Linux CLI 6 🐧 make directory, copy, move, rename, delete files and directories - KandZ

These are the core file management commands in Linux. They let you create, copy, move, rename, and delete files and directories from the command line.

Make and Delete Directories

mkdir d1 
mkdir d2 d3
mkdir -p d4/d5/d6
mkdir -m 750 d7
ls -la
rm d7 -r

Command	Description
`mkdir d1`	Create a single directory named `d1`
`mkdir d2 d3`	Create multiple directories at once
`mkdir -p d4/d5/d6`	Create nested directories (creates parents if needed)
`mkdir -m 750 d7`	Create a directory with specific permissions
`rm d7 -r`	Delete a directory recursively

`mkdir` — Make Directory

Option	Description
(none)	Create one or more directories
`-p`	Create parent directories as needed (no error if exists)
`-m MODE`	Set permissions (e.g., `750`)
`-v`	Verbose — show each directory created

Examples:

# Single directory
mkdir projects

# Multiple directories
mkdir photos videos music

# Nested directories with -p
mkdir -p work/projects/2024
# Creates: work/, work/projects/, work/projects/2024/
# No error if they already exist

# Specific permissions (rwxr-x---)
mkdir -m 750 private

# Verbose output
mkdir -v docs
# mkdir: created directory 'docs'

Permission modes:

Mode	Meaning
`755`	rwxr-xr-x (owner: all, others: read+execute)
`700`	rwx—— (owner only)
`750`	rwxr-x— (owner: all, group: read+execute, others: none)
`777`	rwxrwxrwx (everyone: all)

`rm` — Remove

Option	Description
(none)	Remove files (not directories)
`-r`	Recursive — remove directories and their contents
`-f`	Force — ignore nonexistent files, no prompts
`-i`	Interactive — prompt before each removal
`-v`	Verbose — show what’s being removed
`-d`	Remove empty directories (alternative to `rmdir`)

Examples:

# Delete a single file
rm file.txt

# Delete multiple files
rm file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

# Delete with wildcard
rm *.tmp

# Delete a directory recursively
rm -r mydir

# Force delete (no prompt)
rm -rf mydir

# Interactive mode (prompts before each)
rm -i *.txt
# rm: remove regular file 'file1.txt'? y
# rm: remove regular file 'file2.txt'? n

# Verbose mode
rm -v *.log
# removed 'app.log'
# removed 'error.log'

⚠️ Warning: rm -rf / would destroy your system! Always double-check before using -rf.

Copy Files and Directories

cp file1.txt newfile.txt
cp -r d1 newd1
cp -p newfile.txt newfile2.txt

Command	Description
`cp file1.txt newfile.txt`	Copy `file1.txt` to `newfile.txt`
`cp -r d1 newd1`	Copy directory `d1` and its contents to `newd1`
`cp -p newfile.txt newfile2.txt`	Copy preserving ownership, permissions, timestamps

`cp` — Copy

Option	Description
(none)	Copy a single file
`-r` or `-R`	Recursive — copy directories and their contents
`-p`	Preserve ownership, permissions, timestamps
`-t DIR`	Copy into target directory
`-a`	Archive — recursive + preserve all attributes
`-u`	Update — copy only if source is newer or target doesn’t exist
`-v`	Verbose — show what’s being copied
`-i`	Interactive — prompt before overwriting
`-n`	No clobber — never overwrite existing files

Examples:

# Copy a file
cp notes.txt backup.txt

# Copy multiple files into a directory
cp file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt ~/backup/

# Copy with -t (target directory)
cp -t ~/backup/ file1.txt file2.txt

# Copy a directory recursively
cp -r projects ~/backup/projects

# Copy preserving attributes
cp -p notes.txt archive/notes.txt

# Archive mode (most complete copy)
cp -a projects ~/backup/projects

# Update mode (only copy newer files)
cp -u *.txt ~/backup/

# Verbose copy
cp -v *.txt ~/backup/
# 'file1.txt' -> '/home/kronos/backup/file1.txt'
# 'file2.txt' -> '/home/kronos/backup/file2.txt'

# Interactive copy (asks before overwrite)
cp -i notes.txt backup.txt
# cp: overwrite 'backup.txt'? y

Copy into same directory with new name:

cp file.txt file-copy.txt

Copy directory contents (not the directory itself):

cp -r source/. destination/
# Note the /. — copies contents, not the folder

Move and Rename Files

mv d1 d2
mv file1.txt d3/file2.txt
mv file1.txt file2.txt
mv -i file2.txt file.txt
rm file.txt

Command	Description
`mv d1 d2`	Move directory `d1` into `d2` (or rename if `d2` doesn’t exist)
`mv file1.txt d3/file2.txt`	Move file to `d3` with a new name
`mv file1.txt file2.txt`	Rename `file1.txt` to `file2.txt`
`mv -i file2.txt file.txt`	Move with interactive prompt before overwrite
`rm file.txt`	Delete a file

`mv` — Move / Rename

Option	Description
(none)	Move or rename
`-i`	Interactive — prompt before overwriting
`-f`	Force — overwrite without prompting
`-n`	No clobber — never overwrite
`-v`	Verbose — show what’s being moved
`-u`	Update — move only if source is newer
`-t DIR`	Move into target directory

Examples:

# Rename a file
mv oldname.txt newname.txt

# Move a file into a directory
mv notes.txt ~/Documents/

# Move with a new name
mv notes.txt ~/Documents/important-notes.txt

# Move multiple files into a directory
mv *.txt ~/Documents/

# Move with -t (target directory)
mv -t ~/Documents/ file1.txt file2.txt

# Rename a directory
mv old-folder new-folder

# Move a directory into another
mv projects ~/backup/

# Interactive move
mv -i source.txt dest.txt
# mv: overwrite 'dest.txt'? y

# No clobber (never overwrite)
mv -n source.txt dest.txt

# Verbose move
mv -v *.log ~/logs/
# 'app.log' -> '/home/kronos/logs/app.log'
# 'error.log' -> '/home/kronos/logs/error.log'

Key insight: mv uses the destination to decide whether to move or rename:

If destination is an existing directory → moves into it
If destination is a new name → renames

# If "docs" exists as a directory:
mv file.txt docs/        # Moves into docs/

# If "new.txt" doesn't exist:
mv file.txt new.txt      # Renames to new.txt

Complete Example Session

# ============================================
# PART 1: CREATING DIRECTORIES
# ============================================

# Create a single directory
$ mkdir projects
$ ls
projects

# Create multiple directories
$ mkdir photos videos music
$ ls
music  photos  projects  videos

# Create nested directories
$ mkdir -p work/2024/january
$ ls -R work
work:
2024

work/2024:
january

work/2024/january:

# Create with specific permissions
$ mkdir -m 700 private
$ ls -la private
drwx------ 2 kronos users 4096 Jan 15 10:30 private

# Verbose creation
$ mkdir -v docs
mkdir: created directory 'docs'

# ============================================
# PART 2: COPYING
# ============================================

# Create a test file
$ echo "Hello" > file1.txt

# Copy a file
$ cp file1.txt file2.txt
$ ls
file1.txt  file2.txt

# Copy with new name
$ cp file1.txt backup.txt
$ ls
backup.txt  file1.txt  file2.txt

# Copy multiple files into a directory
$ mkdir backups
$ cp file1.txt file2.txt backups/
$ ls backups/
file1.txt  file2.txt

# Copy a directory recursively
$ mkdir -p source/sub
$ echo "content" > source/sub/data.txt
$ cp -r source source-copy
$ ls -R source-copy
source-copy:
sub

source-copy/sub:
data.txt

# Copy preserving attributes
$ cp -p file1.txt preserve.txt
$ ls -la file1.txt preserve.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 kronos users 6 Jan 15 10:30 file1.txt
-rw-r--r-- 1 kronos users 6 Jan 15 10:30 preserve.txt
# Same timestamps and permissions

# Verbose copy
$ cp -v file1.txt verbose-copy.txt
'file1.txt' -> 'verbose-copy.txt'

# ============================================
# PART 3: MOVING AND RENAMING
# ============================================

# Rename a file
$ mv file2.txt renamed.txt
$ ls
backup.txt  file1.txt  renamed.txt

# Move a file into a directory
$ mv file1.txt backups/
$ ls backups/
file1.txt  file2.txt

# Move with new name
$ mv backup.txt backups/old-backup.txt
$ ls backups/
backup.txt  file1.txt  file2.txt

# Rename a directory
$ mv docs documentation
$ ls
documentation  photos  projects  videos ...

# Move a directory
$ mv photos pictures-backup
$ ls
documentation  pictures-backup  projects  videos ...

# Move multiple files with wildcard
$ touch a.txt b.txt c.txt
$ mkdir text-files
$ mv *.txt text-files/
$ ls text-files/
a.txt  b.txt  c.txt

# Interactive move (prompts if destination exists)
$ echo "old" > original.txt
$ echo "new" > existing.txt
$ mv -i existing.txt original.txt
mv: overwrite 'original.txt'? y
$ cat original.txt
new

# No clobber (never overwrite)
$ echo "test1" > source.txt
$ echo "test2" > dest.txt
$ mv -n source.txt dest.txt
$ cat dest.txt
test2

# ============================================
# PART 4: DELETING
# ============================================

# Delete a file
$ rm renamed.txt
$ ls
backup.txt  file1.txt  projects  ...

# Delete multiple files
$ touch temp1.tmp temp2.tmp temp3.tmp
$ rm temp1.tmp temp2.tmp
$ ls temp*.tmp
temp3.tmp

# Delete with wildcard
$ rm *.tmp
$ ls *.tmp
ls: cannot access '*.tmp': No such file or directory

# Interactive delete
$ touch important.txt
$ rm -i important.txt
rm: remove regular file 'important.txt'? y

# Delete a directory (must be empty without -r)
$ mkdir emptydir
$ rm emptydir
rm: cannot remove 'emptydir': Is a directory
$ rm -r emptydir

# Force delete a directory
$ mkdir -p full/nested
$ touch full/nested/file.txt
$ rm -rf full
$ ls full
ls: cannot access 'full': No such file or directory

# Verbose delete
$ touch log1.log log2.log
$ rm -v *.log
removed 'log1.log'
removed 'log2.log'

Quick Reference

`mkdir` Options

Option	Description
`-p`	Create parents as needed
`-m MODE`	Set permissions
`-v`	Verbose

`cp` Options

Option	Description
`-r`	Recursive (directories)
`-p`	Preserve attributes
`-a`	Archive (recursive + preserve)
`-u`	Update (newer only)
`-v`	Verbose
`-i`	Interactive
`-n`	No clobber
`-t DIR`	Target directory

`mv` Options

Option	Description
`-i`	Interactive
`-f`	Force overwrite
`-n`	No clobber
`-v`	Verbose
`-u`	Update
`-t DIR`	Target directory

`rm` Options

Option	Description
`-r`	Recursive (directories)
`-f`	Force (no prompts)
`-i`	Interactive
`-v`	Verbose
`-d`	Remove empty directories

Common Patterns

Task	Command
Copy file to backup	`cp file.txt file.txt.bak`
Copy directory tree	`cp -a source/ dest/`
Copy only newer files	`cp -u *.txt backup/`
Move multiple files	`mv *.jpg ~/Photos/`
Rename file	`mv old.txt new.txt`
Rename extension	`mv file.txt file.md`
Rename directory	`mv olddir newdir`
Delete empty directory	`rmdir dir` or `rm -d dir`
Delete directory + contents	`rm -r dir`
Force delete directory	`rm -rf dir`
Interactive safe delete	`rm -i *.txt`
Batch rename	Use a loop (or `rename` command)

Best Practices

✅ Do This:

# Always verify before deleting
ls *.log            # Check first
rm *.log            # Then delete

# Use -i for safety on important files
rm -i important.txt

# Use -n to prevent accidental overwrites
cp -n source.txt dest.txt
mv -n source.txt dest.txt

# Use -v to see what's happening
cp -v *.txt backup/
mv -v *.jpg ~/Photos/

# Use quotes for filenames with spaces
cp "my file.txt" "my file backup.txt"

# Test mkdir -p with dry-run mentality
mkdir -p project/src/components

# Copy directories with trailing slash carefully
cp -r source/ dest/     # Copy contents
cp -r source dest/      # Copy directory itself

❌ Don’t Do This:

# Don't rm -rf without checking
rm -rf /important       # ❌ Dangerous!

# Don't use rm * carelessly
rm *                    # ❌ Deletes everything

# Don't forget -r for directories
rm mydir                # ❌ "Is a directory" error

# Don't overwrite without checking
cp new.txt important.txt  # ❌ Silently overwrites
cp -i new.txt important.txt  # ✅ Prompts

# Don't move files without checking destination
mv *.txt /tmp/          # ⚠️ Where do they go?

# Don't forget quotes for filenames with spaces
cp my file.txt backup/  # ❌ Shell splits this
cp "my file.txt" backup/  # ✅ Correct

# Don't use rm -rf on unknown paths
rm -rf $UNSET_VARIABLE/  # ❌ If $UNSET is empty, rm -rf /

Common Pitfalls

Pitfall	Problem	Solution
`rm -rf /`	Destroys system	Never use `/` as target
`rm -rf *`	Deletes everything in current dir	Verify with `ls` first
Spaces in filenames	Shell splits arguments	Quote: `"my file.txt"`
`mv` overwrites silently	Loses original file	Use `-i` or `-n`
`cp` without `-r` for dirs	Error: omitting directory	Add `-r`
`mkdir` fails on existing dir	Error message	Use `-p` (no error if exists)
Forgetting trailing slash	Wrong copy behavior	`cp -r src/ dest/` vs `cp -r src dest/`

Trailing Slash Matters (cp and mv)

Command	Behavior
`cp -r source dest`	Creates `dest/source/` if `dest` exists
`cp -r source/ dest`	Copies contents of `source` into `dest`
`cp -r source/. dest`	Copies contents and hidden files

Example:

# If source/ contains a.txt, b.txt
cp -r source dest/       # → dest/source/a.txt, dest/source/b.txt
cp -r source/ dest/      # → dest/a.txt, dest/b.txt

Visual: Common Operations

CREATE:                          DELETE:
mkdir newdir                     rm file.txt
mkdir -p a/b/c                   rm -r dir
mkdir -m 700 private             rm -rf dir

COPY:                            MOVE / RENAME:
cp file.txt copy.txt             mv old.txt new.txt
cp -r dir1 dir2                  mv file.txt ~/docs/
cp -a dir1 dir2                  mv dir1 dir2

                                  (If dir2 exists → moves into it)
                                  (If dir2 doesn't exist → renames)

Real-World Examples

1. Project Setup

mkdir -p myproject/{src,tests,docs}
cd myproject
touch README.md

2. Backup Before Editing

cp -p important.conf important.conf.bak
# Edit important.conf
# If something breaks:
# mv important.conf.bak important.conf

3. Organize Downloads

mkdir -p ~/Downloads/{images,videos,documents,archives}
mv ~/Downloads/*.jpg ~/Downloads/images/
mv ~/Downloads/*.mp4 ~/Downloads/videos/
mv ~/Downloads/*.pdf ~/Downloads/documents/
mv ~/Downloads/*.zip ~/Downloads/archives/

4. Archive and Clean

# Create backup
cp -a project project-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d)

# Clean temp files
rm -v *.tmp *.log

5. Rename Extensions

# Rename all .htm to .html
for f in *.htm; do mv "$f" "${f%.htm}.html"; done

6. Safe Delete with Confirmation

# Interactive delete of all logs
rm -i /var/log/*.log

Summary

Command	Purpose	Example
`mkdir`	Create directories	`mkdir -p a/b/c`
`cp`	Copy files/directories	`cp -r src/ dest/`
`mv`	Move or rename	`mv old.txt new.txt`
`rm`	Delete files/directories	`rm -rf dir`
`rmdir`	Delete empty directories	`rmdir emptydir`

Key takeaways:

mkdir -p creates nested directories safely (no error if exists)
cp -r copies directories — without -r, you get an error
cp -a is the safest way to copy directories with all attributes
mv handles both move and rename — destination decides which
rm -r deletes directories and their contents
rm -rf force deletes without prompts — use with extreme caution
-i makes commands interactive — prompts before overwriting/deleting
-v shows what’s happening — great for learning and debugging
Trailing slashes matter with cp and mv

Remember: With great power comes great responsibility. Commands like rm -rf can destroy data instantly with no undo. Always test with ls first, use -i for safety, and never use rm -rf on a path you’re not 100% sure about!

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Make and Delete Directories

mkdir — Make Directory

rm — Remove

Copy Files and Directories

cp — Copy

Move and Rename Files

mv — Move / Rename

Complete Example Session

Quick Reference

mkdir Options

cp Options

mv Options

rm Options

Common Patterns

Best Practices

Common Pitfalls

Trailing Slash Matters (cp and mv)

Visual: Common Operations

Real-World Examples

1. Project Setup

2. Backup Before Editing

3. Organize Downloads

4. Archive and Clean

5. Rename Extensions

6. Safe Delete with Confirmation

Summary

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`mkdir` — Make Directory

`rm` — Remove

`cp` — Copy

`mv` — Move / Rename

`mkdir` Options

`cp` Options

`mv` Options

`rm` Options