Unix Command -ls (list)

ls (list):-

When you first login, your current wo



rking directory is your home directory. Your home directory has the same name as your user-name, for example, ee91ab, and it is where your personal files and subdirectories are saved.

To find out what is in your home directory, type

% ls

The ls command ( lowercase L and lowercase S ) lists the contents of your current working directory.

To list all files in your home directory including those whose names begin with a dot, type

% ls -a

As you can see, ls -a lists files that are normally hidden.

ls -l

Here, ls -l (-l is character not one) shows file or directory, size, modified date and time, file or folder name and owner of file and it’s permission.

ls -lh

With combination of -lh option, shows sizes in human readable format.

ls -F

Using -F option with ls command, will add the ‘/’ Character at the end each directory.

ls -R

ls -R option will list very long listing directory trees.


ls -ltr

With combination of -ltr will shows latest modification file or directory date as last.

ls -IS

With combination of -lS displays file size in order, will display big in size first.

ls - i

We can see some number printed before file / directory name. With -i options list file / directory with inode number.

ls --version

Check version of ls command.

ls -n

To display UID and GID of files and directories. use option -n with ls command.

To order files based on last modified time(In Reverse Order):

$ ls -ltr