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.

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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)

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Creating Directories