5: Directory (Folder) Commands

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Directory (Folder) Commands

(transclusion link)

cd

cd <path> directs to a specific directory in the tree

note, there must be a space after the cd

cd switches

the following switches work on cd

cd /home/pi
cd   #by itself takes you home
cd ~  navigate to home directory
cd /  navigate to root directory
cd .. go up one level
cd - go back one level

cp

cp - copy directory

We can copy a directory to a new location by using the command:

cp directory_name destination : Copies directory (or file) to a new location

Note

To include the subfolders of a directory, we need to add -r (recursive)

cp /tmp/test/subdir2 /tmp/test/subdir1 -r
cd subdir1
ls

Output:

Relative path

The previous examples that we worked on used some relative paths. Working with a relative path means that the place where you go depends on your current working directory.

The "etc" directory is a file that is located directly inside the root of the file system. If you were to try and cd to the "etc" folder while you are in the root directory, it will work.

cd /
pwd
cd etc 
pwd

However, if you are not in your root directory, that won't work.

cd
pwd
cd etc
pwd

You will get an error saying "No such file or directory".

Changing the working directory will affect where you start. The path of the directory you want to access only makes sense while it is relative to your working directory.

Absolute path

Absolute commands have the same effect no matter what your current working directory is. From our previous examples, the cd command is an absolute one. When you run it on its own, you go straight to your home directory. Another previous example is the cd / command. It directly switches you to the root directory when you run it on its own.

Note: Any path starting with / is an absolute path. When you want to switch to a directory and start your path with the /, it is the equivalent of "going to the root directory and then to the folder that comes after the slash".

cd
pwd
cd /etc     
pwd

find

find works on both directories and files.

ls

With the last command, we created two new subdirectories. We can look at the list with the command:

ls : list

ls

Output:

ls switches

ls
ls /home/pi
ls -1     (one, to make a single column)
ls -l      (long, to list info)
ls -l -a   (long and all, to include hidden files
ls ../   (reaches up one level)

mkdir

the following commands show you where you are, make a new directory, show you the new directory and move you to the new directory

pwd
mkdir new_directory
ls
cd new_directory
ls

rm - Remove Directory

for empty directories

rm switches

rm -d directory_name
rm -r recursive and removes subfolders
rm -rf recursive and forced

for directories with files in them (-r is recursive, and removes contents of directory)

rm -r directory-name

The -r is a switch making the command recursive

to do it without asking for confirmation

rm -rf directory_name

The -f switch "forces" the action

BE VERY CAREFUL WHEN USING rm -r or rm -rf as you delete everything, including subfolders.

pwd

Identifies Current Directory

rebelford@raspberrypi:~ $ pwd

pwd

Output:

tree

tree

This shows the file structure from where you are

Search

Text Color

Text Size

Margin Size

Font Type

cd switches

Relative path

Absolute path

ls switches

rm switches