The command line in Linux is a text-based interface that allows users to interact directly with the operating system. Enter instructions through this interface, often called terminal Or shell, offers power and flexibility unmatched by graphical interfaces. To navigate the system, you can use essential commands such as CD to change directory, mv to move files, and ls to list the contents of a directory. Mastery of these basic commands is essential to fully exploit the functionality of Linux, whether for system administration or development. Learning to use the command line also allows you to perform complex tasks more efficiently.
The command line is a central part of interacting with the Linux operating system. It allows users to perform orders specific to interact with the system, manage files, and perform various administrative tasks. In this article, we’ll explore command line fundamentals, the main commands to know, and practical examples.
What is command line?
The command line, often called CLI (Command Line Interface), is a textual interface that allows you to communicate with the operating system. Unlike a GUI, the CLI requires the user to enter instructions in text form. This provides great flexibility and power, as many operations can be performed quickly and efficiently.
Access the command line
To use the command line in Linux, it is necessary to open a terminal. The latter is accessible from the applications menu or via a keyboard shortcut, depending on the Linux distribution. Once the terminal opens, you will find yourself in your default user directory, ready to execute commands.
Basic commands
There are a number of essential commands that every Linux user should know. Here are some of the most commonly used:
the cd command
The order CD (change directory) allows you to change directories. For example, to navigate to a folder named “Documents”, you can type
cd Documents
. To return to the parent directory you can use
cd..
.
the ls command
The order ls is used to list files and folders in the current directory. By adding options such as
-L
, you will get detailed information about each item.
the mv command
The order mv (move) is used to move or rename files and directories. For example, if you want to move a file named
toto.txt
in a directory named
titi
, you will use the command
mv toto.txt titi/
.
Navigate the system with the command line
Navigating the file system is an essential skill when using the command line. With orders CD And ls, you can explore the different folders and files. It is also possible to use commands like pwd to display the full path of the current directory, a valuable tool for not getting lost in the file hierarchy.
Run scripts and automation
The command line also allows you to execute scripts to automate repetitive tasks. Scripts are files containing a series of commands that can be executed together. To run a script, you must ensure that it is executable using the command
chmod +x script_name.sh
, then run it with
./script_name.sh
.
Why use the command line in Linux?
Using the command line has several advantages, including faster task execution, the ability to remotely manage systems via SSH, and access to advanced features not available through graphical interfaces. Additionally, many Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, are optimized to take maximum advantage of the CLI.
By mastering the command line, users can improve their efficiency and take full advantage of the capabilities of their Linux system. For those who want to learn even more about the commands, check out additional resources like this for an overview of using servers under Linux.