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You get comfortable with the Linux terminal by using it for small, reversible tasks—not by memorizing a long list of commands. Start by checking where you are, listing files, and moving between folders; then practise creating and copying files in a dedicated folder under your home directory. When you are unsure, use the command’s help or manual before trying an unfamiliar option.
What the terminal does—and what the shell does
A terminal is a text interface to your computer. Ubuntu’s beginner tutorial describes the Linux command line as “a text interface to your computer.” In a terminal window, the shell is the program that reads what you type and runs the command. “Terminal,” “shell,” “console,” “prompt,” and “command line” are often used loosely, but they are not quite the same thing.
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The prompt is the place where you enter a command. Press Enter to run it; the shell then displays a result or returns to the prompt. Ubuntu’s Desktop tutorial for Ubuntu 26.04 is designed for people with no prior command-line experience and uses practical exercises to build familiarity. The examples below use common commands, but details and defaults can vary by Linux distribution and shell.
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Open a terminal and run each command on its own. These first commands let you inspect your surroundings without changing files.
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Check the current directory with pwd
pwdpwd prints the working directory—the folder the shell is currently using. Many file commands interpret a relative path from this location. If you are unsure where a command will act, check pwd first. Ubuntu’s server tutorial explains the current-directory concept and command help in its command-line tutorial.
See files with ls
lsls lists items in the current directory. To include hidden files and show a longer listing, try:
ls -laHidden files commonly have names beginning with a dot. Ubuntu’s CLI cheat sheet covers these basic file and directory commands.
Move with cd
cd ..cd changes the current directory. The example moves up one level. To return to your home directory, use:
cd ~You can also enter a particular folder by giving its path, such as cd Documents if that folder exists in your current location. Use pwd afterward to confirm where you landed.
Make a safe practice folder
Keep early file experiments in a new folder under your home directory. That makes them easy to locate and remove later, and helps separate practice from important files. First return home, then create and enter the folder:
cd ~
mkdir terminal-practice
cd terminal-practice
pwdmkdir creates the directory; the final pwd confirms that you are inside it. If you already have a folder with that name, choose another name or use the existing folder rather than treating the message as a reason to delete anything.
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Practise with files without risking important data
Create an empty file and inspect it
touch notes.txt
cat notes.txttouch creates an empty file if it does not exist; it does not write text into it. cat displays the file’s contents, so an empty file produces no visible text. If you want to add content, open the file in a text editor, save it, and run cat notes.txt again to see the result.
Copy and rename the practice file
cp notes.txt notes-copy.txt
mv notes-copy.txt renamed.txtcp makes a copy. mv moves a file or, when the destination is a new name in the same directory, renames it. Use ls to check the result. These operations act on paths relative to your working directory unless you provide another path.
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Read longer files with less
less renamed.txtless opens a file in a pager so you can read it page by page. Press q to quit and return to the shell. The Ubuntu CLI cheat sheet is a useful quick reference for these commands.
Use built-in help instead of guessing
You do not need to memorize every option before using a command. Ask the system for help when you need it:
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteman commandopens the manual page for a command, such asman ls.command --helpusually prints a shorter option summary, such asls --help.man -k wordsearches manual-page descriptions for a topic, which can help when you know what you want to do but not which command to use.
Inside a manual page, type /word to search for that word and press q to exit. The Ubuntu CLI cheat sheet points readers to manual pages for fuller explanations.
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Build habits that keep mistakes small
- Check your location. Run
pwdbefore file operations when you are uncertain; relative paths are interpreted from the working directory. - Inspect before changing. Use
lsto see what is in the directory, and read help or a manual page if a command or option is unfamiliar. - Treat deletion as permanent work.
rmdeletes files.rm -rremoves a non-empty directory and its contents, so do not use it casually. Keep experiments in your practice folder and verify the target path before deleting anything. - Use administrator privileges sparingly. Ubuntu documents
sudoas a way to run a command temporarily with administrator privileges. Understand the command and its target before addingsudo; do not run an unexplained command just because a web page says to paste it. - Prefer trusted software sources. Ubuntu identifies its official distribution repositories as the safest default source for software. Be especially cautious with instructions that download and immediately execute material from elsewhere, or change file permissions.
Ubuntu’s guidance on administrative privileges explains why elevated commands deserve care and discusses software sources.
Keep practising with a small routine
When terminal instructions feel intimidating, repeat the same low-risk sequence in your practice folder: check the location, list the files, create or inspect a test file, and consult help when an option is unclear. Once those steps feel familiar, add new commands one at a time and check their effects before moving on. Ubuntu also provides a beginner command-line tutorial with practical exercises; the command reference and manual pages remain useful when you need a detail rather than another list to memorize.
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