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Linux in a Nutshell



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ls [options] [names]

List contents of directories. If no names are given, list the files in the current directory. With one or more names, list files contained in a directory name or that match a file name. names can include filename metacharacters. The options let you display a variety of information in different formats. The most useful options include -F, -R, -l, and -s. Some options don't make sense together (e.g., -u and -c).


-1, --format=single-column

Print one entry per line of output.

-a, --all

List all files, including the normally hidden files whose names begin with a period.

-b, --escape

Display nonprinting characters in octal and alphabetic format.

-c, --time-ctime, --time=status

List files by status change time (not creation/modification time).

--color =when

Colorize the names of files depending on the type of file. Accepted values for when are never, always, or auto.

-d, --directory

Report only on the directory, not its contents.


Print directory contents in exactly the order in which they are stored, without attempting to sort them.


List times in full, rather than using the standard abbreviations.


Long listing like -l, but don't show file owners.


Print sizes in kilobytes and megabytes.


Print a help message and then exit.

-i, --inode

List the inode for each file.


Display filenames without the flags assigned by -p or -f (default).

-k, --kilobytes

If file sizes are being listed, print them in kilobytes. This option overrides the environment variable POSIXLY_CORRECT.

-l, --format=long, --format=verbose

Long format listing (includes permissions, owner, size, modification time, etc.).

-m, --format=commas

Merge the list into a comma-separated series of names.

-n, --numeric-uid-gid

Like -l, but use group ID and user ID numbers instead of owner and group names.


Long listing like -l, but don't show group information.

-p, --filetype, --indicator-style=file-type

Mark directories by appending / to them.

-q, --hide-control-chars

Show nonprinting characters as ? (default for display to a terminal).

-r, --reverse

List files in reverse order (by name or by time).

-s, --size

Print file size in blocks.


Show nonprinting characters verbatim (default for printing to a file).


Similar to -h, but uses powers of 1,000 instead of 1,024.

-t, --sort=time

Sort files according to modification time (newest first).

-u, --time=atime, --time=access, --time=use

Sort files according to file-access time.


Print version information on standard output, then exit.

-x, --format=across, --format=horizontal

List files in rows going across the screen.

-v, --sort=version

Interpret the digits in names such as file.6 and file.6.1 as versions, and order filenames by version.

-w, --width=n

Format output to fit n columns.

-A, --almost-all

List all files, including the normally hidden files whose names begin with a period. Does not include the . and .. directories.

-B, --ignore-backups

Do not list files ending in ~ unless given as arguments.

-C, --format=vertical

List files in columns (the default format).

-D, --dired

List in a format suitable for Emacs dired mode.

-F, --classify, --indicator-style=classify

Flag filenames by appending / to directories, * to executable files, @ to symbolic links, | to FIFOs, and = to sockets.

-G, --no-group

In long format, do not display group name.

-H, --dereference-command-line

When symbolic links are given on the command line, follow the link and list information from the actual file.

-I, --ignore pattern

Do not list files whose names match the shell pattern pattern, unless they are given on the command line.

-L, --dereference

List the file or directory referenced by a symbolic link rather than the link itself.

-N, --literal

Display special graphic characters that appear in filenames.

-Q, --quote-name

Quote filenames with "; quote nongraphic characters.

-R, --recursive

List directories and their contents recursively.

-Rfile, --reload-state file

Load state from file before starting execution.

-S, --sort=size

Sort by file size, largest to smallest.

-U, sort=none

Do not sort files.

-X, sort=extension

Sort by file extension, then by filename.