Top 50 Linux Commands for Beginners (2025 Guide)

Basic Commands

Command Description Example

pwd Show current directory pwd

ls List files and folders ls -l

cd Change directory cd /home

cd .. Go back one directory cd ..

clear Clear the terminal screen clear

exit Close the terminal exit

File Management

Command Description Example

mkdir Make a new folder mkdir test

touch Create empty file touch file.txt

rm Remove a file rm file.txt

rm -r Remove a folder rm -r myfolder

mv Move or rename file mv old.txt new.txt

cp Copy a file cp file1.txt file2.txt

cp -r Copy a folder cp -r dir1 dir2

cat Show file content cat notes.txt

nano Edit file in terminal nano file.txt

System Information

Command Description Example

uname -a System info uname -a

hostname Show computer name hostname

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whoami Show logged-in user whoami

date Show date & time date

cal Show calendar cal

df -h Disk space usage df -h

free -h Show RAM usage free -h

uptime System running time uptime

Network Commands

Command Description Example

ifconfig Show network info ifconfig

ip a Show IP address ip a

ping Check website connection ping google.com

netstat -tuln Show open ports netstat -tuln

traceroute Trace route to site traceroute google.com

nslookup DNS lookup nslookup google.com

curl Fetch website content curl example.com

Process Management

Command Description Example

ps Show running processes ps

top Show active processes top

htop Interactive process view htop

kill Kill a process by PID kill 1234

killall Kill by process name killall firefox

jobs Show background jobs jobs

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fg Bring job to front fg

bg Send job to background bg

User Management

Command Description Example

adduser Add new user adduser test

passwd Change password passwd

deluser Delete a user deluser test

groups Show groups groups

id Show user ID info id username

who Show logged in users who

last Show login history last

Cool Commands

Command Description Example

history Show previous commands history

!! Repeat last command !!

!ls Run last command starting with ls !ls

alias Create shortcut for command alias ll='ls -l'

unalias Remove alias unalias ll

neofetch Show system info in style neofetch

figlet Print big ASCII text figlet Hello

cowsay Cow says your message cowsay Hello

lolcat Rainbow-colored output echo Hello | lolcat

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