List the files

A filesystem is a tree

A Linux filesystem is a tree of folders (called directories) and files. At any moment your shell sits in one directory, your current working directory: the "you are here" dot on a mall map. Commands act relative to where you're standing, so the first instinct of any seasoned operator landing on an unfamiliar machine is to look around.

• pwd (print working directory) answers "where am I right now?" with the full path from the root of the tree.
• ls lists what's in the current directory. Add -l for the long format: one file per line, with permissions, owner, size and modified time.

Type a single command into the terminal and press Enter.