In this tutorial we’ll cover how to create, delete, and rename files within Linux using the terminal window and a few basic commands.
Use the the table of contents below to jump to a specific section or read on to learn more!
How to Create a File in Linux
To create a new file in Linux, just follow these easy steps:
- From the terminal window, you can create a new file using the touch command, followed by the name of the file you’d like to create. For example:
touch sample.txt
- Using the command above would create a new, empty file named sample.txt. The file name can be replaced with any name of your choosing.
- Once you’ve created your file, you can confirm that it has been created successfully using the ls command to list out the files in your current directory. You should see the name of the file you just created among this list.
- You can also create a new file using one of several other methods, including a redirect operator “>” or the cat command. For example:
> sample2.txt
Or
cat > sample3.txt
While these commands are both typically used to interact with existing files, if the filename specified does not exist, both of these methods will output new files with the corresponding filenames.
How to Remove a File in Linux
To remove a file in Linux, just follow these steps:
- From the terminal window, you can delete a file using the rm command to remove it from your system. For example:
rm sample.txt
- Using the command above will delete the file named sample.txt from your current directory. If the file is protected, you will be asked to confirm before deletion of the file is completed.
- You can also use the remove command to delete multiple files at once. This can be done by simply listing out the names of multiple files, separated out with spaces. For example:
rm sample.txt sample2.txt sample3.txt
This command would delete all three of the files listed from your current directory.
How to Rename a File in Linux
To rename a file in Linux, just follow these steps:
- While there is a rename command in Linux, it is easiest to rename individual files using the move command. This is because renaming is seen by the system as moving the contents of one folder to another. For example:
mv sample.txt sampleNEW.txt
- Using the command above is intended to move the contents of the first file into the second, however, since the file sampleNEW.txt does not exist, the system creates it, moving the contents of sample.txt into the newly named file.
Popular Links
Looking for more information on Linux? Search our Knowledge Base!
Interested in more articles about Operating Systems? Navigate to our Categories page using the bar on the left or check out these popular articles:
- How to Check the Apache Version on a Linux Dedicated cPanel Server
- How to Change a Password in Linux
- How to Check if Your Linux Server is Under DDoS Attack
Popular tags within this category include: Linux, Windows, Apache, CentOS, Debian, Fedora, RedHat, and more.
Don’t see what you’re looking for? Use the search bar at the top to search our entire Knowledge Base.
The Hivelocity Difference
Seeking a better Dedicated Server solution? In the market for Private Cloud or Colocation services? Check out Hivelocity’s extensive list of products for great deals and offers.
With best-in-class customer service, affordable pricing, a wide-range of fully-customizable options, and a network like no other, Hivelocity is the hosting solution you’ve been waiting for.
Unsure which of our services is best for your particular needs? Call or live chat with one of our sales agents today and see the difference Hivelocity can make for you.