Common Linux Commands Cheatsheet

Common Commands

Command Use Description
ls List Lists the current directory and files
ls -R List sub directories Lists files in sub directories also
ls -a List hidden files Lists the current directory including hidden files
ls -al List details Includes details: file size, permissions, owner
cd location Change directory Changes directory to a specified location
cd .. Move up one level Navigates to the parent directory
cd ~ or cd Home Navigates to the home directory
cd / Root directory Navigates to the root directory
touch filename Create file Creates a file with the designated filename
cat filename Display file contents Displays the content of the designated file
cat file1 file2 > file3 Combine files Combines two files (files 1 and 2) into one file (file 3)
mv file "new file path" Move file Moves a file to the designated file path
mv filename new_file_name Move and rename file Moves a file and renames it
sudo Superuser do Execute any command with superuser privileges
rm filename Delete file Deletes the designated file
man <command> Help Shows the help text for a command
history Command history Displays previously used commands
clear Clear terminal Clears all inputs from the terminal
mkdir directoryname Make directory Creates a new directory
rmdir directoryname Delete directory Deletes a directory (must be empty)
mv old_dir new_dir Rename directory Renames a directory
pr -x file Divide file Divides the file into x columns
lpr filename Print file Prints a file
lp -# N filename Number of copies Prints multiple copies of a file
lp -P printername filename Specify printer Prints to a specific printer
apt-get <package> Install Installs the specified package using APT

Search Commands

Command Use Description
locate file Search Searches the index for a specified file
grep pattern files Pattern search Searches for a specified pattern in designated files
grep -r pattern dir Recursive search Searches the current directory and all subdirectories
grep -i pattern files Case insensitive search Finds matches regardless of case
find /directory -name name Find files in a directory Locates specified files in a specific directory

File Permission Commands

Command Use Description
ls -l List permissions Lists current permissions (r=read w=write x=execute -=no permission)
chown user filename Change owner Changes ownership of a file/directory to the specified user
chown user:group filename Change owner and group Changes both user and group for a file/directory

Networking Commands

Command Use Description
ssh username@ip-address or ssh username@hostname Remote login using SSH Encrypted remote access to a machine
put file File upload Uploads a file to a remote computer using an SSH file transfer client
get file File download Downloads a file from a remote computer using an SSH file transfer client
quit Logout Logs out of the SSH session
ping hostname or ping ipaddress Ping a device Uses ICMP to test connectivity
ip a List IP information Shows IP addresses, interfaces, and more
ifconfig List IP information Traditional way to list IP address information

Process Commands

Command Use Description
bg Background Sends a current process to the background
fg Foreground Brings a background process to the foreground
top List processes Displays details on active processes
ps Process status Shows process status including PID
kill PID Kill process Terminates a process by PID
nice process Priority start Starts a process with a given priority
renice -n N -p PID Set priority Changes the priority of an already running process
df List free disk space Shows free disk space
free List RAM usage Shows RAM usage and available memory

Visual Display Editor (VI) Editing Commands

Command Use Description
i Insert Insert characters at the cursor location
a Insert after cursor Write characters after the cursor
A Insert at end Inserts characters at the end of the line
Esc Exit insert mode Terminates insert mode
u Undo Undo the last change
U Undo all Undo all changes to the entire line
o Open new line Opens a new line and enters insert mode
dd Delete line Deletes an entire line
3dd Delete 3 lines Deletes 3 lines
D Delete after cursor Deletes content after the cursor to end of line
C Delete and insert Deletes after cursor and enters insert mode
dw Delete word Deletes a word at the cursor location
4dw Delete 4 words Deletes four words
cw Change word Changes a word
x Delete character Deletes a character at the cursor
r Replace character Replaces a single character
R Overwrite Overwrite characters from cursor onward
s Substitute character Substitutes one character then enters insert mode
S Substitute line Substitutes an entire line and enters insert mode
~ Change case Changes the case of a single character