How to navigate to the parent directory using the cd command?

Navigating to the Parent Directory using the cd Command

In the Linux operating system, the cd (change directory) command is used to navigate between directories. To navigate to the parent directory, you can use the following methods:

1. Using the .. (double dot) symbol:

   • The .. symbol represents the parent directory of the current directory.
   • To navigate to the parent directory, you can simply type cd .. in the terminal.
   • Example:

     $ pwd
     /home/user/documents/project
     $ cd ..
     $ pwd
     /home/user/documents

2. Using the absolute path:

   • The absolute path is the complete path from the root directory (/) to the desired directory.
   • To navigate to the parent directory, you can use the absolute path of the parent directory.
   • Example:

     $ pwd
     /home/user/documents/project
     $ cd /home/user/documents
     $ pwd
     /home/user/documents

3. Using the ~ (tilde) symbol:

   • The ~ symbol represents the home directory of the current user.
   • To navigate to the parent directory, you can use the cd ../ command, which will take you to the parent directory of the home directory.
   • Example:

     $ pwd
     /home/user/documents/project
     $ cd ~/..
     $ pwd
     /home

Here's a Mermaid diagram that illustrates the different ways to navigate to the parent directory using the cd command:

In summary, the three main ways to navigate to the parent directory using the cd command are:

1. Using the .. (double dot) symbol
2. Using the absolute path
3. Using the ~ (tilde) symbol

These methods provide flexibility and convenience when navigating the file system in a Linux environment.