Linux in a Nutshell, 6th Edition

Name

ls

Synopsis

ls [options] [names]

List contents of directories. If no names are given, list the files in the current directory. With one or more names, list files contained in a directory name or that match a file name. names can include filename metacharacters. The options let you display a variety of information in different formats. The most useful options include -F, -R, -l, and -s. Some options don’t make sense together (e.g., -u and -c).

Options

−1, --format=single-column

Print one entry per line of output.

-a, --all

List all files, including the normally hidden files whose names begin with a period.

-A, --almost-all

List all files, including the normally hidden files whose names begin with a period. Does not include the . and .. directories.

-b, --escape

Display nonprinting characters in octal and alphabetic format.

-B, --ignore-backups

Do not list files ending in ˜ unless given as arguments.

-c, --time=ctime, --time=status

List files by status change time (ctime), not creation/modification time. With -l, show ctime and sort by filename; with -lt, show and sort by ctime; otherwise, sort by ctime.

-C, --format=vertical

List files in columns (the default format).

--color[=when]

Colorize the names of files depending on the type of file. Accepted values for when are never, always, or auto.

-d, --directory

Report only on the directory, not its contents; do not dereference symbolic links.

-D, --dired

List in a format suitable for Emacs dired mode.

-f

Print directory contents in order, without attempting ...