How to use the -P option of pwd command?

Understanding the -P Option of the pwd Command

The pwd command in Linux is used to display the current working directory, which is the directory you are currently in. The -P option of the pwd command is used to display the physical path of the current working directory, rather than the symbolic link path.

Symbolic Links and Physical Paths

In Linux, symbolic links (or symlinks) are a type of file that acts as a pointer to another file or directory. When you create a symbolic link, it doesn't contain the actual data of the file or directory it points to, but rather a reference to the original location.

The physical path of a directory is the actual, real path on the file system, whereas the symbolic link path is the path that the symbolic link points to. For example, if you have a symbolic link named mylink that points to the directory /home/user/documents, the symbolic link path would be /mylink, but the physical path would be /home/user/documents.

Using the -P Option

The -P option of the pwd command is used to display the physical path of the current working directory, rather than the symbolic link path. This can be useful in situations where you need to know the actual location of a file or directory, rather than just the symbolic link path.

Here's an example of how to use the pwd command with the -P option:

$ cd /home/user/documents
$ pwd
/home/user/documents
$ ln -s /home/user/documents mylink
$ cd mylink
$ pwd
/mylink
$ pwd -P
/home/user/documents

In this example, we first change to the /home/user/documents directory and use the pwd command to display the current working directory. We then create a symbolic link named mylink that points to the /home/user/documents directory, and change to the mylink directory. When we use the pwd command, it displays the symbolic link path /mylink, but when we use the pwd -P command, it displays the physical path /home/user/documents.

Mermaid Diagram

Here's a Mermaid diagram that illustrates the difference between symbolic links and physical paths:

In this diagram, the directory /home/user/documents is the physical path, and the symbolic link mylink points to that directory.

Conclusion

The -P option of the pwd command is a useful tool for getting the physical path of the current working directory, especially in situations where you're working with symbolic links. By understanding the difference between symbolic links and physical paths, you can more effectively navigate and manage your Linux file system.