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Basic UNIX Commands List

Home » Blog » Basic UNIX Commands List

Last updated: April 8, 2013





This list of useful and frequently used UNIX commands is a good reference for someone who is new to UNIX/LINUX Operating System. The most commonly used and basic Unix commands and what they do are listed below. Use the “man” command to find the usage and details of any particular command e.g. prompt>man cp. Using “man cp” on the command prompt will display the details and usage of the copy (cp) command.

File/Directory operation related Unix Commands

  • cp – copy a file
  • mv – move or rename files or directories
  • tar – create and use archives of files
  • gzip – compress a file
  • ftp – file transfer program
  • lpr – print out a file
  • mkdir – make a directory
  • rm – remove files or directories
  • rmdir – remove a directory
  • mount – attaches a file system to the file system hierarchy at the mount_point, which is the pathname of a directory.
  • umount – unmounts a currently mounted file system.

Navigational type Unix Commands

  • cd – change directory
  • pwd – display the name of your current directory
  • ls – list names of files in a directory

Disk, File and Folder Size/Usage

  • du – Use this command to see the size/usage of the folder you are in. Example usage: du -sk *
  • df - Report file system disk space usage. Example usage: df -k

Display file content

  • cat – concatenate and display files.
  • more – The more utility is a filter that displays the contents of a text file on the terminal, one screenful at a time.
  • less – Less is a program similar to  more  (1), but  which  allows backward  movement  in the file as well as forward movement. Also, less does not have  to  read  the  entire  input  file before starting,so with large input files it starts up faster than text editors like vi

File Editing

  • vi – The vi (visual) utility is a display-oriented text editor.
  • nano – nano is a small, free and friendly editor.

Search

  • find – find files of a specified name or type.
  • grep – searches files for a specified string or expression.

Administration

  • top – Top displays the top 10 processes on the system and periodically  updates this information. Raw cpu percentage is used to rank the processes.
  • chmod – change the permissions of a file or a directory.
  • ps – The ps command prints information  about  active  processes.
  • kill – kill a process.

Information

  • date – display the current date and time.
  • cal – The cal utility writes a Gregorian calendar to standard output.
  • diff – display differences between text files.

Help Related

  • man – The man command  displays information  from  the reference manuals.
  • help – The help utility retrieves information  to  further  explain errors  messages and warnings from SCCS commands.

If I have missed any frequently used and useful UNIX command(s) to list on this page then please leave your suggestion in the comments area below.

Related Posts

  • List of useful and frequently used DOS Commands

Tech Tips UNIX,  Unix Commands,  Useful Commands

Reader Interactions

Comments (12 responses)

  1. S A N D Y says:
    December 17, 2019 at 12:21 am

    It’s very useful to learn commends thanks lot

  2. Pratiksha Bawane says:
    February 5, 2018 at 1:29 pm

    I glad to visit this page.
    This page helps me a lot to understand the meanings of each command.
    & also it written so nicely in this page which helps to read it hassle free.
    Thanku!!!

  3. malathi says:
    May 5, 2013 at 1:54 am

    its very good and very useful for new learners of unix.

  4. Manickam says:
    November 21, 2012 at 11:36 pm

    good,ques very useful ..thank u

  5. naresh says:
    February 27, 2012 at 1:27 am

    its good job

  6. ashu says:
    September 19, 2011 at 7:22 am

    it is helpful for users i like most

  7. deepak says:
    July 24, 2011 at 6:14 am

    nice its helpful to me

  8. sagar says:
    February 25, 2011 at 12:17 pm

    great job bro.. itz helpd lot..

  9. vetri says:
    July 20, 2010 at 12:52 am

    more information than book.

  10. kiran says:
    July 7, 2010 at 6:25 am

    its very easy to us to understand

  11. bhargavi says:
    June 24, 2010 at 12:28 pm

    i got more information from ur website .thank u for that

  12. anu says:
    June 24, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    good.better for understanding and THANK U

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