Navigating the Linux file system may seem a bit different from what you're used to on Windows or macOS, but it's relatively straightforward once you understand the basics. Here's a quick start guide:
1. Open Terminal:
- In Linux, most file system navigation and management tasks are done through the terminal. You can open the terminal by searching for "Terminal" in the application menu.
2. Current Directory:
- To know your current directory, use the `pwd` command (print working directory).
pwd
3. List Files and Directories:
- Use the `ls` command to list files and directories in the current location.
ls
4. Change Directory:
- Move to a different directory using the `cd` command.
cd /path/to/directory
5. Home Directory:
- Your home directory is where you land when you open the terminal. You can quickly return to it using:
cd ~
6. Parent Directory:
- Move up one level in the directory tree using:
cd ..
7. Absolute vs. Relative Paths:
- An absolute path starts from the root directory (`/`), while a relative path is relative to your current location. For example:
- Absolute path: `/home/username/Documents`
- Relative path: `Documents` (assuming you are already in `/home/username`)
8. Create a Directory:
- Make a new directory using the `mkdir` command.
mkdir new_directory
9. Remove/Delete:
- Delete a file with the `rm` command and a directory with the `rmdir` command.
rm filename
rmdir directoryname
10. Copy and Move:
- Copy files or directories using `cp` and move them using `mv`.
cp source destination
mv source destination
11. File Permissions:
- Use `chmod` to change file permissions.
chmod permissions filename
12. View File Content:
- Use `cat` to display the entire content of a file.
cat filename
13. Edit Files:
- Use text editors like `nano`, `vim`, or `gedit` to edit files.
nano filename
14. Find Files:
- Use `find` to search for files in the file system.
find / -name filename
15. Wildcards:
- Use wildcards like `*` and `?` for matching multiple files or characters.
ls *.txt # List all files with a .txt extension
These are just the basics to get you started. The Linux file system has many more features and commands, but these should give you a good foundation for navigating and managing files and directories.