The Top 10 Linux Commands Every User Should Know
Table of Contents
Introduction to Linux Commands #
If you’re new to the world of Linux, it can be overwhelming to navigate through all the commands and functionalities. Fear not, we have put together a comprehensive guide to the top 10 Linux commands that every user should know.
-
cd - This command allows you to change directories within the Linux file system. It is essential for navigating through the different directories within Linux.
-
ls - This command lists the files and directories within the current working directory. It is a quick way to check what’s in the directory you are currently working in.
-
cp - This command is used to copy files and directories from one location to another. It’s helpful for making backups or moving files around.
-
mv - This command is used to move files and directories from one location to another. It is essentially the same as the cp command, but it deletes the original file at the original location.
-
rm - This command deletes files and directories, so be careful when using it. It can be helpful for freeing up space or removing unwanted files.
-
mkdir - This command creates new directories within the Linux file system. It’s useful for organizing your files and creating new directories for different projects.
-
rmdir - This command removes an empty directory within the Linux file system. It’s helpful for cleaning up your directory structure and removing directories that are no longer needed.
-
touch - This command creates a new file. It’s a quick way to create a blank file without having to use a text editor.
-
grep - This command searches for a specific pattern within a file. It’s a powerful tool for finding specific text or data within large files.
-
sudo - This command allows you to execute commands as the root user. It’s essential for performing tasks that require elevated privileges, such as installing software or configuring system settings.
Learning these 10 Linux commands will give you a solid foundation for using Linux efficiently. They are powerful tools that can help you navigate through the file system, manage your files and directories, and perform tasks that require elevated privileges. So, give them a try and see how they can help you improve your Linux skills!
2. File Management Commands #
Managing files is an essential aspect of using any operating system. Linux provides a powerful command-line interface for managing files and directories. In this section, we will introduce you to the top 10 file management commands that every Linux user should know.
1. cd #
The cd command is used to change the current directory. To use this command, simply type cd followed by the path of the directory you want to navigate to. For example, cd /home/user/Desktop will change the current directory to the Desktop directory.
2. ls #
The ls command is used to list the files and directories in the current directory. By default, it shows only the names of the files and directories. You can use various options to customize the output of the ls command.
For example, ls -l will show detailed information about the files and directories in the current directory, including their permissions, size, owner, and modification time.
3. cp #
The cp command is used to copy files and directories. To use this command, type cp followed by the name of the file or directory you want to copy, and then the name of the destination directory.
For example, cp file.txt /home/user/Documents/ will copy the file file.txt to the Documents directory.
4. mv #
The mv command is used to move or rename files and directories. To use this command, type mv followed by the name of the file or directory you want to move or rename, and then the name of the destination directory or the new name.
For example, mv file.txt /home/user/Documents/ will move the file file.txt to the Documents directory, while mv file.txt newfile.txt will rename the file to newfile.txt.
5. rm #
The rm command is used to remove files and directories. To use this command, type rm followed by the name of the file or directory you want to remove.
For example, rm file.txt will remove the file file.txt, while rm -r directory/ will remove the directory and all its contents recursively.
6. mkdir #
The mkdir command is used to create a new directory. To use this command, type mkdir followed by the name of the directory you want to create.
For example, mkdir newdir/ will create a new directory called newdir in the current directory.
7. rmdir #
The rmdir command is used to remove an empty directory. To use this command, type rmdir followed by the name of the directory you want to remove.
For example, rmdir emptydir/ will remove the empty directory called emptydir.
8. touch #
The touch command is used to create a new file or update the modification time of an existing file. To use this command, type touch followed by the name of the file you want to create or update.
For example, touch file.txt will create a new file called file.txt in the current directory, or update the modification time of an existing file.
9. cat #
The cat command is used to display the contents of a file. To use this command, type cat followed by the name of the file you want to display.
For example, cat file.txt will display the contents of the file called file.txt.
10. grep #
The grep command is used to search for a specific pattern in a file. To use this command, type grep followed by the pattern you want to search for and then the name of the file you want to search in.
For example, grep "hello" file.txt will search for the word “hello” in the file called file.txt.
These are the top 10 file management commands that every Linux user should know. By mastering these commands, you can become more efficient and productive in your work. Happy Linuxing!
3. Navigation Commands #
As you embark on your Linux journey, one of the most important skills you’ll need is the ability to navigate your way around the command line. Luckily, there are a few simple basic commands that can help you easily move through your system.
1. cd #
The cd command is used to change the current working directory. This is similar to double-clicking a folder in a GUI. For example, if you want to change to the documents directory, you would type:
cd Documents/
2. ls #
The ls command is used to list the contents of a directory. This is similar to opening a folder in a GUI and seeing what files and folders are inside. For example, if you want to see what files are in the documents directory, you would type:
ls Documents/
3. pwd #
The pwd command is used to print the current working directory. This is similar to looking at the address bar in a GUI to see where you are. For example, to see the full path of the current working directory, you would type:
pwd
4. mkdir #
The mkdir command is used to create a new directory. This is similar to creating a new folder in a GUI. For example, if you want to create a directory called “projects”, you would type:
mkdir projects
5. rmdir #
The rmdir command is used to remove an empty directory. This is similar to deleting an empty folder in a GUI. For example, if you want to remove the “projects” directory, you would type:
rmdir projects
6. touch #
The touch command is used to create a new empty file. This is similar to creating a new text document in a GUI. For example, if you want to create a file called “notes.txt”, you would type:
touch notes.txt
7. cp #
The cp command is used to copy a file or directory. This is similar to copying a file or folder in a GUI. For example, if you want to copy a file called “file1” to a new file called “file2”, you would type:
cp file1 file2
8. mv #
The mv command is used to move or rename a file or directory. This is similar to renaming or moving a file or folder in a GUI. For example, if you want to rename a file called “file1” to “file2”, you would type:
mv file1 file2
9. rm #
The rm command is used to remove a file or directory. This is similar to deleting a file or folder in a GUI. For example, if you want to delete a file called “notes.txt”, you would type:
rm notes.txt
10. man #
The man command is used to display the manual pages for a command. This is similar to opening the help menu in a GUI. For example, if you want to see the manual pages for the ls command, you would type:
man ls
These basic navigation commands should give you a solid foundation for moving through your Linux system with ease. With practice, you’ll become more efficient and comfortable with the command line, and you’ll be able to accomplish tasks much more quickly than you ever could with a GUI.
4. System Administration Commands #
When it comes to Linux, knowing the right commands can make all the difference in the world. With hundreds of commands to choose from, getting started can be overwhelming. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our list of the top 10 Linux commands every user should know. In this article, we’ll be focusing on system administration commands.
1. sudo #
sudo is a powerful command that allows you to run programs with the security privileges of another user, such as the superuser. This means you can perform administrative tasks that require root access without logging in as root.
$ sudo apt-get update
2. systemctl #
systemctl is a command-line tool that provides a uniform interface for controlling and managing systemd services and units. It is used to start, stop, reload, enable, and disable services in Linux.
$ systemctl start sshd.service
3. crontab #
crontab is a command that allows you to create and edit scheduled tasks, known as cron jobs, that run automatically on a predefined schedule.
$ crontab -e
4. useradd #
useradd is a command that is used to create new user accounts on a Linux system.
$ sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash newuser
5. passwd #
passwd is a command that is used to change the password of a user account in Linux.
$ sudo passwd newuser
6. chown #
chown is a command that allows you to change the ownership of a file or directory in Linux.
$ sudo chown newuser:newuser /path/to/file
7. chmod #
chmod is a command that allows you to change the permissions of a file or directory in Linux.
$ sudo chmod 755 /path/to/file
8. df #
df is a command that displays the amount of disk space available on the file system in Linux.
$ df -h
9. du #
du is a command that displays the disk usage of files and directories in Linux.
$ du -sh /path/to/directory
10. top #
top is a command that displays real-time information about running processes in Linux.
$ top
In conclusion, mastering these 10 system administration commands is crucial for anyone wanting to work with Linux. Whether you’re a web developer or a system administrator, knowing how to use these commands can make your life a lot easier. So, start practicing and become a Linux command line pro!