Common Linux Commands
Command Line Reference
Open-source Linux is a popular alternative to Microsoft Windows, and if you choose to use this lowcost or free operating system, you need to know some basic Linux commands to make your system
smoothly. The most common Linux commands are shown in this table.
Command
Description
cat [filename]
Display files contents to the standard output device (usually
your monitor).
cd /directorypath
Change to directory.
chmod [options] mode
filename
Change a files permissions.
chown [options] filename
Change who owns a file.
clear
Clear a command line screen/window for a fresh start.
cp [options]source
destination
Copy files and directories.
date [options]
Display or set the system date and time.
df [options]
Display used and available disk space.
du [options]
Show how much space each file takes up.
file [options]filename
Determine what type of data is within a file.
find [pathname]
[expression]
Search for files matching a provided pattern.
grep [options] pattern
[filesname]
Search files or output for a particular pattern.
kill [options] pid
Stop a process. If the process refuses to stop, use kill -9 pid.
less [options] [filename]
View the contents of a file one page at a time.
ln [options] source
Create a shortcut.
[destination]
locate filename
Search a copy of your filesystem for the specified filename.
lpr [options]
Send a print job.
ls [options]
List directory contents.
man [command]
Display the help information for the specified command.
mkdir [options] directory
Create a new directory.
mv [options]source
destination
Rename or move file(s) or directories.
passwd [name [password]]
Change the password or allow (for the system administrator) to
change any password.
ps [options]
Display a snapshot of the currently running processes.
pwd
Display the pathname for the current directory.
rm [options] directory
Remove (delete) file(s) and/or directories.
rmdir [options] directory
Delete empty directories.
ssh [options]
user@machine
Remotely log in to another Linux machine, over the network.
Leave an ssh session by typing exit.
su [options] [user
[arguments]]
Switch to another user account.
tail [options] [filename]
Display the last n lines of a file (the default is 10).
tar [options] filename
Store and extract files from a tarfile (.tar) or tarball (.tar.gz or
.tgz).
top
Displays the resources being used on your system. Press q to
exit.
touch filename
Create an empty file with the specified name.
who [options]
Display who is logged on.
What is Command Prompt?
Command Prompt is acommand line interpreterapplication available in most Windows operating
systems. Command Prompt is officially called Windows Command Processor but is also sometimes
called the command shell or by its file name cmd.exe. Note: Command Prompt is sometimes
incorrectly referred to as "the DOS prompt" or as MS-DOS itself. Command Prompt is a Windows
program that emulates many of the command line abilities available in MS-DOS but it is not actually
MS-DOS.
What is Command Prompt Used For?
Command Prompt is used to execute entered commands. Command Prompt is most commonly used
to execute batch files, perform advanced administrative functions, and troubleshoot and solve
certain kinds of Windows issues.
