Linux Lexicon: Working With Files In Linux

As a Linux user, you should aim to do everything on the system from the keyboard itself and try to avoid using the mouse as much as possible.

Now, this may seem to be a pretty big thing to ask because, ‘Hey when I can easily move, copy or delete stuff just at the few clicks of the mouse! Why should I go against my convenience and avoid it?’

Well, there may be times, like when you are interacting with a server, where you can’t use a mouse and then you would find yourself struggling to operate things from the terminal.

So, today I am going to teach you some basic commands and functions such as copying, deleting, moving etc which will help you in working with files from the Linux Terminal itself.

Removing Files

We use the rm command in order to delete files in Linux. The format for the rm command is as follows:

rm [options] file

Be very careful while removing a file using the rm command, because there is no recycle bin from where you could retrieve the file. Once a file is removed, it is gone forever. Suppose I have a file named “Unwanted” that I wish to delete, here’s how I can do that:

In case you wish to get a prompt before removing a file, you can use the rm command with the -i option. When asked, just type in y (for Yes) or n (for No):

rm -i file

Suppose you have an entire directory which has further subdirectories or files in it, whose contents you no longer need. In order to remove the directory and its contents recursively we use the rm command with the -r option:

rm -r file

In order to forcefully remove a file without prompting for confirmation of any kind, use the rm command with the -f option:

rm -f file

Also Read: Linux Lexicon: Understanding The ‘ls’ Command In Linux

Copying Files

Copying Files using the Terminal is an easy task, all you need to know is the cp command. The format for which is as follows:

cp [options] source_file destination

Here is an example where I have tried to copy the file “Random” from one folder to another by specifying the absolute path:

If you wish to create a copy of the same file in the same location, you can do it in this way, but remember you would have to name it something else:

cp file1 file2

It is also possible to copy multiple files from one place to another, all you have to do is this:

cp source_file1 source_file2 [source_fileN...] destination

The -i and -f options work in the same way for the cp command as they did for the rm command.

Also Read: 20 Quirky Things You Didn’t Know The Linux Terminal Could Do

Moving and Renaming Files

Another aspect of working with files in Linux is moving and renaming files. Both these things can be done by using the same command, which is the mv command.

For renaming purposes it can be used in this manner:

mv original_filename new_filename

For moving it from one place to another, utilize the mv command in this way:

mv file1 [fileN..] destination

Here is an example where I have moved the file “Linux_Lexicon” to the Desktop from its current location:

Sorting Files

Another wonderful command which I would like to share with you in this article of working with files in Linux is the sort command. This command comes in real handy when you wish to sort the data inside a file. The format for it is:

sort [options] file

Here is an example of a file which contained random data and has been sorted using the sort command:

You can even check out if a file is sorted or not, by using the -c (check) option. If a file is not sorted then the command returns the first occurrence with line number and the disordered value.

There are a plethora of other options that you can use along with the sort command. Check out its man page to find them out for yourself.

Well, I know that working with files in this manner might be a little irksome at times. But trust me, once you get the hang of it, you will wonder why you hadn’t been using it all along. Keep practicing and may the ‘FOSS’ be with you.

Read Our Whole Linux Lexicon Tutorial Series Here

Got any doubts, queries of your own, or any suggestions on the topics that you would like us to cover? Drop them in the comments below.