Running the Linux ls Command with Directory Names As Examples of Running the Linux ls Command

As described in a previous "Linux Commands Training Examples" blog post, the Linux ls command shows (lists) the files and folders in a directory.

Linux ls Command Examples with Directory Names - The / (root) Directory and Directories Off of the root

Now we're going to do examples of running the ls command with various directory names - such as the root directory, represented by a / (slash) and also run the ls command with the names of directories "off of the root" directory (a.k.a. "below the root" directory).

Type in the Linux command examples below, as shown at the right of the Linux command line prompt

(the $ symbol shown below). You may see a different prompt, such as a # (pound or number symbol).

Be sure not to type in the prompt (the $ dollar sign) or any other prompt when you run the Linux command examples you see below.

Also, Linux commands are "case sensitive". Always type lower case letters when shown and upper case letters when shown.

For each Linux command example, be sure to press the Enter key after typing in the Linux commands.

Linux Commands Training Tips: When type in a command at the Linux command line prompt and then press Enter, you are "running" a Linux command.

Running the Linux ls Command - Linux ls Command Examples with Directory Names

The first Linux command example below shows running the ls command with the -l option (the -l is for long list) to show the files and folders off of the / (root) directory.

Remember: The -l option (uses an l pronounced "el") and not the number 1 (one).

Don't type in the $ prompt when you run the command below.

$ ls -l /

After you run a command, you see the "output" of the command on the screen.

In the above Linux command example, the ls command is being run "on" the / (root) directory to show the contents (directories and files) in the / directory.

The root directory of a Linux system is represented by a / (forward slash). The / directory contains all the directories and files on a Linux system. And there are many directories off of the root that have the same names on all versions (distributions) of Linux.

The output of the above command shows that the / (root) directory contains several directories that are "off of" or "below" the / (root), and some of these are: sbin, tmp, usr, and var. The directory names (sbin, tmp, usr, and var - and others) are some of the names that are common to all Linux versions.

The output and directory names you see may be different from what is described here, but they are likely to be the same, depending on the Linux version (distribution, distro) that you are using.

Linux Commands Training Tips: In the Windows world, directories are called "folders". And directories are the same as folders. They are used to contain files and other directories.

For example, the directory (folder) named usr is below the / (root) and contains other directories (folders).

Now run the ls command to list the contents of the usr directory, below the / directory.

$ ls -l /usr

The "/usr" above is the "path" to the directory. The "path" to the usr directory is: the / (root) and then the usr directory, which is "off of" the root directory. The full path to the usr directory is /usr (slash usr).

The output of the above command shows a directory named sbin, that is "in" (or "below") the usr directory, which is below the / directory. The full path to the sbin directory is: /usr/sbin

Now get a listing of the contents of the sbin directory, which is below the usr directory, which is "off of" or "below" the / directory.

The path in the Linux command below is: / (slash, for the root directory, then the usr directory, and then the sbin directory - the slash between usr and sbin is used to separate the two directory names.

$ ls -l /usr/sbin

The output of the above command shows the contents (directories and files) in the sbin directory.

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For example, these Linux training videos show using the Linux ls command with lots more examples than the few shown above. And you can watch and hear how to user them very quickly and then try them yourself!

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The Easy Linux Training Guy

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