How to change the current working directory in Linux?

Changing the Current Working Directory in Linux

In the Linux operating system, the current working directory refers to the directory that the user is currently operating in. This is an important concept to understand, as many Linux commands and operations are relative to the current working directory.

To change the current working directory in Linux, you can use the cd (change directory) command. The cd command allows you to navigate to a different directory on your system.

Here's the basic syntax for using the cd command:

cd [directory]

Where [directory] is the path to the directory you want to change to.

For example, if you want to change to the /home/user/documents directory, you would use the following command:

cd /home/user/documents

You can also use relative paths to change the current working directory. Relative paths are based on the current working directory, rather than the full absolute path. For example, if you're currently in the /home/user directory and you want to change to the documents subdirectory, you can use the following command:

cd documents

This will change the current working directory to /home/user/documents.

Another useful feature of the cd command is the ability to navigate to the previous working directory. You can do this by using the cd - command:

cd -

This will change the current working directory to the previous directory you were in.

To help visualize the concept of changing the current working directory, here's a Mermaid diagram:

In this diagram, we start in the /home/user directory, then change to the /home/user/documents directory, and finally change back to the /home/user directory using the cd - command.

Changing the current working directory is a fundamental skill in Linux, as it allows you to navigate your file system and perform various operations in the desired location. By mastering the cd command, you'll be able to work more efficiently and effectively in the Linux environment.