ls linux command

ls

ls [options] [names]

List contents of directories. If no names are given, list the files in the current directory. With one or more names, list files contained in a directory name or that match a file name. names can include filename metacharacters. The options let you display a variety of information in different formats. The most useful options include -F, -R, -l, and -s. Some options don't make sense together (e.g., -u and -c).

Options

-1, --format=single-column

Print one entry per line of output.

-a

List all files, including the normally hidden files whose names begin with a period.

-b, --escape

Display nonprinting characters in octal and alphabetic format.

-c, --time-ctime, --time=status

List files by status change time (not creation/modification time).

--color, --colour, --color=yes, --colour=yes

Colorize the names of files depending on the type of file.

--color=no, --colour=no

Disables colorization. This is the default. Provided to override a previous color option.

--color=tty, --colour=tty

Same as --color, but only if standard output is a terminal. Very useful for shell scripts and command aliases, especially if your favorite pager does not support color control codes.

-d, --directory

Report only on the directory, not its contents.

-f

Print directory contents in exactly the order in which they are stored, without attempting to sort them.

--full-time

List times in full, rather than use the standard abbreviations.

--help

Print a help message and then exit.

-i, --inode

List the inode for each file.

-k, --kilobytes

If file sizes are being listed, print them in kilobytes. This option overrides the environment variable POSIXLY_CORRECT.

-l, --format=long, --format=verbose

Long format listing (includes permissions, owner, size, modification time, etc.).

-m, --format=commas

Merge the list into a comma-separated series of names.

-n, --numeric-uid-gid

Like -l, but use group-ID and user-ID numbers instead of owner and group names.

-p

Mark directories by appending to them.

-q, --hide-control-chars

Show nonprinting characters as

-r, --reverse

List files in reverse order (by name or by time).

-s, --size

Print size of the files in blocks.

-t, --sort=time

Sort files according to modification time (newest first).

-u, --time=atime, --time=access, --time=use

Sort files according to the file access time.

--version

Print version information on standard output, then exit.

-x, --format=across, --format=horizontal

List files in rows going across the screen.

-A, --almost-all

List all files, including the normally hidden files whose names begin with a period. Does not include the . and . directories.

-B, --ignore-backups

Do not list files ending in ~, unless given as arguments.

-C, --format=vertical

List files in columns (the default format).

-F, --classify

Flag filenames by appending to directories, to executable files, to symbolic links, to FIFOs, and to sockets.

-G, --no-group

In long format, do not display group name.

-I, --ignore pattern

Do not list files whose names match the shell pattern pattern, unless they are given on the command line.

-L, --dereference

List the file or directory referenced by a symbolic link rather than the link itself.

-N, --literal

Do not list filenames.

-Q, --quote-name

Quote filenames with ; quote nongraphic characters with alphabetic and octal backslash sequences.

-R, --recursive

Recursively list subdirectories as well as the specified (or current) directory.

-S, --sort=size

Sort by file size, largest to smallest.

-T, --tabsize n_cols

Assume that each tabstop is n_cols columns wide. The default is 8.

-U, --sort=none

Do not sort files. Similar to -f but display in long format.

-X, --sort=extension

Sort by file extension.

Examples

List all files in the current directory and their sizes; use multiple columns and mark special files:

List the status of directories /bin and /etc:

List C source files in the current directory, the oldest first:

Count the nonhidden files in the current directory: