Top 20 Linux Commands Every Beginner Must Know

If you're starting your journey with Linux, learning the command line is one of the most important skills you can develop.

In this guide, we’ll cover the top 20 Linux commands that every beginner should know.

1. pwd (Print Working Directory)

pwd

Shows your current location in the file system.

2. ls (List Files)

ls

Lists files and directories.

3. cd (Change Directory)

cd /home

Moves you between directories.

4. mkdir (Make Directory)

mkdir newfolder

Creates a new folder.

5. rm (Remove)

rm file.txt

Deletes files.

6. cp (Copy)

cp file.txt backup.txt

Copies files.

7. mv (Move)

mv file.txt folder/

Moves or renames files.

8. touch

touch file.txt

Creates an empty file.

9. cat

cat file.txt

Displays file contents.

10. nano

nano file.txt

Simple text editor.

11. chmod

chmod 755 script.sh

Changes file permissions.

12. chown

chown user:group file.txt

Changes file ownership.

13. sudo

sudo apt update

Runs commands as administrator.

14. apt / dnf

sudo apt install nginx

Installs software.

15. systemctl

systemctl status nginx

Manages services.

16. top

top

Shows system processes.

17. df

df -h

Shows disk usage.

18. du

du -sh *

Shows folder sizes.

19. ping

ping google.com

Tests network connection.

20. clear

clear

Clears the terminal screen.

Why These Commands Matter

These commands form the foundation of Linux system administration. Mastering them allows you to control your system efficiently.

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to learn Linux is by practicing these commands yourself.

👉 Start practicing Linux commands in a live lab now

Final Thoughts

Learning Linux commands may seem overwhelming at first, but with consistent practice, you’ll quickly gain confidence and skill.