Top 20 Linux Commands Every Beginner Should Learn

I still remember how I felt when I first began learning Linux: commands, terminals, and strange-looking prompts were alien to me. If you’re feeling the same, don’t worry. Today we’re diving into the top 20 Linux commands every beginner should learn. By the end, you’ll feel more confident and ready to tackle your Linux journey head-on.

• Top 20 Linux Commands
  1. pwd – Print Working Directory
  2. ls – List Directory Contents
  3. cd – Change Directory
  4. mkdir – Make Directory
  5. rm – Remove Files
  6. cp – Copy Files
  7. mv – Move or Rename Files
  8. touch – Create Empty Files
  9. cat – View File Contents
  10. man – Manual Pages
  11. grep – Search Text
  12. find – Locate Files
  13. chmod – Change File Permissions
  14. chown – Change File Ownership
  15. top – Monitor System Processes
  16. df – Disk Space Usage
  17. ps – Process Status
  18. kill – Terminate Processes
  19. wget – Download Files
  20. tar – Archive Files

Complexity of Linux for beginners

Many of us jump into Linux because it’s open-source, secure, and flexible. But as beginners, the command line’s complexity can be intimidating. Have you ever typed a command, only to stare at an error you didn’t understand? Yeah, me too. But here’s the thing: mastering even a handful of commands can simplify your experience and unlock Linux’s full potential.

Challenges and frustrations faced

Imagine struggling to manage files or processes just because you don’t know the right commands. It’s frustrating, right? The time wasted Googling and the anxiety of potentially breaking something—it’s enough to make anyone second-guess using Linux.

But we don’t have to stay stuck. I’ve been there, and I know what helps: understanding the essentials.

Mastering essential commands

Let’s break it down step-by-step. Here’s a curated list of the top 20 Linux commands that can help beginners like us get started smoothly. I’ve included practical examples, so we’re not just memorizing—we’re learning by doing.

1. pwd – Print Working Directory

When you’re navigating the Linux filesystem, knowing your current location is crucial. This command shows you the full path of the directory you’re in.

Example:

$  pwd

Output:

$  /home/user/Documents

2. ls – List Directory Contents

I use ls daily to see what files and folders are in a directory. It’s simple but powerful, especially with options like -l for detailed listings.

Example:

$  ls -l

Output:

$ total 8
drwxr-xr-x 2 user user 4096 Jan 1 12:00 Documents
-rw-r--r-- 1 user user 1024 Jan 1 12:00 file.txt

3. cd – Change Directory

Want to move between folders? This command does the job. Combine it with pwd and ls, and you’ll navigate like a pro.
Example:

$  cd /home/user/Documents
$  pwd

Output:

$  /home/user/Documents

4. mkdir – Make Directory

Need a new folder? Use mkdir to create one. It’s as simple as that.

Example:

$  mkdir new_folder
$  ls

Output:

$  Documents  file.txt  new_folder

5. rm – Remove Files

Deleting files is essential, but use this command with caution. For directories, add the -r flag.

Example:

$  rm file.txt
$  ls

Output:

$  Documents  new_folder

6. cp – Copy Files

This command lets us duplicate files and folders. Add the -r flag to copy directories.Example:

$  cp file.txt new_folder/
$  ls new_folder

Output:

$  file.txt

7. mv – Move or Rename Files

With mv, we can move files or rename them in one step.

Example:

$  mv file.txt renamed_file.txt
$  ls

Output:

$  Documents  new_folder  renamed_file.txt

8. touch – Create Empty Files

Want to quickly create a file? touch does that.

Example:

$  touch new_file.txt
$  ls

Output:

$  Documents  new_folder  new_file.txt  renamed_file.txt

9. cat – View File Contents

Reading files directly in the terminal is a breeze with cat.

Example:

$  cat renamed_file.txt

Output:

$  (File contents displayed here)

10. man – Manual Pages

I’ve found man to be a lifesaver. It provides detailed information about other commands.

Example:

$  man ls

Output

$  (Manual content for `ls` command)

11. grep – Search Text

Searching within files? grep is your best friend.

Example:

$  grep 'search_term' file.txt

Output:

$  (Matching lines displayed here)

12. find – Locate Files

Use find to search for files or directories by name.

Example:

$  find /home -name file.txt

Output:

$  /home/user/Documents/file.txt

13. chmod – Change File Permissions

Setting permissions is vital for security. Use chmod to control who can access your files.

Example:

$  chmod 755 file.txt
$  ls -l

Output:

$  -rwxr-xr-x 1 user user 1024 Jan 1 12:00 file.txt

14. chown – Change File Ownership

Adjust ownership with chown, ensuring the right user or group controls a file.

Example:

$  chown user:group file.txt
$  ls -l

Output:

$  -rw-r--r-- 1 user group 1024 Jan 1 12:00 file.txt

15. top – Monitor System Processes

When my system slows down, I check running processes with top.

Example:

$  top

Output

$  (list of processes)

16. df – Disk Space Usage

Keep track of your disk usage with df.

Example:

$  df -h

Output:

$  Filesystem      Size  Used Avail Use% Mounted on
     /dev/sda1       50G   20G   30G  40% /

17. ps – Process Status

Use ps to check specific processes running on your system.

Example:

$  ps aux

Output:

$  USER       PID  %CPU %MEM    VSZ   RSS TTY      STAT START   TIME COMMAND

18. kill – Terminate Processes

Ever had a program freeze? Use kill with the process ID to stop it.

Example:

$  kill 1234

Output:

$  (Process terminated)

19. wget – Download Files

Downloading files from the internet is easy with wget.

Example:

$  wget http://example.com/file.zip

Output:

$  (Download progress displayed)

20. tar – Archive Files

Compress and extract files with tar. It’s a must-know for backups.

Example:

$  tar -czvf archive.tar.gz folder/

Output:

$  (Files archived)

Recap of the importance of the commands

We’ve been through 20 of the essential Linux commands a beginner should know. These form the bedrock of your knowledge in Linux. The important thing is to practice. Play with each of the commands, explore their options, and you will learn how they interact with one another. I promise you it gets easier as you get on.

Remember, Linux isn’t about memorizing commands. It’s about understanding how they work together. So, open your terminal and start experimenting. Let’s make the command line less scary and more empowering.

We’ve got this!