This document is a guide for most common terminal commands.
To determine which shell is your terminal running, type
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$ echo $0
# should output your shell
In this tutorial, a .zsh will be used on a Mac Operating System.
Command Manual (man)
The man command shows the manual of the command or utility in the terminal. It shows the name, description, and options of the command among others.
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$ man <command_name>
# should output the manual of the command you entered
For example, if you want to check the manual of command pwd, type $ man pwd in the terminal:
Press q to quit the manual.
Quit sub-screen (q)
When inside a command sub-screen, type q to end subs-screen and return to the terminal. The keyboard combinations ctrl + c also does the work.
Close terminal (exit)
Type exit to close current terminal session. This will close the terminal tab if no sub process is running.
List Directories (ls)
To list the contents of a specific directory, the ls command is invoked. If no directory is specified, the contents of the current directory will be listed.
The -a flag shows all contents - including the hidden ones. The -l lists the details of the contents.
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$ ls [path_to_specific_directory] [-a | -l]
# ls command with options -a and/or -l, and directory path
$ ls
# should output the list of directories of current directory
$ ls [path_to_specific_directory]
# should output the list of directories of the specified directory
$ ls -a
# should output the list of all contents
$ ls -l
# should output the details of the contents
$ ls -la
# should output the list of all contents with their details
Make Directories (mkdir)
To make directories, type mkdir with the option -p followed by the directory name in the terminal.
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$ mkdir <directory_name>
# should create a directory with the specified directory name
$ mkdir -p <new/path/directory_name/>
# should create a nested directory with the specified directory names
$ mkdir <"name with spacings">
# should create a directory with names having spaces
$ mkdir -p <existing/path/new_directory>
# should create a directory in specified path
Print Current Directory (pwd)
To display your current full working path in the terminal, the pwd command is invoked.
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$ pwd
# should output your current working directory
Change Directories (cd)
To change your current directory in the terminal, invoke the cd command with the directory name. The cd command stands for Change Directory.
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$ cd <directory_to_change_into>
# should change current directory into one that is specfied
$ cd ..
# should change directory into the parent of the current directory
$ cd ../..
# should change directory into the parent of the parent of the current directory
Clear terminal (clear)
To clear the terminal screen, invoke the clear command.
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$ clear
# should clear the terminal
Move/Rename (mv)
To move files and/or directories, invoke the mv command followed by the file/directory to move and its new path/folder. The command can also be used to rename files and directories
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$ mv <path/to/file> <new/path/of/file>
# should move the specified file to the new specified location
$ mv <oldname> <newname>
# should rename the specified file/folder to the new specified name
Copy (cp)
To copy files and/or directories, invoke the cp command followed by the file/directory to copy and its destination path/folder. The command can also be used to copy a directory with contents, by adding -r.
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$ cp <path/to/file> <destination/path/of/copied/file>
# should copy the specified file to the specified destination
$ cp -r <directory_name> <destination/path>
# should copy the entire directory and its contents
# to the specified destination
Delete File or Nonempty Folder (rm)
To delete a file, invoke the rm command followed by the file name. To delete a folder with contents, add the -r option.
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$ rm <path/to/file>
# should delete the specified file
$ rm -r <path/to/nonempty/directory>
# should delete the specified directory and its contents
Delete Folders (rmdir)
To delete an empty folder, invoke the rmdir command followed by the folder name.
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$ rmdir <path/to/directory>
# should delete the specified empty directory
Concatenate (cat)
To print the contents of a file, use the cat command.
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$ cat <file_name>
# should output the contents of the file in the terminal
Create text file (touch)
To create a file, use the touch command followed by the file name and file extension.
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$ touch <file_name>
# should create the file with the file extension
Edit files (nano)
To edit a file, use the nano command followed by the name of the file that you want to edit. Edit your file in the terminal text editor, then press ctrl + X to exit, Y to save changes, and enter to select the edited file.
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$ nano <file_name>
# should display the terminal text editor
Use superuser privilege to execute commands (sudo)
To use superuser privileges to execute commands that the general users are not allowed, use sudo followed by the command.
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$ sudo <command>
# should use superuser privileges to execute specified command
