Linux for Beginners: Learn the Most Important Commands (2025)

Getting Started with Basic Linux Commands

Linux is a powerful and versatile operating system, beloved by developers, system administrators, and tech enthusiasts alike. If you're embarking on your Linux journey, mastering the basic commands is essential to navigate and manage your system like a pro. In this guide, we'll cover some of the fundamental commands every Linux user should know.

Table of Contents

• What is a Linux Command?
• Essential Linux Commands
• Pro Tips
• Conclusion
• Linux Commands Cheat Sheet

What is a Linux Command?

A Linux command is a text-based instruction that you enter into the terminal to perform a specific task. These commands allow you to interact with the Linux operating system, manage files, install software, and much more.

Essential Linux Commands

File and Directory Management

Commands for managing files and directories:

• ls - List directory contents
• cd - Change directory
• mkdir - Create a directory
• rm - Remove files or directories
• cp - Copy files or directories
• mv - Move or rename files or directories
• touch - Create an empty file or update timestamps

Examples:

ls
ls -l  # Detailed list with file permissions, ownership, and size
ls -a  # List all files, including hidden ones (starting with .)

cd /path/to/directory  # Change to the specified directory
cd ~  # Change to your home directory
cd ..  # Move up one directory level

mkdir new_directory  # Create a new directory named 'new_directory'

rm filename  # Delete a file
rm -r directory  # Delete a directory and its contents

cp source_file destination  # Copy a file to the specified destination
cp -r source_directory destination  # Recursively copy a directory and its contents

mv old_name new_name  # Rename a file or directory
mv source_file destination  # Move a file to the specified destination

touch newfile  # Create a new empty file named 'newfile'

File Viewing and Editing

Commands for viewing and editing files:

• cat - Display file contents

Examples:

cat filename  # View the contents of 'filename'

Permissions and Ownership

Commands for managing file permissions and ownership:

• chmod - Change file permissions
• chown - Change file ownership

Examples:

chmod +x filename  # Make a file executable
chmod 755 filename  # Change permissions to rwxr-xr-x

chown user:group filename  # Change the ownership of 'filename' to 'user' and 'group'

Process Management

Commands for managing system processes:

• ps - Display running processes
• kill - Terminate a process
• top - Monitor system processes in real-time

Examples:

ps aux  # View all running processes with detailed information

kill 1234  # Replace 1234 with the PID of the process you want to terminate

top  # Display the real-time process overview

System Monitoring

Commands for monitoring system resources:

• df - Check disk space usage
• du - Estimate file and directory space usage

Examples:

df -h  # Display disk space in a human-readable format

du -h directory  # Display the space usage of 'directory' in a human-readable format

Administrative Commands

Commands for administrative tasks:

• sudo - Execute commands with superuser privileges

Examples:

sudo command_to_run  # Run a command with superuser privileges

Pro Tips

• Use ls -lh to display file sizes in a human-readable format.
• Use !! to repeat the last command with sudo.
• Combine commands with && to execute multiple commands sequentially.

Conclusion

These basic Linux commands are the bread and butter of managing your system. By mastering these commands, you'll gain confidence in navigating your Linux environment. Remember, practice makes perfect, so spend some time exploring these commands and their various options.

Happy learning, and welcome to the world of Linux!

Linux Commands Cheat Sheet

Command	Description
ls	List directory contents
cd	Change directory
mkdir	Create a directory
rm	Remove files or directories
cp	Copy files or directories
mv	Move or rename files or directories
touch	Create an empty file or update timestamps
cat	Display file contents
chmod	Change file permissions
chown	Change file ownership
ps	Display running processes
kill	Terminate a process
top	Monitor system processes in real-time
df	Check disk space usage
du	Estimate file and directory space usage
sudo	Execute commands with superuser privileges

Found this guide helpful? Check out our other tutorials on Linux advanced commands and shell scripting!