ls List contents of directories Linux Command

ls

ls [options] [names]

Description

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.

-b, --escape
Display nonprinting characters in octal and alphabetic format.

-c, --time-ctime, --time=status
List files by status change time (not creation/modification time).

--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.

-f
Print directory contents in exactly the order in which they are stored, without attempting to sort them.

--full-time
List times in full, rather than using the standard abbreviations.

-g
Long listing like -l, but don't show file owners.

-h
Print sizes in kilobytes and megabytes.

--help
Print a help message and then exit.

-i, --inode
List the inode for each file.

--indicator-style=none
Display filenames without the flags assigned by -p or -f (default).

-k, --kilobytes
If file sizes are being listed, print them in kilobytes. This option overrides the environment variable POSIXLY_CORRECT.

-l, --format=long, --format=verbose
Long format listing (includes permissions, owner, size, modification time, etc.).

-m, --format=commas
Merge the list into a comma-separated series of names.

-n, --numeric-uid-gid
Like -l, but use group ID and user ID numbers instead of owner and group names.

-o
Long listing like -l, but don't show group information.

-p, --filetype, --indicator-style=file-type
Mark directories by appending / to them.

-q, --hide-control-chars
Show nonprinting characters as ? (default for display to a terminal).

-r, --reverse
List files in reverse order (by name or by time).

-s, --size
Print file size in blocks.

--show-control-chars
Show nonprinting characters verbatim (default for printing to a file).

--si
Similar to -h, but uses powers of 1,000 instead of 1,024.

-t, --sort=time
Sort files according to modification time (newest first).

-u, --time=atime, --time=access, --time=use
Sort files according to file-access time.

--version
Print version information on standard output, then exit.

-x, --format=across, --format=horizontal
List files in rows going across the screen.

-v, --sort=version
Interpret the digits in names such as file.6 and file.6.1 as versions, and order filenames by version.

-w, --width=n
Format output to fit n columns.

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

-B, --ignore-backups
Do not list files ending in ~ unless given as arguments.

-C, --format=vertical
List files in columns (the default format).

-D, --dired
List in a format suitable for Emacs dired mode.

-F, --classify, --indicator-style=classify
Flag filenames by appending / to directories, * to executable files, @ to symbolic links, | to FIFOs, and = to sockets.

-G, --no-group
In long format, do not display group name.

-H, --dereference-command-line
When symbolic links are given on the command line, follow the link and list information from the actual file.

-I, --ignore pattern
Do not list files whose names match the shell pattern pattern, unless they are given on the command line.

-L, --dereference
List the file or directory referenced by a symbolic link rather than the link itself.

-N, --literal
Display special graphic characters that appear in filenames.

-Q, --quote-name
Quote filenames with "; quote nongraphic characters.

-R, --recursive
List directories and their contents recursively.

-Rfile, --reload-state file
Load state from file before starting execution.

-S, --sort=size
Sort by file size, largest to smallest.

-U, sort=none
Do not sort files.

-X, sort=extension
Sort by file extension, then by filename.