Character | Description |
\ | Escape character. If you want to reference a special character, you must “escape” it with a backslash first. Example: touch /tmp/filename\* |
/ | Directory separator, used to separate a string of directory names. Example: /usr/src/linux |
. | Current directory. Can also “hide” files when it is the first character in a filename. |
.. | Parent directory |
~ | User's home directory |
* | Represents 0 or more characters in a filename, or by itself, all files in a directory. Example: pic*2002 can represent the files pic2002, picJanuary2002,picFeb292002, etc. |
? | Represents a single character in a filename. Example: hello?.txt can represent hello1.txt, helloz.txt, but not hello22.txt |
[ ] | Can be used to represent a range of values, e.g. [0-9], [A-Z], etc. Example: hello[0-2].txt represents the names hello0.txt,hello1.txt, and hello2.txt |
| | “Pipe”. Redirect the output of one command into another command. Example: ls | more |
> | Redirect output of a command into a new file. If the file already exists, over-write it. Example: ls > myfiles.txt |
>> | Redirect the output of a command onto the end of an existing file. Example: echo .Mary 555-1234. >> phonenumbers.txt |
< | Redirect a file as input to a program. Example: more < phonenumbers.txt |
; | Command separator. Allows you to execute multiple commands on a single line. Example: cd /var/log ; less messages |
&& | Command separator as above, but only runs the second command if the first one finished without errors. Example: cd /var/logs && less messages |
& | Execute a command in the background, and immediately get your shell back. Example: find / -name core > /tmp/corefiles.txt & |
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