Syntax:
groupadd
PCE any
t@javatp
Linux Filter Commands
22. cat CommandThe cat
command is also used as a filter. To filter a file, it is used inside pipes.
Syntax:
cat | cat or tac | cat or tac |...
Output:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ cat Demo.txt | tac | cat | cat | tac
23. cut Command
The cut
command is used to select a specific column of a file. The '-d' option
is used as a delimiter, and it can be a space (''), a slash (/), a hyphen (-
), or anything else. And, the '-f option is used to specify a column
number.
Syntax:
cut -d(delimiter) -f(columnNumber) rae rie ces
-f2 marks. txt
24. grep Command
The grep
is the most powerful and used filter in a Linux system. The 'grep'
stands for "global regular expression print." It is useful for
searching the content from a file. Generally, it is used with the pipe.
Syntax:
command | grep
Ete sce perunerr rs
25. comm Command
The ‘comm!
command is used to compare two files or streams. By default, it
displays three columns, first displays non-matching items of the firstfile, second indicates the non-matching item of the second file, and
the third column displays the matching items of both files.
Syntax
comm
Output:
Pera t at eae rer eeert eto eeaes
Cee ee
26. sed command
The sed
command is also known as stream editor. It is used to edit files using
a regular expression. It does not permanently edit files; instead, the
edited content remains only on display. It does not affect the actual
file.
Syntax:
command | sed 's///"
Output:
Feces bis near tuner he ws eran me acne yg)
Bnd
REET CCE sor ere eee a eae et I CY
BEES27. tee command
The tee
command is quite similar to the cat command. The only difference
between both filters is that it puts standard input on standard output
and also write them into a file.
Syntax:
cat | tee | cat or tac
Output:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ cat marks.txt | tee new.txt | cat
penser)
28. tr Command
The tr
command is used to translate the file content like from lower case to
upper case.
Syntax:
command | tr <'old'> <'new'>
Output:cen cece errr ree rn eeeat se em ee Co
al
eacureey
WUE)
29. uniq Command
The uniq
command is used to form a sorted list in which every word will occur
only once.
Syntax:
command | uniq
Output:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ sort marks.txt |uniq
30. we Command
The
command is used to count the lines, words, and characters in a file.
Syntax:we
Output:
PEO rin sue cn reece anc irs
Pyar ets
31. od Command
The od
command is used to display the content of a file in different s, such as
hexadecimal, octal, and ASCII characters.
Synta:
od -b —_// Octal format
od -t x1 // Hexa decimal format
od -c —// ASCII character format
Output:
javatpoint@javatpotnt-Inspiron-3542:~$ od -b marks. txt
COR BC e Me re eC eet eee) aC Omred
lo0e0020 152 157 156 055 06 Cobar reer rect eC aeeee OMe Ees
pees 055 071 060 612 152 165 pee Er
red
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ od -t x1 marks. t:
looco000 61 CeO eet Lae)
Heer Peer ec eI
ee ee eC a cae!
Peeeromer) CE
loocoo64
FEN CEM heater Cee ey
Cae en)
an
fn
L
e
32. sort CommandThe sort
command is used to sort files in alphabetical order.
Syntax:
. sort
Output:
econ ut mere eas mes
justin-80
33. gzip Command
The gzip
command is used to truncate the file size. It is a compressing tool. It
replaces the original file by the compressed file having '.gz' extension.
Syntax:
. gzip ...
Output:javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ gzip Deno.txt Denol. txt
FCC Eiht tater eee cd
ecu
raat
reac
hello.o i 3
rater icra
i tal J id
34. gunzip Command
The gunzip
command is used to decompress a file. It is a reverse operation of gzip
command.
Syntax:
. gunzip . .
javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ gunzip Demo.txt Demo1.txt
Be Citas Oe Seber Demme
Pra esas
Cole is c eae
Cert a hello.s
Di Tia e.da a ee
PLB) ei ee ee
peaemes cli crams
Linux Utility Commands
35. find Command
The findcommand is used to find a particular file within a directory. It also
supports various options to find a file such as byname, by type, by
date, and more.
The following symbols are used after the find command:
(.): For current directory name
(/) : For root
Syntax:
. find . name "*.pdf"
Output:
javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ find . -name "*.pdf"
|. /Test.pdf
Wire eCHO ae Ag Aaa Ce eee
Ee Ce STL ec te ee eee Le
Wee Peet CL mee Peet eerie a
WEE Ate ARM EL eerie egret ELEC LEC Le
WARM e Aare Peer recreate ee Cer Oe
Find: ‘./.anydesk/incoming’: Permission denied
- /Downloads/ConfirmationPage_20030070774. pdf
Weeurert ts
se ae) Lethe CL d
ea ae ee a)
Witte sg aon ie
Wie eee
Witter ecu tie
36. locate Command
The locate
command is used to search a file by file name. It is quite similar to
find command; the difference is that it is a background process. It
searches the file in the database, whereas the find command searches
in the file system. It is faster than the find command. To find the file
with the locates command, keep your database updated.Syntax:
. locate
Output:
Ber uo necro erie ramen esas tg
protease
Ra aa Ee asec s
exo hnySasee tg
(BEE fa eases
/snap/core/8935/etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl.conf
ER Eas Radeon
RE Eat Ee ee
icra eed ate ee ad ees
snap/core18/1754/etc/sysctl.d/99-sysctl. conf
|/usr/share/doc/procps/examples/sysctl.conf
(Eg Eure LEW Gury ead eer
37. date Command
The date
command is used to display date, time, time zone, and more.
Synta
. date
Output:
38. cal Command
The cal
command is used to display the current month's calendar with the
current date highlighted.Syntax:
- cal<
Output:
Javatpoint@javatpoint-Inspiron-3542:~$ cal
TEV aee}
oa
34567
FOReare ares
47 18 19 20
LeeLee
31
39. sleep Command
The sleep
command is used to hold the terminal by the specified amount of
time. By default, it takes time in seconds.
Syntax:
. sleep