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 |