ls Cheatsheet
Quick reference for listing files and directories with ls in Linux
The `ls` command lists files and directories in Linux. This cheatsheet covers the most common listing, sorting, filtering, and output-format options you will use in daily terminal work.
Basic Listing
Use these commands for everyday directory listing.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls | List files in current directory |
ls /path/to/dir | List files in specific directory |
ls -1 | One entry per line |
ls -a | Include hidden files |
ls -A | Include hidden files except . and .. |
Long Format and Metadata
Show permissions, ownership, size, and timestamps.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls -l | Long listing format |
ls -lh | Human-readable file sizes |
ls -la | Long format with hidden files |
ls -n | Numeric UID and GID |
ls -li | Show inode numbers |
Sorting
Sort files by time, size, extension, or version.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls -lt | Sort by modification time (newest first) |
ls -ltr | Sort by modification time (oldest first) |
ls -lS | Sort by file size (largest first) |
ls -lX | Sort by extension |
ls -lv | Natural sort for version-like names |
Time Display
Control which timestamp is shown.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls -lt --time=atime | Sort/show by access time |
ls -lt --time=ctime | Sort/show by status change time |
ls -l --time-style=long-iso | ISO-like date format |
ls -l --full-time | Full timestamp precision |
Directory Views
List directories recursively or show directory entries only.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls -la --group-directories-first | Long listing with directories before files |
ls -d */ | List only directories in current path |
ls -ld /path/to/dir | Show metadata for directory itself |
ls -R | Recursive listing |
ls -laR | Recursive long listing with hidden files |
Output Formatting
Adjust visual style and indicators.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls -F | Append indicator (/, *, @) by file type |
ls -p | Append / to directories |
ls -m | Comma-separated output |
ls -x | List entries across rows instead of down columns |
ls --color=auto | Enable colorized output when supported |
Filtering with Globs
List files that match shell patterns.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls *.log | List files ending in .log |
ls file?.txt | Match single-character wildcard |
ls [ab]*.conf | Match names starting with a or b |
ls -d .[^.]* | List hidden files (common shell pattern) |
Common Patterns
Frequent command combinations.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
ls -lah | Most common detailed listing |
ls -lhS | Largest files first with readable sizes |
ls -lat | Newest files first including hidden entries |
ls -1 | wc -l | Count entries in current directory |
ls -l | grep '^d' | Show only directories from long listing |
Troubleshooting
Quick checks for typical listing issues.
| Issue | Check |
|---|---|
| Hidden files not visible | Add -a or -A |
| File sizes are hard to read | Use -h with -l |
| Wrong sort order | Confirm flags (-t, -S, -X, -r) |
| No color output | Try ls --color=auto and check alias settings |
| Path looks empty | Verify permissions with ls -ld /path |
Related Guides
Use these references for deeper file management workflows.
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
How to List Files in Linux Using the ls Command | Full ls guide with practical examples |
Du Command in Linux | Check disk usage and file sizes |
Linux Commands Cheatsheet | General command quick reference |
