How to rename multiple files at once?

In basic Linux, renaming multiple files at once is slightly different because the mv command usually handles only one source at a time when renaming.

Depending on what you want to achieve, here are the most common ways to do it:

1. Using a for loop (The Standard Way)

If you want to change the extension of all .txt files to .bak, you can use a simple loop in the terminal:

for file in *.txt; do
    mv "$file" "${file%.txt}.bak"
done

• file in *.txt: Finds all text files.
• ${file%.txt}.bak: This takes the filename, removes .txt, and adds .bak.

2. Using the rename command

In many Linux systems, there is a dedicated tool called rename. It uses "regular expressions" to change names.

To change all .log files to .txt:

rename 's/\.log$/\.txt/' *.log

(Note: If the command is not installed, you can install it with sudo apt update && sudo apt install rename)

3. Using Wildcards (For moving to a new folder)

If your goal is to "rename" paths (moving many files at once to a new location), you can use the wildcard *:

mv *.txt backup/

In this case, the filenames stay the same, but their "full name" (path) changes.

Short Summary:

• To rename one file: Use mv.
• To rename many files: Use a for loop or the rename command.

Which specific files are you trying to rename? Tell me the pattern (e.g., "add a prefix to all files"), and I can give you the exact command!