Files and Directories

Now that you can navigate the filesystem, it is time to learn how to create, copy, move, rename, and delete files and directories. These are the fundamental operations you will use every day.

---

Creating Files

touch — Create Empty Files or Update Timestamps

touch newfile.txt              # create an empty file
touch file1.txt file2.txt      # create multiple files
touch -m existingfile.txt      # update modification time only

Redirect Output to a File

echo "Hello, Linux" > hello.txt     # create/overwrite file with content
echo "Another line" >> hello.txt    # append to file
cat > notes.txt                     # type content, then Ctrl+D to save

Text Editors

Editor	Description	Install
nano	Simple, beginner-friendly terminal editor	Usually pre-installed
vim	Powerful, modal editor (steep learning curve)	sudo apt install vim
vi	Older version of vim, always available	Pre-installed on all systems

nano notes.txt     # open in nano (Ctrl+O to save, Ctrl+X to exit)
vim notes.txt      # open in vim (i to insert, Esc then :wq to save and quit)

---

Creating Directories

mkdir — Make Directory

mkdir projects                       # create a single directory
mkdir -p projects/web/src            # create nested directories (-p = parents)
mkdir -m 755 shared                  # create with specific permissions
mkdir docs logs config               # create multiple directories

---

Copying Files and Directories

cp — Copy

cp source.txt dest.txt               # copy a file
cp source.txt /tmp/                   # copy to a directory
cp -r src_dir/ dest_dir/             # copy a directory recursively
cp -i file.txt /backup/             # prompt before overwriting (-i = interactive)
cp -u *.txt /backup/                 # copy only if source is newer (-u = update)
cp -v file.txt /tmp/                 # verbose output
cp -a /data /backup/                 # archive mode (preserves permissions, timestamps, links)

Key flags:

Flag	Meaning
-r	Recursive (required for directories)
-i	Interactive (prompt before overwrite)
-u	Update (only copy if source is newer)
-v	Verbose (show what is being copied)
-a	Archive (preserve all attributes)
-p	Preserve permissions and timestamps

---

Moving and Renaming

mv — Move or Rename

mv oldname.txt newname.txt           # rename a file
mv file.txt /tmp/                    # move to /tmp/
mv file.txt /tmp/newname.txt         # move and rename
mv dir1/ dir2/                       # rename a directory
mv -i file.txt /backup/             # prompt before overwriting
mv -v *.log /var/log/archive/       # move with verbose output

Tip: mv works the same for both files and directories — no -r flag needed.

---

Deleting Files and Directories

rm — Remove