dir command in Linux with examples

The dir command in Linux is used to list the contents of a directory, providing an overview of the files and folders within it.

How is the dir command different from ls?

dir command differs from the ls command in the format of listing contents that is in default listing options. By default, dir command lists the files and folders in columns, sorted vertically and special characters are represented by backslash escape sequences. But unlike ls, when the output is on the terminal, it does not produce colored output as ls does.

Syntax

dir [OPTION] [FILE] 

where,

• OPTION: Various flags can be used to modify the output, such as -a for showing hidden files or -l for a long listing format.
• FILE: The directory or file to list. If not specified, the current directory is used.

Commonly Used Options with the dir Command

1. Display All Files Including Hidden Files (-a or --all option):

It displays all the hidden files(starting with `.`) along with two files denoted by `.` and `..` which signals for current and previous directory respectively.

 dir -a 

Example:

2. Show Almost All Files (-A or --almost-all option):

It is similar to -a option except that it does not display files that signals the current directory and previous directory.

 dir -A 

Example:

3. Display Author Information (-l --author option):

Displays author of all the files. -l is required to display the contents in the form of a list.

 dir -l --author 

Example:

4. Ignore Backup Files (-B or --ignore-backups option):

Ignores listing of backed up files. These files end with a `~`.

 dir -B 

5. Enable Colored Output (--color option):

It is used to colorize the output (can be followed by =[TIME]). In the absence of time specification which can be auto, never or always, it colorizes the output always (default behavior).

dir --color 

Example:

6. Classify File Types (-F, --classify option):

Append indicator (one of */=>@|) to the file names which classifies them into their type. The meanings of symbols are as follows:

• A slash (`/`) indicates a directory.
• An asterisk (`*`) indicates an executable.
• An at sign (`@`) indicates a symbolic link.
• A percent sign (`%`) indicates a whiteout.
• An equal sign (`=`) indicates a socket.
• A vertical bar (`|`) indicates a FIFO.

dir -F 

Example:

7. Show File Types Without Executable Indicator (--file-type option):

It is same as -F option, except that it does not append `*` to the executables.

dir --file-type 

Example:

8. Format Output (--format=WORD option):

It formats the listing of entries. The WORD can take the following values: across, commas, horizontal, long, single-column, verbose, vertical. The same can be achieved by passing -x, -m, -x, -l, -1, -l, -C options to dir command for each of the respective values.

dir --format=WORD 

Example 1:

Example 2:

9. Ignore Files Matching a Pattern (--hide=PATTERN or --ignore=PATTERN option):

It ignores files described by shell PATTERN while listing the contents of a directory.

dir --hide=PATTERN 

Example:

10. Display Numeric User and Group IDs (-n, --numeric-uid-gid option):

This option is similar to the long listing that is -l option except that it lists numeric user and group IDs.

 dir -n 

11. List Files in Reverse Order (-r, --reverse option):

Use this option to list the files in reverse order based on the sorting criteria.

 dir -r 

Example:

12. List Subdirectories Recursively (-R, --recursive option):

The -R option lists all subdirectories recursively, making it useful for exploring directory structures.

 dir -R 

Example:

13. Sort Files by a Specified Parameter (--sort=PARAMETER):

To list files in a sorted manner described by the PARAMETER. The PARAMETER can take the following values: none (-U), size (-S), time (-t), version (-v), extension (-X). Instead of passing --sort option, the flags indicated in the brackets can directly be passed as options to sort the listing.

 dir --sort=PARAMETER 

Example 1:

Example 2:

14. Display Help Information (--help option):

Use the --help option to display a list of all available options and exit.

dir --help 

Example:

15. Show Version Information (--version option):

The --version option displays the version of the dir command.

dir --version 

Conclusion

The dir command in Linux is a versatile and valuable tool for listing directory contents. It offers various options for displaying file information, sorting, and filtering results, making it a useful alternative to the ls command. By mastering the dir command, you can effectively navigate and manage your Linux filesystem.