How to make a folder in Linux or Unix

I

am a new Linux user. How do I make a folder in Linux or Unix system using the CLI?

 

You need to use the mkdir command to create new directories or folders in Linux or Unix-like system. The syntax is:

mkdir folderName

mkdir [option] folderName

This page shows you how to create new folders and directories on Linux or Unix-like system using the command line option.

How to create a new folder named foo

Open the Terminal app and type the following command:

mkdir foo

 

To see directory listing use the ls command:

ls

ls -l

 

You can simultaneously create any number of folders/directories:

mkdir dir1 dir2 dir3 dir_4

 

Verify it:

ls -l

 

Fig.01: How to create Folders/Directories In Linux/Unix with the mkdir command

 

Let us try to understand the following line:

drwxr-xr-x 2 vivek vivek  4096 Aug  7 20:57 dir_4

drwxr-xr-x – The file mode (see below for file mode).

2 – Number of links

vivek – The owner name

vivek – The group name

4096 – The number of bytes in the file

Aug 7 20:57 – The date when the file was last modified

dir_4 – File/dir name path

More on file mode

The entry type character describes (the first character drwxr-xr-x) the type of file, as follows:

• : Regular file.
• b : Block special file.
• c : Character special file.
• d : Directory.
• l : Symbolic link.
• p : FIFO.
• s : Socket.
• w : Whiteout.
• So basically d character in above entry tell us that it is a directory/folder. The next three fields are three characters ach: owner permissions, group permissions, and other permissions. Each field has three character positions:
•     1. If r, the file is readable; if -, it is not readable.
•     2. If w, the file is writable; if -, it is not writable.
•     3. The first of the following that applies:
•         S     If in the owner permissions, the file is not exe-
•        cutable and set-user-ID mode is set.  If in the
•        group permissions, the file is not executable and
•        set-group-ID mode is set.
•         s     If in the owner permissions, the file is exe-
•        cutable and set-user-ID mode is set.  If in the
•        group permissions, the file is executable and set-
•        group-ID mode is set.
•         x     The file is executable or the directory is search-
•        able.
•         –     The file is neither readable, writable, exe-
•        cutable, nor set-user-ID nor set-group-ID mode,
•        nor sticky.  (See below.)
•   These next two apply only to the third character in the last
•   group (other permissions).
•         T     The sticky bit is set (mode 1000), but not execute
•        or search permission.  (See chmod(1) or
•        sticky(7).)
•         t     The sticky bit is set (mode 1000), and is search-
•        able or executable.  (See chmod(1) or sticky(7).)
• How to create a new directory named bar
• Open the Terminal app and type the following command but pass the -v option to get visual confirmation about your folder/directory name:
• mkdir -v foo

Sample outputs:

mkdir: created directory  foo

How to make parent folder if needed

The syntax is:

mkdir -p dir1/dir2

mkdir -p parent/child

mkdir -p pictures/vacations

ls -l

ls -l pictures

How to make a folder/directory and set permissions on it

New directories are by default created with the read, write and execute permissions. Pass the -m option to directory to set the the permissions of new directories:

mkdir -m {permissions} {dirName}

mkdir -m 777 delta

ls -l

 

To create a directory named delta for which all three types of permissions were enabled for all users, the sequence 777 would be added after the -m as above. More information about mkdir can be obtained from the mkdir man page:

man mkdir

 

Or

mkdir –help

 

Sample outputs:

Usage: mkdir [OPTION]… DIRECTORY…

Create the DIRECTORY(ies), if they do not already exist.

 

Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too.

-m, –mode=MODE   set file mode (as in chmod), not a=rwx – umask

-p, –parents     no error if existing, make parent directories as needed

-v, –verbose     print a message for each created directory

-Z                   set SELinux security context of each created directory

to the default type

–context[=CTX]  like -Z, or if CTX is specified then set the SELinux

or SMACK security context to CTX

–help     display this help and exit

–version  output version information and exit

To delete the directory, use the rmdir command/rm command.