Linux/Unix: Quick Guide / Useful Commands (ls, pwd, date, cal)

Introduction – Why Master Basic Linux/Unix Commands?

If you’re new to Linux or Unix systems, the terminal may seem intimidating. But a handful of essential commands can make navigation, file management, and daily tasks incredibly efficient. Commands like ls, pwd, date, and cal form the foundation of shell interaction.

In this quick-start guide, you’ll learn:

• What each command does and when to use it
• Syntax and examples for basic Linux/Unix commands
• Real-time terminal output and usage tips

ls – List Directory Contents

Syntax:

ls [options] [path]

Description:

The ls command lists files and directories in the current location or the specified path.

Examples:

ls
ls -l          # Long listing with permissions, size, date
ls -a          # Include hidden files (dotfiles)
ls -lh         # Human-readable sizes

Output:

drwxr-xr-x  2 user user 4096 Jun 15 10:00 Documents
-rw-r--r--  1 user user  102 Jun 15 09:59 notes.txt

pwd – Print Working Directory

Syntax:

pwd

Description:

Displays the absolute path of the current directory you’re in.

Example:

pwd

Output:

/home/user/Documents

Useful when you’re lost in the file system and want to confirm your current location.

date – Display Current Date and Time

Syntax:

date [options]

Description:

Prints the system’s current date and time.

Example:

date

Output:

Sat Jun 15 12:45:30 IST 2025

Format the Output:

date +"%d-%m-%Y %H:%M:%S"

Output:

15-06-2025 12:45:30

Great for logging events or displaying time in shell scripts.

cal – Display Calendar

Syntax:

cal [month] [year]

Description:

Shows a calendar view of the current month or any month/year you specify.

Examples:

cal              # Show current month
cal 12 2025      # Show December 2025

Output:

     June 2025
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7
 8  9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30

Handy for quick date lookups without leaving the terminal.

Combine Commands for Productivity

Use chaining and redirection to combine basic commands:

Example:

echo "Today is: $(date)" > today.txt
ls -l >> today.txt

This saves the date and file listing into today.txt.

Summary – Recap & Next Steps

These four commands—ls, pwd, date, and cal—are your essential tools for navigating and interacting with a Linux/Unix system. With just these, you can view files, check your location, see the date/time, and plan with a calendar.

Key Takeaways:

• ls lists files and supports many useful options like -l, -a, and -h.
• pwd shows your exact current directory path.
• date helps in tracking time, formatting timestamps, or logging.
• cal offers an instant calendar without opening apps.

FAQs

How can I list hidden files in Linux?
Use ls -a. Hidden files begin with a . and won’t show with just ls.

What does pwd stand for?
pwd means Print Working Directory, showing your current location in the file system.

How do I display time in a specific format?
Use:

date +"%d-%m-%Y %I:%M %p"

Can I use cal on any Linux distro?
Yes. If it’s not pre-installed, you can install it using:

sudo apt install bsdmainutils     # Debian/Ubuntu
sudo yum install util-linux       # RHEL/CentOS