UNIX/POSIX Command line Basics

Updated: Sep 21, 2026

• man - manual as in the user manual. Often call the "man pages"

 
	man <command>
		man man
		man pwd
	man <section#> <command>
		man 7 man
 

• pwd - Print Working Diretory. This command shows you what directory you are currently in. (See "man pwd")
• cd - Change Directory
• ls - List directory contents
• mv - Move (or rename) file or directory
• cp - Copy
• rm - Remove
• mkdir - Make Directory
• rmdir - Remove Directory
• chown - Change Ownership
• chgrp - Change Group Ownership
• chmod - Change Mode or Permission
• cat - Concatonate
• more - Show content of file
• ps - processes
• find - find a file.
• grep - Comes from g/<re>/p meaning Globally find Regular Expression in file or stream and print.
• ln - Link files
• touch -
• id - Identify
• kill - kill a process