Most important commands for Linux terminal

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The Linux terminal is a powerful tool that allows users to interact with the operating system and run commands to perform various tasks. Here are some of the most important commands for the Linux terminal that every user should know:

  1. cd – This command allows users to change directories within the terminal. It is used to navigate to different folders and directories on the system.
  2. ls – This command is used to list the contents of a directory. It displays all the files and folders in the current directory.
  3. pwd – This command is used to print the current working directory. It shows the current location of the user in the file system.
  4. mkdir – This command is used to create a new directory. Users can create a new folder by specifying the folder name after the mkdir command.
  5. rm – This command is used to remove files and directories. Users can delete a file or a folder by specifying the file or folder name after the rm command.
  6. cp – This command is used to copy files and directories. Users can copy a file or a folder to a new location by specifying the source and destination locations.
  7. mv – This command is used to move files and directories. Users can move a file or a folder to a new location by specifying the source and destination locations.
  8. chmod – This command is used to change the permissions of a file or a directory. Users can specify the permissions they want to grant to users, groups, and others.
  9. sudo – This command is used to run a command with administrative privileges. Users can use this command to perform tasks that require elevated permissions.
  10. top – This command is used to display the system processes that are currently running. It shows the CPU usage, memory usage, and other important information about each process.

Here are some additional commands for the Linux terminal that may be useful for users:

grep – This command is used to search for specific patterns in a file or output. Users can search for keywords or patterns in a file or output by specifying the pattern after the grep command.

tar – This command is used to create and extract compressed archive files. Users can create a compressed archive of a file or directory by specifying the files or directory after the tar command.

wget – This command is used to download files from the internet. Users can download a file from a URL by specifying the URL after the wget command.

ping – This command is used to test network connectivity. Users can test whether a host is reachable by specifying the IP address or domain name after the ping command.

df – This command is used to display disk space usage. It shows the amount of disk space used and available for each mounted file system.

ps – This command is used to display the processes that are currently running on the system. It shows the process ID, user, CPU usage, and other information about each process.

du – This command is used to display the disk usage of files and directories. It shows the size of each file and directory in the current directory.

history – This command is used to display the command history. It shows the commands that have been run in the current session.

find – This command is used to search for files and directories in a directory hierarchy. Users can search for files and directories by specifying the directory to start the search from and the search criteria.

ifconfig – This command is used to display network interface configuration. It shows the IP address, netmask, and other information about each network interface.

ssh – This command is used to connect to a remote server or machine securely. Users can specify the IP address or domain name of the remote server after the ssh command.

scp – This command is used to securely copy files between two machines. Users can copy a file from the local machine to a remote machine or vice versa by specifying the source and destination locations after the SCP command.

grep – This command is used to search for a specific pattern in a file or output. Users can search for keywords or patterns in a file or output by specifying the pattern after the grep command.

tail – This command displays the last few lines of a file. Users can specify the number of lines they want to display after the tail command.

head – This command displays the first few lines of a file. Users can specify the number of lines they want to display after the head command.

man – This command is used to display the manual pages for a command. Users can learn more about a command by specifying the command after the man command.

diff – This command is used to compare two files and display the differences. Users can specify the two files they want to compare after the diff command.

chown – This command is used to change the ownership of a file or directory. Users can specify the user and group they want to grant ownership to after the chown command.

chmod – This command is used to change the permissions of a file or directory. Users can specify the permissions they want to grant to users, groups, and others after the chmod command.

date – This command is used to display the current date and time. Users can use this command to check the system time or set the system time.

Tips for using the Linux terminal

Use the Tab key for auto-completion: When typing commands or file paths, you can use the Tab key to auto-complete the command or path. This can save time and prevent typos.

Use the up and down arrows to cycle through command history: If you want to repeat a command you previously typed, you can use the up and down arrows to cycle through your command history.

Use piping to combine commands: You can use the pipe symbol (|) to combine the output of one command as the input to another command. This can help you perform more complex tasks with fewer commands.

Use the Ctrl+C shortcut to interrupt a command: If a command is taking too long or is stuck, you can use the Ctrl+C shortcut to interrupt the command.

Use the man command to access the manual: If you need help with a command, you can use the man command to access the manual and learn more about the command.

Use aliases to create shortcuts: You can use the alias command to create shortcuts for frequently used commands. For example, you can create an alias for the ls command to display the files in long format with the command “alias ll=’ls -l'”.

Use the Ctrl+Z shortcut to suspend a command: If you need to pause a command temporarily, you can use the Ctrl+Z shortcut to suspend the command. You can resume the command later using the “fg” command.

Use the Ctrl+D shortcut to exit the terminal: If you’re done using the terminal, you can use the Ctrl+D shortcut to exit the terminal.

In conclusion, these are some of the most important commands for the Linux terminal that every user should know. By mastering these commands, users can navigate the file system, perform tasks, and manage their system more efficiently.

Atiqur Rahman

I am MD. Atiqur Rahman graduated from BUET and is an AWS-certified solutions architect. I have successfully achieved 6 certifications from AWS including Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect, SysOps Administrator, and Developer Associate. I have more than 8 years of working experience as a DevOps engineer designing complex SAAS applications.

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