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Linux Command: ls

Linux Command: ls

A comprehensive guide to using the ls command, an essential tool for listing files in a folder.

The ls command is used to display the files and directories within a folder. Here’s how you can use it:

To list all the files and directories in the current directory, simply enter:

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ls

If you want to list the contents of a specific folder or path, you can specify it after the ls command. For example:

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ls /bin

The above command will display the contents of the /bin directory.

While using the ls command, various options can be utilized to enhance the output. One commonly used combination is -al. Give it a try:

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ls -al /bin

By using the -al option, you’ll receive more detailed information about the listed files.

Here’s what each column represents from left to right:

  • File permissions (including ACL flag, if supported by the system)
  • Number of links to the file
  • File owner
  • File group
  • File size in bytes
  • File modified date and time
  • File name

The -l option generates this set of data, while the -a option also displays hidden files.

Hidden files are files that start with a dot (.).

Note: The ls command is compatible with Linux, macOS, WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), and any other UNIX-based environment.

Tags: Linux commands, ls command, file listing, terminal commands