All Tools VerseThese are the Linux and Bash commands you use most at the terminal, grouped by task. They work on Linux and macOS, and on Windows through WSL or Git Bash.
Files & folders
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
ls -la |
List files, including hidden, with details |
cd <dir> |
Change directory |
pwd |
Print the current folder |
cp a b |
Copy a to b |
mv a b |
Move or rename |
rm <file> |
Delete a file (rm -r for folders) |
mkdir <dir> |
Make a folder |
touch <file> |
Create an empty file |
View & search
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
cat <file> |
Print a file |
less <file> |
Scroll through a file |
head / tail <file> |
First / last lines (tail -f to follow) |
grep "x" <file> |
Find lines matching x |
find . -name "*.js" |
Find files by name |
wc -l <file> |
Count lines |
Permissions
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
chmod 755 <file> |
Set read/write/execute permissions |
chmod +x <file> |
Make a file executable |
chown user:group <file> |
Change the owner |
sudo <cmd> |
Run a command as administrator |
Processes
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
ps aux |
List running processes |
top / htop |
Live view of processes |
kill <pid> |
Stop a process by id |
kill -9 <pid> |
Force stop a process |
jobs / bg / fg |
Manage background jobs |
System & network
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
df -h |
Disk space, human readable |
du -sh <dir> |
Size of a folder |
free -h |
Memory usage |
uname -a |
System information |
ping <host> |
Test a connection |
curl <url> |
Fetch a URL |
ssh user@host |
Connect to a remote server |
tar -czf a.tgz <dir> |
Create a compressed archive |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Linux and Bash?
Linux is the operating system. Bash is the most common shell, the program that reads and runs the commands you type in the terminal.
How do I make a file executable?
Use chmod with the execute flag, then run it with ./ before the file name.
What does sudo do?
It runs a single command with administrator privileges, which is needed for system-wide changes like installing software.
How do I stop a stuck process?
Find its process id with ps, then use kill. If it ignores that, use kill with the -9 option to force it.
Need to schedule a command to run automatically? See our Crontab Generator.