12 Essential Linux Commands for Newbies

Updated April 12, 2018

Display a list of files with ls
- The ls command displays the names of the files and directories in the current working directory. A number of options are available that allow you to specify what details about the files should be shown.
Change directory with cd
- If you want to change the current working directory you would use the command cd. For example cd correspondence would set the current working directory to correspondence, if it exits.
Copy a file with cp
- The cp command allows you copy a file and give the copy a new name. It is always a good idea to make a copy of a file before you change it in case you want to go back the previous version.
Change a file name with mv
- The mv command allows you to change the name of a file or move it to another directory or both. Files and whole directories can easily be moved even if they have a lot of content, since it requires only changing how things are linked to each other.
Create a new directory with mkdir
- The mkdir command creates a new directory. Directories can be nested and are useful to organize large sets of files.

Delete a directory with rmdir
List the content of a file with more
Locate files you are looking for with find
Learn more about a command with man
Edit the contents of a file with emacs
Change your password with passwd
- After you type passwd at the command prompt, it will ask you for your current password and the new one.
End your session with exit
- The exit command will get you out of the current shell or session.