Navigation Commands Explained

Key Concepts

• pwd (Print Working Directory)
• cd (Change Directory)
• ls (List Directory Contents)

pwd (Print Working Directory)

The pwd command stands for "Print Working Directory." It displays the full path of the current directory you are in. This command is useful for understanding your location within the file system hierarchy.

Example: If you are in the directory /home/user/documents, running pwd will output /home/user/documents.

cd (Change Directory)

The cd command stands for "Change Directory." It allows you to navigate between directories. You can move to a specific directory by providing its path as an argument to the cd command.

Example: To move from the current directory to the /home/user/pictures directory, you would use the command cd /home/user/pictures.

ls (List Directory Contents)

The ls command stands for "List Directory Contents." It lists the files and directories in the current directory. You can use various options with the ls command to display additional information, such as file permissions, sizes, and modification times.

Example: Running ls in the /home/user directory might output documents pictures music, showing the directories within /home/user.

Conclusion

Understanding these navigation commands is essential for effectively managing files and directories in a Linux environment. By using pwd to know your current location, cd to move between directories, and ls to list directory contents, you can efficiently navigate and manage your file system.