Linux File Operations

pwd # print working directory
cd /path/to/dir # change directory
cd ~ # go to home directory
cd .. # go up one level
cd - # go to previous directory

ls # list files
ls -l # long format with details
ls -a # show hidden files
ls -lh # human-readable sizes
ls -R # recursive listing

touch file.txt # create empty file
mkdir directory # create directory
mkdir -p path/to/dir # create nested directories

cp file1 file2 # copy file
cp -r dir1 dir2 # copy directory recursively
cp -i file1 file2 # interactive (prompt before overwrite)

mv file1 file2 # rename file
mv file /path/to/dir # move file
mv -i file1 file2 # interactive move

rm file # remove file
rm -r directory # remove directory recursively
rm -f file # force remove
rm -rf directory # force remove directory (dangerous)
rmdir directory # remove empty directory

cat file # display file contents
less file # view file with paging
head file # show first 10 lines
head -n 20 file # show first 20 lines
tail file # show last 10 lines
tail -f file # follow file changes