Working with files and directories

Creating things

mkdir creates directories (-p creates parents too). touch creates an empty file or updates a timestamp.

$ mkdir -p projects/2026/q4
$ touch projects/2026/q4/plan.txt

Copying and moving

cp SRC DEST copies; add -r for directories. mv moves or renames. If the destination is an existing directory, the file goes inside it.

Redirection

> sends a command's output to a file, replacing it. >> appends. 2> captures error messages.

$ echo "first" > log.txt
$ echo "second" >> log.txt
$ cat log.txt
first
second

Removing safely

rm deletes immediately; there is no recycle bin. rm -r deletes directories and everything inside. Run ls on the same path first so you see exactly what you are about to remove.