# Command Line (Tutorial)

## 💻 Command Line:

***The command line is a tool or interface for interacting with a computer using only text rather than the mouse.***

Command-Line is an essential tool for software development. We can execute a wide variety of programs on our computer through this. In this tutorial, we are going to learn the necessary UNIX commands for development.

> UNIX command is a type of command that is used in LINUX and macOS.

***To run some basic UNIX command in windows you can download Git Command Line Interface from [Git SCM](https://git-scm.com).***

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## 🔰 Getting Started:

✨ Let's start to learn (can use it as a reference guide)🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️...

#### ✔ Check the Current Directory ➡ `pwd`:

On the command line, it's important to know the directory we are currently working on. For that, we can use `pwd` command.

![pwd.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584261208228/YEySpLNuN.gif)

It shows that I'm working on my **Desktop** directory.

#### ✔ Display List of Files ➡ `ls`:

To see the list of files and directories in the current directory use `ls` command in your CLI.

![ls.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584261459088/3wvHjU6LQ.gif)

Shows all of my files and directories of my **Desktop** directory.

- To show the contents of a directory pass the directory name to the `ls` command i.e. `ls directory_name`.
- Some useful `ls` command options:-

| Option         | Description                                                             |
| ------------- |:------------------------------------------------------:|
| ls -a             | list all files including hidden file starting with '.'     |
| ls -l              | list with the long format                                         |
| ls -la            | list long format including hidden files                    |

#### ✔ Create a Directory ➡ `mkdir`:

We can create a new folder using the `mkdir` command. To use it type `mkdir folder_name`.

![mkdir.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584267753127/aQeFI_l9-.gif)

Use `ls` command to see the directory is created or not.

I create a **cli-practice** directory in my working directory i.e. **Desktop** directory.

#### ✔ Move Between Directories ➡ `cd`:

It's used to change directory or to move other directories. To use it type `cd directory_name`.

![cd.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584267919797/0rPQoIabg.gif)

Can use `pwd` command to confirm your directory name.

Change my directory to the **cli-practice** directory. And the rest of the tutorial I'm gonna work within this directory.

#### ✔ Parent Directory ➡ `..`:

We have seen `cd` command to change directory but if we want to move back or want to move to the parent directory we can use a special symbol `..` after cd command, like `cd ..`.

#### ✔ Create Files ➡ `touch`:

We can create an empty file by typing `touch file_name`. It's going to create a new file in the current directory (the directory you are currently in) with your provided name.

![touch.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584268120452/zN1jMeinV.gif)

I create a **hello.txt** file in my current working directory. Again you can use `ls` command to see the file is created or not.

Now open your **hello.txt** file in your text editor and write ***Hello Everyone!*** into your **hello.txt** file and save it.

#### ✔ Display the Content of a File ➡ `cat`:

We can display the content of a file using the cat command. To use it type `cat file_name`.

![cat.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584268288332/ciiRhraH_.gif)

Shows the content of my **hello.txt** file.

#### ✔ Moving Files & Directories ➡ `mv`:

To move a file and directory, we use `mv` command.

By typing `mv file_to_move destination_directory`, you can move a file to the specified directory.

By entering `mv directory_to_move destination_directory`, you can move all the files and directories under that directory.

Before using this command, we are going to create two more directories and another **txt** file in our **cli-practice** directory.

`mkdir html css`

`touch bye.txt`

![move.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584268554072/xt8CzohEK.gif)

Yes, we can use multiple directories & files names one after another to create multiple directories & files in one command.

![move cmd.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584268638099/pxi5eiqJh.gif)

Move my **bye.txt** file into my **css** directory and then move my **css** directory into my **html** directory.

#### ✔ Renaming Files & Directories ➡ `mv`:

`mv` command can also be used to rename a file and a directory.

You can rename a file by typing `mv old_file_name new_file_name` & also rename a directory by typing `mv old_directory_name new_directory_name`.

![rename.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584268860463/ucdzgMUbY.gif)

Rename my **hello.txt** file to the **hi.txt** file and **html** directory to the **folder** directory.

#### ✔ Copying Files & Directories ➡ `cp`:

To do this, we use the `cp` command.

- You can copy a file by entering `cp file_to_copy new_file_name`.

![cp file.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584269027776/1z6sX7YF-.gif)

Copy my **hi.txt** file content into **hello.txt** file. For confirmation open your **hello.txt** file in your text editor.

- You can also copy a directory by adding the `-r` option, like `cp -r directory_to_copy new_directory_name`.

*The `-r` option for "recursive" means that it will copy all of the files including the files inside of subfolders.*

![cp dir.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584269140542/rT9stE8UD.gif)

Here I copy all of the files from the **folder** to **folder-copy**.

#### ✔ Removing Files & Directories ➡ `rm`:

To do this, we use the `rm` command.

- To remove a file, you can use the command like `rm file_to_remove`.

![rm file.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584269274105/9Smdn31et.gif)

Here I remove my **hi.txt** file.

- To remove a directory, use the command like `rm -r directory_to_remove`.

![rm dir.gif](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1584269336310/rxvvNyjgF.gif)

I remove my **folder-copy** directory from my **cli-practice** directory i.e. current working directory.

#### ✔ Clear Screen ➡ `clear`:

Clear command is used to clear the terminal screen.

#### ✔ Home Directory ➡ `~`:

The Home directory is represented by `~`. The Home directory refers to the base directory for the user. If we want to move to the Home directory we can use `cd ~` command. Or we can only use `cd` command.

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## 🛠 Tools I used for this tutorial:-

1. [Fluent Terminal](https://github.com/felixse/FluentTerminal)
2. [Git Bash Shell](https://git-scm.com)

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Thanks for reading and stay tuned.🙂👋