Linux: Basic Shell Commands

This is a list of most frequently used linux commands. These are essential commands. Most of them are used everyday by every linux user.

this is generate by artificial intelligence.

ls

Lists directory contents. Common options: ls -l (long format)

Example: ls -a (show hidden files)

Example: ls -lh (human-readable sizes)

Example: ls -la

cd

Changes the current directory.

Example: cd /path/to/directory

Example: cd .. (go up one directory)

Example: cd ~ (home directory)

pwd

Prints the current working directory.

Example: pwd

cp

Copies files or directories. Common options: cp -r (recursive for directories)

Example: cp -v (verbose)

Example: cp file1.txt file2.txt

Example: cp -r dir1 dir2

mv

Moves or renames files or directories. Common options: mv -v (verbose)

Example: mv -i (prompt before overwrite)

Example: mv file1.txt /new/path/

Example: mv oldname.txt newname.txt

rm

Removes files or directories. Common options: rm -r (recursive for directories)

Example: rm -f (force)

Example: rm -i (interactive)

Example: rm file.txt

Example: rm -r directory

mkdir

Creates a new directory. Common options: mkdir -p (create parent directories if needed).

Example: mkdir new_folder

Example: mkdir -p path/to/new_folder

touch

Creates an empty file or updates a file’s timestamp.

Example: touch newfile.txt

cat

Displays file contents • concatenates files • or creates files. Common options: cat -n (line numbers).

Example: cat file.txt

Example: cat file1.txt file2.txt > combined.txt

grep

Searches text for patterns. Common options: grep -i (case-insensitive)

Example: grep -r (recursive)

Example: grep -v (invert match)

Example: grep "pattern" file.txt

Example: grep -r "error" /var/log

find

Searches for files or directories in a directory hierarchy. Common options: find -name

Example: find -type f (files only)

Example: find -type d (directories)

Example: find / -name "file.txt"

Example: find . -type f -name "*.log"

chmod

Changes file or directory permissions. Common options: chmod -R (recursive).

Example: chmod 755 script.sh

Example: chmod u+x file.sh

chown

Changes file or directory ownership. Common options: chown -R (recursive).

Example: chown user:group file.txt

Example: chown -R user:group /directory

man

Displays the manual page for a command.

Example: man ls

Example: man grep

ps

Lists running processes. Common options: ps aux (all processes)

Example: ps -ef (detailed)

Example: ps aux | grep python

top

Displays real-time system processes and resource usage.

Example: top (interactive interface)

htop

An enhanced

Example: interactive version of top (if installed)

Example: htop

kill

Terminates processes by PID. Common options: kill -9 (force kill).

Example: kill 1234

Example: kill -9 1234

df

Reports disk space usage. Common options: df -h (human-readable).

Example: df -h

du

Estimates file and directory space usage. Common options: du -sh (summary • human-readable).

Example: du -sh /path/to/directory

tar

Archives files or directories. Common options: tar -cvf (create)

Example: tar -xvf (extract)

Example: tar -z (gzip)

Example: tar -cvf archive.tar /directory

Example: tar -xzvf archive.tar.gz

wget

Downloads files from the web. Common options: wget -O (specify output file)

Example: wget -c (resume download)

Example: wget http://example.com/file.zip

curl

Transfers data to or from a server. Common options: curl -O (save file)

Example: curl -L (follow redirects)

Example: curl -O http://example.com/file.txt

sudo

Executes a command with superuser privileges.

Example: sudo apt update

Example: sudo systemctl restart service

apt yum dnf)

Package management. Common options: apt update • apt install • apt upgrade.

Example: sudo apt install vim

systemctl

Manages system services. Common options: start, stop, enable, disable, status.

Example: systemctl start nginx

Example: systemctl status sshd

nano, vim, or vi

Text editors for editing files.

Example: nano file.txt

Example: vim config.conf

history

Displays command history.

Example: history

Example: history | grep ssh

whoami

Displays the current user.

Example: whoami

ping

Tests network connectivity. Common options: ping -c (count).

Example: ping -c 4 google.com