cd – Change the users current working directory

The cd command is a Linux command that allows the user to change the current working directory. It is used to navigate the file system and move from one directory to another. The command is used in a shell or terminal window, and it is one of the most frequently used commands in Linux.

Overview

The cd command is followed by a directory name or a path to a directory. When the command is executed, the user’s current working directory is changed to the specified directory. If the directory name is not specified, the command changes the user’s current working directory to their home directory.

Examples

To change the current working directory to the Documents directory, use the following command:

cd Documents/

To change the current working directory to the parent directory, use the following command:

cd ..

To change the current working directory to the root directory, use the following command:

cd /

Specific use cases

• To navigate to a directory that contains files that you want to access or modify.
• To navigate to a directory where you want to create a new file or directory.
• To navigate to a directory where you want to execute a command or script.

Options

The cd command has a few options that can be used to modify its behavior. Here is a table of available options:

Troubleshooting tips

• If you get an error message that says “No such file or directory,” make sure that the directory name or path is correct.
• If you get a permission denied error, make sure that you have the necessary permissions to access the directory.
• If you get a “command not found” error, make sure that the cd command is installed on your system.

Notes

• The cd command is a built-in command in most shells, including Bash and Zsh.
• The cd command is case-sensitive, so make sure that you use the correct capitalization when specifying directory names.