Linux Terminal Cheatsheet

Essential Linux commands for file operations, permissions, processes, and system administration.

Command	Description	Syntax	Example	Category
pwd	Print working directory	pwd	pwd	Navigation
cd	Change directory	cd [path]	cd /home/user/projects	Navigation
ls	List directory contents	ls [options]	ls -la /home	Navigation
mkdir	Create directory	mkdir [options] path	mkdir -p /path/to/dir	Files
cp	Copy files/directories	cp [options] source dest	cp -r src/ dest/	Files
mv	Move/rename files	mv source dest	mv file.txt /home/user/	Files
rm	Remove files/directories	rm [options] path	rm -rf /path/to/dir	Files
touch	Create empty file	touch filename	touch new_file.txt	Files
cat	View file contents	cat filename	cat /etc/hostname	Files
less	View file with pagination	less filename	less /var/log/syslog	Files
head	View first lines of file	head -n count filename	head -n 20 file.txt	Files
tail	View last lines of file	tail -n count filename	tail -f /var/log/app.log	Files
chmod	Change file permissions	chmod mode file	chmod 755 script.sh	Permissions
chown	Change file owner	chown user:group file	chown user:group /home/user/file	Permissions
sudo	Execute with super user privileges	sudo command	sudo apt-get install package	Permissions
ps	List running processes	ps [options]	ps aux	Processes
kill	Terminate process	kill -signal pid	kill -9 1234	Processes
top	Monitor system processes	top	top	Processes
find	Search for files	find path -name pattern	find /home -name "*.js"	Search
grep	Search file contents	grep [options] pattern file	grep -r "function" src/	Search
df	Show disk space usage	df [options]	df -h	System
du	Show directory size	du [options] path	du -sh /home/user	System
whoami	Show current user	whoami	whoami	System
uname	Show system information	uname [options]	uname -a	System