Linux Chapter 3: Directories and Files

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is not a type of file mentioned?

Video (correct)

Text

Image

Script

Directories are used for storing data like files.

False

What command would you use to change the current directory?

In Linux, the command to list the contents of a directory is called ______.

ls Signup and view all the answers

Match the following commands with their functions:

mkdir = Create a directory rm = Remove a file or directory cp = Copy a file mv = Rename or move a file Signup and view all the answers

Which command would you use to determine the type of a file?

file Signup and view all the answers

The command to search for a specific word in a file is 'grep'.

True Signup and view all the answers

Which command would you use to archive and compress files in Linux?

tar Signup and view all the answers

What command is used to rename or move a file in Linux?

mv Signup and view all the answers

Which command is used to create a new (empty) directory?

mkdir Signup and view all the answers

The command 'find' is used to copy files in Linux.

False Signup and view all the answers

The 'ls -a' command only displays the contents of the current directory.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the command used to remove a directory?

rmdir Signup and view all the answers

What command would you use to search for a specific word in a file?

grep Signup and view all the answers

To copy the contents of a directory, the command is 'cp -r [] []'.

source, destination Signup and view all the answers

The command to determine the type of a file is ___ followed by the filename.

file Signup and view all the answers

Match the following commands with their descriptions:

mkdir = Create a new directory mv = Rename or move a file or directory find = Locate a file or directory cp = Copy files and directories Signup and view all the answers

Match the commands with their respective functions:

locate = Search for the location of a file which = Identify the location of a binary file sed = Search and replace text in a file cp = Copy a file Signup and view all the answers

Which special character represents zero or more characters in a Linux file search?

<ul> <li></li> </ul> Signup and view all the answers

What option should be used with 'ls' to display file sizes in human-readable format?

-h Signup and view all the answers

The 'mv' command can only be used to rename files.

False Signup and view all the answers

The command 'locate' allows you to search for files based on their names.

True Signup and view all the answers

What command can be used to copy a file from one location to another?

cp Signup and view all the answers

What command would you use to read the content of a file?

cat Signup and view all the answers

The command to determine the type of a file is '___'.

file Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following commands is used to search for a binary executable file?

whereis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following commands will delete a directory that is not empty?

rm -r Signup and view all the answers

To terminate a process from the command line, you can use ___ key.

ctrl+c Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Chapter 3: Directories and Files in Linux

Files: Used to store data. Various types exist, including text, images, audio files, scripts, databases, and more.
Directories: Used for organizing files. Directory structures are organized in a hierarchical tree format.
File System (FS): Defines how data is organized on a storage medium. In Linux, the FS uses a tree structure of directories and subdirectories, starting from the root directory "/".
Linux Directory Hierarchy: Displays a tree structure showing the root directory (/) and its subdirectories, including /bin, /etc, /home, /opt, /tmp, /usr, and /var, along with user directories like user1 and user2 and their subfolders, and other directories.
Introduction (continued): A graphical directory structure also shows how directories are organized, including the root (/), home, user, and other directories. Additional directories exist for various functions and system settings.
Path: Represents the location of a file or directory.
A combination of / (root directory) and alpha-numeric characters.
Examples include /home/duck/myMusic/song.mp3 and /home/cat/myProject.
/ has two meanings:
- a separator within a path
- a directive to show the path begins from the root directory
File and Directory Names:
- Case sensitive -- this means file names and directory names must be entered with correct letter-case distinctions.
- Forbidden Characters : '/' is a forbidden character, and spaces, enter, and special characters are not recommended.
- Often include extensions (.txt,.pdf, .sh etc.). These extensions help determine the data type within the file.
Absolute vs Relative Paths:
- Absolute Path: Starts with a /, defining the complete path from the root directory. Example: /home/user/documents/file.txt
- Relative Path: Doesn't begin with /, defining the path from the current working directory. Example: documents/file.txt or myFolder/data.
. (dot): Represents the current directory or the directory itself. If you run a command in a directory, the command works on that directory.
.. (dot-dot): Refers to the parent directory. Used for navigating up a level in the directory structure.
Home Directory (Login Directory): The location /home/username, where data related to the user is stored. The user's current working directory in a new terminal defaults to their home directory. A tilde (~) represents the home directory.
Directory Operations:
- Print working directory: Shows the current directory or the path to the current directory. The command is: pwd
- Change directory: Navigates to another directory in the file system. The command is: cd [path]
- List directory contents: Displays the files and subdirectories contained in a directory. The command is: ls [options] [rep 1] [rep 2] ... [rep n]
- Make directory: Creates a new directory. The command is: mkdir [options] rep 1 [rep 2] ... [rep n]
- Remove directory: Deletes an empty directory. The command is rmdir [options] rep 1 [rep 2] ... [rep n]
- Rename/Move directory: Changes a directory's name or moves it to a different location. Command: mv [options] [rep source] [rep destination]
- Find directory location: locates a directory's location. Commands include: find, locate
- Copy directory Contents: Copies contents of a directory. Command: cp -r [options] [rep source] [rep destination]
File Operations:
- Create file: Creates new files. The command is touch [options] file1 [file2] ...[filen]
- Delete file: Deletes a file. The command is rm [options] [file1] [file2] ...[filen]
- Read file content: Reads the content of a file. Commands are: cat, more, less
- Rename File: Changes a file's name. Command: mv [options] [file source] [file or rep destination]
- Find file location: Locates the location of a file. Commands include: find, locate
- Copy file: Copies a file. Command: cp [options] [file source] [file destination]
- Determine file type: Shows the file type. Command: file [options] nameFile
- Search file for word: Searches a file for a given word. command: grep [options] word file
- Search and Replace: Searches and replaces a word in a file. Command: sed [options] 'command' filename
Shortcuts (Raccourcis): Keyboard shortcuts available within the shell for navigating through history or commands.
Special Characters: Characters used to show specific actions. These characters are often included in file and directory names. (e.g. ~, *, ?)
Hidden Files and Folders: Files and folders hidden from view in the operating system. The command ls -a displays hidden files.
Archiving and Compression: Collecting multiple files and making them into one file for easy handling, storage, and transfer (e.g. for backups). The tar command is used, with options to create, view, extract, or add files in and out of an archive.
Backup using relative/absolute Paths: When backing up files or folders, you can specify the path in relation to the current folder (relative path or an absolute path that starts from the root directory).

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of directories and files in Linux through this quiz. Learn about the hierarchical structure of directories, the different types of files, and the Linux file system organization. Test your knowledge on the layout and function of various directories within the Linux environment.