How VPS - How to use/setup VPS
  • Home
  • Management guides
    • Web servers software
      • Directadmin
      • Hocvps Script
      • Centmin Mod
      • CWP
      • Kloxo-MR
      • Plesk
    • Control Panels
    • Securing VPS/Servers
      • SSL Certificates
      • Upgrading
      • Authentication
  • Operating System
    • CentOS
    • Fedora
    • Debian
    • Linux
    • Arch
    • BSD
    • CoreOS
  • Reviews
  • Coupon
    • Domain Coupon
    • Hosting Coupon
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Management guides
    • Web servers software
      • Directadmin
      • Hocvps Script
      • Centmin Mod
      • CWP
      • Kloxo-MR
      • Plesk
    • Control Panels
    • Securing VPS/Servers
      • SSL Certificates
      • Upgrading
      • Authentication
  • Operating System
    • CentOS
    • Fedora
    • Debian
    • Linux
    • Arch
    • BSD
    • CoreOS
  • Reviews
  • Coupon
    • Domain Coupon
    • Hosting Coupon
No Result
View All Result
How VPS - How to use/setup VPS
No Result
View All Result
Home Operating System Linux

15 Basic ‘ls’ Command Examples in Linux

How VPS by How VPS
November 2, 2018
in Linux, Operating System
0
0
SHARES
9
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Contents

  1. 1. List Files using ls with no option
  2. 2 List Files With option –l
  3. 3. View Hidden Files
  4. 4. List Files with Human Readable Format with option -lh
  5. 5. List Files and Directories with ‘/’ Character at the end
  6. 6. List Files in Reverse Order
  7. 7. Recursively list Sub-Directories
  8. 8. Reverse Output Order
  9. 9. Sort Files by File Size
  10. 10. Display Inode number of File or Directory
  11. 11. Shows version of ls command
  12. 12. Show Help Page
  13. 13. List Directory Information
  14. 14. Display UID and GID of Files
  15. 15. ls command and its Aliases

ls command is one of the most frequently used command in Linux. I believe ls command is the first command you may use when you get into the command prompt of Linux Box.

We use ls command daily basis and frequently even though we may not aware and never use all the ls option available. In this article, we’ll be discussing basic ls command where we have tried to cover as much parameters as possible.

15 Basic ‘ls’ Command Examples in Linux

Linux ls Command

1. List Files using ls with no option

ls with no option list files and directories in bare format where we won’t be able to view details like file types, size, modified date and time, permission and links etc.

# ls

0001.pcap        Desktop    Downloads         index.html   install.log.syslog  Pictures  Templates
anaconda-ks.cfg  Documents  fbcmd_update.php  install.log  Music               Public    Videos

2 List Files With option –l

Here, ls -l (-l is character not one) shows file or directory, size, modified date and time, file or folder name and owner of file and its permission.

# ls -l

total 176
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root   683 Aug 19 09:59 0001.pcap
-rw-------. 1 root root  1586 Jul 31 02:17 anaconda-ks.cfg
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Desktop
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Documents
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root  4096 Aug 16 02:55 Downloads
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 21262 Aug 12 12:42 fbcmd_update.php
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 46701 Jul 31 09:58 index.html
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 48867 Jul 31 02:17 install.log
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 11439 Jul 31 02:13 install.log.syslog
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Music
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Public
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Templates
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Videos

3. View Hidden Files

List all files including hidden file starting with ‘.‘.

# ls -a

.                .bashrc  Documents         .gconfd          install.log         .nautilus     .pulse-cookie
..               .cache   Downloads         .gnome2          install.log.syslog  .netstat.swp  .recently-used.xbel
0001.pcap        .config  .elinks           .gnome2_private  .kde                .opera        .spice-vdagent
anaconda-ks.cfg  .cshrc   .esd_auth         .gtk-bookmarks   .libreoffice        Pictures      .tcshrc
.bash_history    .dbus    .fbcmd            .gvfs            .local              .pki          Templates
.bash_logout     Desktop  fbcmd_update.php  .ICEauthority    .mozilla            Public        Videos
.bash_profile    .digrc   .gconf            index.html       Music               .pulse        .wireshark

4. List Files with Human Readable Format with option -lh

With combination of -lh option, shows sizes in human readable format.

# ls -lh

total 176K
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root  683 Aug 19 09:59 0001.pcap
-rw-------. 1 root root 1.6K Jul 31 02:17 anaconda-ks.cfg
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4.0K Jul 31 02:48 Desktop
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4.0K Jul 31 02:48 Documents
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root 4.0K Aug 16 02:55 Downloads
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root  21K Aug 12 12:42 fbcmd_update.php
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root  46K Jul 31 09:58 index.html
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root  48K Jul 31 02:17 install.log
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root  12K Jul 31 02:13 install.log.syslog
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4.0K Jul 31 02:48 Music
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4.0K Jul 31 02:48 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4.0K Jul 31 02:48 Public
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4.0K Jul 31 02:48 Templates
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root 4.0K Jul 31 02:48 Videos

5. List Files and Directories with ‘/’ Character at the end

Using -F option with ls command, will add the ‘/’ Character at the end each directory.

# ls -F

0001.pcap        Desktop/    Downloads/        index.html   install.log.syslog  Pictures/  Templates/
anaconda-ks.cfg  Documents/  fbcmd_update.php  install.log  Music/              Public/    Videos/

6. List Files in Reverse Order

The following command with ls -r option display files and directories in reverse order.

# ls -r

Videos     Public    Music               install.log  fbcmd_update.php  Documents  anaconda-ks.cfg
Templates  Pictures  install.log.syslog  index.html   Downloads         Desktop    0001.pcap

7. Recursively list Sub-Directories

ls -R option will list very long listing directory trees. See an example of output of the command.

# ls -R

total 1384
-rw-------. 1 root     root      33408 Aug  8 17:25 anaconda.log
-rw-------. 1 root     root      30508 Aug  8 17:25 anaconda.program.log

./httpd:
total 132
-rw-r--r--  1 root root     0 Aug 19 03:14 access_log
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 61916 Aug 10 17:55 access_log-20120812

./lighttpd:
total 68
-rw-r--r--  1 lighttpd lighttpd  7858 Aug 21 15:26 access.log
-rw-r--r--. 1 lighttpd lighttpd 37531 Aug 17 18:21 access.log-20120819

./nginx:
total 12
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root    0 Aug 12 03:17 access.log
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root  390 Aug 12 03:17 access.log-20120812.gz

8. Reverse Output Order

With combination of -ltr will shows latest modification file or directory date as last.

# ls -ltr

total 176
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 11439 Jul 31 02:13 install.log.syslog
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 48867 Jul 31 02:17 install.log
-rw-------. 1 root root  1586 Jul 31 02:17 anaconda-ks.cfg
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Desktop
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Videos
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Templates
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Public
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Music
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Documents
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 46701 Jul 31 09:58 index.html
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 21262 Aug 12 12:42 fbcmd_update.php
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root  4096 Aug 16 02:55 Downloads
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root   683 Aug 19 09:59 0001.pcap

9. Sort Files by File Size

With combination of -lS displays file size in order, will display big in size first.

# ls -lS

total 176
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 48867 Jul 31 02:17 install.log
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 46701 Jul 31 09:58 index.html
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 21262 Aug 12 12:42 fbcmd_update.php
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 11439 Jul 31 02:13 install.log.syslog
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Desktop
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Documents
drwxr-xr-x. 4 root root  4096 Aug 16 02:55 Downloads
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Music
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Public
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Templates
drwxr-xr-x. 2 root root  4096 Jul 31 02:48 Videos
-rw-------. 1 root root  1586 Jul 31 02:17 anaconda-ks.cfg
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root   683 Aug 19 09:59 0001.pcap

10. Display Inode number of File or Directory

We can see some number printed before file / directory name. With -i options list file / directory with inode number.

# ls -i

20112 0001.pcap        23610 Documents         23793 index.html          23611 Music     23597 Templates
23564 anaconda-ks.cfg  23595 Downloads            22 install.log         23612 Pictures  23613 Videos
23594 Desktop          23585 fbcmd_update.php     35 install.log.syslog  23601 Public

11. Shows version of ls command

Check version of ls command.

# ls --version

ls (GNU coreutils) 8.4
Copyright (C) 2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
License GPLv3+: GNU GPL version 3 or later <http://gnu.org/licenses/gpl.html>.
This is free software: you are free to change and redistribute it.
There is NO WARRANTY, to the extent permitted by law.
Written by Richard M. Stallman and David MacKenzie.

12. Show Help Page

List help page of ls command with their option.

# ls --help

Usage: ls [OPTION]... [FILE]...

13. List Directory Information

With ls -l command list files under directory /tmp. Wherein with -ld parameters displays information of /tmp directory.

# ls -l /tmp
total 408
drwx------. 2 narad narad   4096 Aug  2 02:00 CRX_75DAF8CB7768
-r--------. 1 root  root  384683 Aug  4 12:28 htop-1.0.1.tar.gz
drwx------. 2 root  root    4096 Aug  4 11:20 keyring-6Mfjnk
drwx------. 2 root  root    4096 Aug 16 01:33 keyring-pioZJr
drwx------. 2 gdm   gdm     4096 Aug 21 11:26 orbit-gdm
drwx------. 2 root  root    4096 Aug 19 08:41 pulse-gl6o4ZdxQVrX
drwx------. 2 narad narad   4096 Aug  4 08:16 pulse-UDH76ExwUVoU
drwx------. 2 gdm   gdm     4096 Aug 21 11:26 pulse-wJtcweUCtvhn
-rw-------. 1 root  root     300 Aug 16 03:34 yum_save_tx-2012-08-16-03-34LJTAa1.yumtx
# ls -ld /tmp/

drwxrwxrwt. 13 root root 4096 Aug 21 12:48 /tmp/

14. Display UID and GID of Files

To display UID and GID of files and directories. use option -n with ls command.

# ls -n

total 36
drwxr-xr-x. 2 500 500 4096 Aug  2 01:52 Downloads
drwxr-xr-x. 2 500 500 4096 Aug  2 01:52 Music
drwxr-xr-x. 2 500 500 4096 Aug  2 01:52 Pictures
-rw-rw-r--. 1 500 500   12 Aug 21 13:06 tmp.txt
drwxr-xr-x. 2 500 500 4096 Aug  2 01:52 Videos

15. ls command and its Aliases

We have made alias for ls command, when we execute ls command it’ll take -l option by default and display long listing as mentioned earlier.

# alias ls="ls -l"

Note: We can see number of alias available in your system with below alias command and same can be unalias as shown below example.

# alias

alias cp='cp -i'
alias l.='ls -d .* --color=auto'
alias ll='ls -l --color=auto'
alias ls='ls --color=auto'
alias mv='mv -i'
alias rm='rm -i'
alias which='alias | /usr/bin/which --tty-only --read-alias --show-dot --show-tilde'

To remove an alias previously defined, just use the unalias command.

# unalias ls

In our next article we’ll cover up more or advanced ls command with their examples. Also I suggest you to go through some interview questions on ls command and also if we’ve missed anything in the list, please update us via comment section.

Source: tecmint.com

Tags: Linux Commandslinux guidelinux vps setup guide
How VPS

How VPS

Related Posts

Failed to download metadata for repo 'appstream' on Centos 8
CentOS

How to fix error: Failed to download metadata for repo ‘appstream’ on Centos 8

February 25, 2022
How to Install Apache Tomcat 8 on CentOS 7
Linux

How to Install Apache Tomcat 8 on CentOS 7?

February 11, 2020
Install Arch Linux With Btrfs Snapshotting
Uncategorized

Install Arch Linux With Btrfs Snapshotting

February 13, 2020
Next Post

How to Show Asterisks While Typing Sudo Password in Linux

15 Practical Examples of ‘cd’ Command in Linux

How to Manipulate Filenames Having Spaces and Special Characters in Linux

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

  • 121 Followers
  • 87.2k Followers

Recommended

How to Disable SELinux on CentOS 7

3 years ago

Configure Apache With TLS/SSL Certificate on Ubuntu 18

4 years ago

How Do I Access or Mount Windows/USB NTFS Partition in RHEL/CentOS/Fedora

4 years ago

Simple Mailserver With Postfix, Dovecot, And Sieve On FreeBSD 10

3 years ago

Instagram

    Please install/update and activate JNews Instagram plugin.

Categories

  • Arch
  • Authentication
  • Backups
  • BSD
  • Centmin Mod
  • CentOS
  • Control Panels
  • CoreOS
  • CWP
  • Debian
  • Directadmin
  • Encryption
  • Fedora
  • Firewalls
  • Hocvps Script
  • Hosting providers
  • Kloxo-MR
  • Linux
  • Mitigations
  • Operating System
  • Plesk
  • Reviews
  • Securing VPS/Servers
  • Security Patches
  • SSL Certificates
  • Uncategorized
  • Upgrading
  • VPS/Servers management guides
  • Vulnerability Detection
  • Web servers software
  • Webhosting Control Panel

Topics

Apache Web Server Bluehost Review 2019 Bluehost Review 2020 Bluehost Review 2021 Centmin Mod CentminMod centos install htop fsck htop install HTTP DoS attack Install Snort on an Ubuntu install Zabbix on CentOS install Zabbix on CentOS 7 Linux Commands linux guide linux install htop linux vps setup guide MariaDB MariaDB Error Mysql mysqld error optimize MariaDB optimize Mysql snort Ubuntu
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Top Free Web Hosting Control Panels To Manage VPS/Dedicated Servers

Webmin Reviews

Virtualmin Reviews

CentOS Web Panel Reviews

Ajenti Reviews

ISPConfig Reviews

Trending

Failed to download metadata for repo 'appstream' on Centos 8
CentOS

How to fix error: Failed to download metadata for repo ‘appstream’ on Centos 8

by How VPS
February 25, 2022
0

I tried to update some extensions by use yum on centOs which I specified in Dockerfile. After...

How to Fix MySQL Error "Plugin 'InnoDB' registration as a STORAGE ENGINE failed"?

How to Fix MySQL Error “Plugin ‘InnoDB’ registration as a STORAGE ENGINE failed”?

November 17, 2020
How to optimize Mysql or MariaDB

How to optimize Mysql or MariaDB

November 3, 2020
Top Free Web Hosting Control Panels To Manage VPS/Dedicated Servers

Top Free Web Hosting Control Panels To Manage VPS/Dedicated Servers

February 17, 2020
Webmin Reviews

Webmin Reviews

February 17, 2020
How VPS – How to use/setup VPS

We bring you the best Premium WordPress Themes that perfect for news, magazine, personal blog, etc. Visit our landing page to see all features & demos.
LEARN MORE »

Recent News

  • How to fix error: Failed to download metadata for repo ‘appstream’ on Centos 8 February 25, 2022
  • How to Fix MySQL Error “Plugin ‘InnoDB’ registration as a STORAGE ENGINE failed”? November 17, 2020
  • How to optimize Mysql or MariaDB November 3, 2020

Categories

  • Arch
  • Authentication
  • Backups
  • BSD
  • Centmin Mod
  • CentOS
  • Control Panels
  • CoreOS
  • CWP
  • Debian
  • Directadmin
  • Encryption
  • Fedora
  • Firewalls
  • Hocvps Script
  • Hosting providers
  • Kloxo-MR
  • Linux
  • Mitigations
  • Operating System
  • Plesk
  • Reviews
  • Securing VPS/Servers
  • Security Patches
  • SSL Certificates
  • Uncategorized
  • Upgrading
  • VPS/Servers management guides
  • Vulnerability Detection
  • Web servers software
  • Webhosting Control Panel

[mc4wp_form]

© 2018 JNews - City News Magazine WordPress theme. All rights belong to their respective owners.
JNews is a top selling 2018 WordPress News, Blog, Newspaper & Magazine Theme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.