File System Navigation

Introduction

Navigating the Linux file system from the command line is an essential skill. Linux uses a hierarchical directory structure starting from the "root" directory, denoted by a forward slash /.

Key Navigation Commands

1. pwd (Print Working Directory)

The pwd command tells you exactly where you currently are in the file system. It outputs the absolute path.

pwd
# Output: /home/alice/Documents

2. ls (List)

The ls command lists the files and directories inside your current directory.

ls

# List with detailed information (permissions, size, owner)
ls -l

# List all files, including hidden files (files starting with a dot)
ls -a

# Combine flags
ls -la

3. cd (Change Directory)

The cd command is used to move around the file system. You can navigate using absolute paths (starting from /) or relative paths (starting from your current location).

# Move to a specific absolute path
cd /var/log/

# Move into a folder inside your current directory (relative path)
cd projects/

# Move UP one directory level
cd ..

# Move directly to your home directory (~ is a shortcut for home)
cd ~

# Move back to the previous directory you were in
cd -

Understanding Paths

• Absolute Path: A path that points to the same location regardless of your current working directory. It always begins with the root directory (/). Example: /etc/nginx/nginx.conf.
• Relative Path: A path relative to your current working directory. It never begins with a slash. Example: ./scripts/run.sh.

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