Displaying the Current Working Directory in Linux | pwd Command

The pwd command in Linux displays the full path of your current working directory from the root directory.

• It helps users identify their present location within the filesystem.
• pwd can be a shell built-in command (pwd) or an external binary (/bin/pwd).
• The $PWD environment variable stores the current directory path.
• The command supports two common options: -L (logical) and -P (physical).

It helps users identify their exact location within the Linux file system hierarchy.

Displaying the Current Working Directory

To print the current working directory, simply enter:

pwd

• The output will be the absolute path of your current location in the file system.
• In the given example the directory /home/shital/logs/ is a symbolic link for a target directory /var/logs/ 

Syntax

The basic syntax of the 'pwd' command is

pwd [OPTIONS]

This command doesn't have any arguments or options, but it can accept flags for specific behavior. 

1. Displaying the Current Working Directory Using Binary pwd (/bin/pwd):

The binary /bin/pwd displays the absolute path of the current working directory directly from the system’s executable, ensuring accurate results even in complex environments.

Syntax:

/bin/pwd

• The default behavior of Built-in pwd is the same as pwd -L. Using "pwd -L" to obtain the symbolic path of a directory containing a symbolic link. 
•  The default behavior of /bin/pwd is the same as pwd -P. Utilizing "pwd -P" to display the actual path, ignoring symbolic links.

2. The $PWD Environment variable. 

The $PWD environment variable is a dynamic variable that stores the path of the current working directory. It holds the same value as 'pwd -L' – representing the symbolic path.

Executing this command prints the symbolic path stored in the $PWD environment variable

Flags For Specific behavior in `pwd` command in Linux.

• The "-L" flag resolves symbolic links and prints the path of the target directory.
• The default behavior of the shell built-in "pwd" is equivalent to using "pwd -L".
• Mention the "-P" flag, which displays the actual path without resolving symbolic links.
• The default behavior of the binary "/bin/pwd" is the same as using "pwd -P"

pwd -L: Prints the symbolic path. 
pwd -P: Prints the actual path.

Suggested Quiz

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5 Questions

What is the core purpose of the pwd command in Linux?

• A

  To list files

• B

  To show the current working directory path

• C

  To change directories

• D

  To display user permissions

Explanation:

pwd outputs the exact filesystem location you are currently in.

Which option of pwd shows the real physical path without resolving symbolic links?

• A

  pwd -L

• B

  pwd -a

• C

  pwd -P

• D

  pwd -s

Explanation:

pwd -P prints the actual path on disk and ignores symlink redirection.

If a directory /home/user/logs is a symlink to /var/logs, which command shows /home/user/logs?

• A

  pwd -P

• B

  pwd -L

• C

  /bin/pwd

• D

  echo $PWD -P

Explanation:

pwd -L displays the symbolic path exactly as it appears, even if it points elsewhere.

What value does the $PWD environment variable store?

• A

  Physical directory only

• B

  Username information

• C

  Symbolic current directory path

• D

  Home directory path always

Explanation:

$PWD holds the logical (symbolic) representation of your current working directory.

Which version of pwd behaves by default like pwd -P?

• A

  Shell built-in pwd

• B

  pwd executed inside terminal emulator

• C

  External binary /bin/pwd

• D

  Any alias named pwd

Explanation:

/bin/pwd uses physical resolution, matching the behavior of pwd -P by default.

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