Linux keeps your files in a tree starting at /. Knowing the layout and a handful of commands helps you navigate, inspect, and manage files confidently.

File system basics

• /: Root of the file system.
• /home: User directories.
• /bin, /usr/bin: User binaries.
• /sbin, /usr/sbin: System binaries.
• /etc: System config.
• /var: Variable data (logs, spool).
• /tmp: Temporary files.
• /dev: Devices.
• /proc, /sys: Virtual FS for kernel/process info.

Core navigation & file commands

• pwd: Print working directory.
  pwd
• ls: List directory contents.
  ls -l (long) · ls -a (all) · ls -lh (human-readable)
• cd: Change directory.
  cd /path · cd .. (up) · cd ~ (home)
• mkdir: Make directory.
  mkdir newdir · mkdir -p parent/child
• rmdir: Remove empty directory.
  rmdir emptydir

Create, view, copy, move

• touch: Create empty file or update timestamp.
  touch file.txt
• cat: View/concatenate files.
  cat file.txt
• echo: Print text or write to file.
  echo "hello" > file.txt (overwrite) · echo "more" >> file.txt (append)
• cp: Copy files/dirs.
  cp source dest · cp -r dir1 dir2 (recursive) · cp -i (prompt)
• mv: Move/rename.
  mv old new · mv file /path/

Inspecting content

• wc: Count lines/words/chars.
  wc -l file.txt
• history: Show command history.
  history · reuse with !123

Tips

• Use tab completion for paths and commands.
• Quote paths with spaces.
• Use absolute paths for scripts; relative paths for quick navigation.
• Keep .bash_history useful: descriptive commands, comments with # when needed.

With these basics—layout, navigation, and core file commands—you can move around any Linux system, inspect files, and keep a clean workflow in the terminal.