A hidden dot file (or dotfile) is a file whose name begins with a period, such as .bashrc or .config. On Unix-like systems, that leading dot makes it disappear from many default directory listings and file-browser views. It does not restrict access or protect the file.
What makes a file a dotfile?
The name is the defining feature: its first character is a period (.). A directory whose name begins with a period follows the same convention; .git is one example. Dotfiles and dot directories are common on Linux and macOS, but the name alone does not identify what the item does.
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Examples include .bashrc, .profile, .vimrc, and .config. These are examples of naming, not a guarantee that every computer has them. A dotfile is not the same thing as the shell . command, a relative path such as ./program, or a particular file format.
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Why are dotfiles usually hidden?
On Unix-like systems, the leading period is a visibility convention: ordinary listings and some interfaces omit dot-prefixed names by default. The convention is useful for keeping configuration and other less frequently accessed items out of a routine view. The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard says that user-specific application configuration files are stored in the home directory in a file beginning with a dot. It recommends using a dot directory for applications that need multiple such files, with the files inside named without leading dots. This is a convention, not a rule followed by every application. Filesystem Hierarchy Standard: /home
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Hidden does not mean private or secure. A dot does not encrypt a file or prevent a user or program with appropriate access from opening it. It usually just changes whether the name appears in a default view.
How can you show or open a dotfile?
Linux and Unix-like command lines
To include hidden entries in a listing of the current directory, run:
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ls -aTo open a particular file, include its leading dot in the path. For example, to print .bashrc in the current directory:
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macOS Finder and apps
Apple’s archived File System Programming Guide describes Finder and some user-facing interfaces as hiding dot-prefixed files automatically. It also notes that macOS has other kinds of hidden items and that Cocoa file APIs do not automatically filter invisible items. That means an app’s behavior can differ from Finder’s; the dot prefix is not the only way an item may be hidden. Apple File System Programming Guide (archived)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the dot does—and does not—tell you
- It tells you about the name: the first character is a period.
- It often explains why the item is absent from a default view: many Unix-like listings and interfaces omit dot-prefixed names unless asked to show them.
- It does not tell you the file’s purpose or contents: those depend on the application and the file itself.
- It does not grant or remove access: visibility and permissions are separate.
Ubuntu’s beginner guide demonstrates the leading-dot convention and accessing a hidden file by naming it explicitly. Ubuntu: The Linux command line for beginners
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