> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://styryshkin.gitbook.io/mac-setup/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://styryshkin.gitbook.io/mac-setup/cheatsheet/terminal.md).

# Terminal

## CORE COMMANDS

| Key/Command     | Description                                                               |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| cd \[folder]    | Change directory e.g. `cd Documents`                                      |
| cd              | Home directory                                                            |
| cd \~           | Home directory                                                            |
| cd /            | Root of drive                                                             |
| cd -            | Previous directory                                                        |
| ls              | Short listing                                                             |
| ls -l           | Long listing                                                              |
| ls -a           | Listing incl. hidden files                                                |
| ls -lh          | Long listing with Human readable file sizes                               |
| ls -R           | Entire content of folder recursively                                      |
| sudo \[command] | Run command with the security privileges of the superuser (Super User DO) |
| open \[file]    | Opens a file ( as if you double clicked it )                              |
| top             | Displays active processes. Press q to quit                                |
| nano \[file]    | Opens the file using the nano editor                                      |
| vim \[file]     | Opens the file using the vim editor                                       |
| clear           | Clears the screen                                                         |
| reset           | Resets the terminal display                                               |

## FILE MANAGEMENT

| Key/Command                | Description                                                    |
| -------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| touch \[file]              | Create a new file                                              |
| pwd                        | Full path to working directory                                 |
| .                          | Current folder, e.g. `ls .`                                    |
| ..                         | Parent/enclosing directory, e.g. `ls ..`                       |
| ls -l ..                   | Long listing of parent directory                               |
| cd ../../                  | Move 2 levels up                                               |
| cat                        | Concatenate to screen                                          |
| rm \[file]                 | Remove a file, e.g. `rm data.tmp`                              |
| rm -I \[file]              | Remove with confirmation                                       |
| rm -r \[dir]               | Remove a directory and contents                                |
| rm -f \[file]              | Force removal without confirmation                             |
| cp \[file] \[newfile]      | Copy file to file                                              |
| cp \[file] \[dir]          | Copy file to directory                                         |
| mv \[file] \[new filename] | Move/Rename, e.g. `mv file1.ad /tmp`                           |
| pbcopy < \[file]           | Copies file contents to clipboard                              |
| pbpaste                    | Paste clipboard contents                                       |
| pbpaste > \[file]          | Paste clipboard contents into file, `pbpaste > paste-test.txt` |

## CHAINING COMMANDS

| Key/Command                    | Description                                          |
| ------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| \[command-a]; \[command-b]     | Run command A and then B, regardless of success of A |
| \[command-a] && \[command-b]   | Run command B if A succeeded                         |
| \[command-a] \|\| \[command-b] | Run command B if A failed                            |
| \[command-a] &                 | Run command A in background                          |

## DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT

| Key/Command            | Description                                               |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| mkdir \[dir]           | Create new directory                                      |
| mkdir -p \[dir]/\[dir] | Create nested directories                                 |
| rmdir \[dir]           | Remove directory ( only operates on empty directories )   |
| rm -R \[dir]           | Remove directory and contents                             |
| less \[file]           | Output file content delivered in screensize chunks        |
| \[command] > \[file]   | Push output to file, keep in mind it will get overwritten |
| \[command] >> \[file]  | Append output to existing file                            |
| \[command] < \[file]   | Tell command to read content from a file                  |

## SEARCH

| Key/Command                            | Description                                                                                   |
| -------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| find \[dir] -name \[search\_pattern]   | Search for files, e.g. `find /Users -name "file.txt"`                                         |
| grep \[search\_pattern] \[file]        | Search for all lines that contain the pattern, e.g. `grep "Tom" file.txt`                     |
| grep -r \[search\_pattern] \[dir]      | Recursively search in all files in specified directory for all lines that contain the pattern |
| grep -v \[search\_pattern] \[file]     | Search for all lines that do NOT contain the pattern                                          |
| grep -I \[search\_pattern] \[file]     | Search for all lines that contain the case-insensitive pattern                                |
| mdfind \[search\_pattern]              | Spotlight search for files (names, content, other metadata), e.g. `mdfind skateboard`         |
| mdfind -onlyin \[dir] -name \[pattern] | Spotlight search for files named like pattern in the given directory                          |