Quick Reference: Unix Commands

Commonly used commands and options on UW Uniform Access Unix computers.

Command	Action	Example
alias	Creates a temporary name for a Unix command.	alias   name command
	To remove an alias:	unalias   name
ansiprint	Prints a file to a printer connected to your computer.	ansiprint   file
assets	Displays your account resources, use, and threshold.
bg	Places a suspended job in the background.
cat	Displays a specified file.	cat   file
cd	Changes current directory to a different directory.	cd   directory
	To change back to your home directory:	cd
	Directory abbreviations: ~     Home directory ..     Parent directory .       Current working directory
chmod	Changes permission status for a file or directory.	chmod   code file chmod   code directory
	To keep a file private:	chmod   600 file
	To give everyone read permission:	chmod   664 file
compress	Reduces the size of a file and adds .Z to the file's name.	compress   file
	To restore a compressed file:	uncompress   file.Z
cp	Makes a copy of a file.	cp   file1 file2
	To copy a file into a different directory:	cp   file directory
	To inquire before overwriting an existing file:	cp -i   file1 file2
diff	Compares two files and displays the differences.
fg	Restarts a suspended job in the foreground.
finger	Displays user information at the specified computer.	finger   userid@computer
	To change your finger entry information:	chfn
ftp	Starts the file transfer program with a remote computer.	ftp   address
grep	Finds lines in a file matching a character pattern.	grep -icvn   pattern file
	-i     Ignores case -c     Lists count of lines that contain pattern -v     Lists all lines except those with pattern -n     Lists line number for each found pattern
head	Displays the first ten lines of a file.	head   file
	To display the first n number of lines:	head -n   file
help	Displays an online help note.	help   note
	To display a list of help notes:	help -l
history	Displays a list of your most recent commands.	history
	To repeat the nth command from the list:	!   n
	To repeat your most recent command:	!!
jobs	Displays active jobs and their corresponding job numbers.	jobs
	To start a job in the background:	job   &
	To return a job to the foreground by the job number:	fg   %number
	To send a running job to the background:	<Control>z bg
kill	Terminates a process by its process identification number.	kill   pid
	To use the strongest form of the kill command:	kill -9   pid
logout	Ends your computer session.
ls	Lists the files and subdirectories in your current directory.	ls -Fltra
	-l     Lists long format -t     Lists by modification time -r     Lists in reverse order -F     Lists file type with special character -a     Lists all files including dot (.) files
lynx	Starts a text-only Web browser session at UW home page.	lynx
	Starts a Web browser session at a specific Web address.	lynx   url
man	Displays Unix Manual entry for a command.	man   command
	To search Manual Index for a keyword or topic:	man -k   keyword
mesg	Displays your talk and write message access status.	mesg
	To set your message status to yes or no:	mesg y (or n)
mkdir	Creates a new directory within your current directory.	mkdir   directory
more	Displays a file one screen at a time.	more   file
	Use <Spacebar> to scroll forward and q to quit.
mv	Moves a file to a different directory.	mv   file directory
	Moves a directory to a second directory.	mv   directory1 directory2
	To rename file1 as file2:	mv   file1 file2
	To rename directory1 as directory2:	mv   directory1 directory2
	To inquire before overwriting an existing file:	mv -i   file1 file2
passwd	Starts program to change account password.
pico	Starts the Pico text editor with a file.	pico   file
pine	Starts the Pine® electronic mail program.
ps	Displays processes and their corresponding process identification numbers.
pwd	Displays absolute pathname of current directory.
rm	Permanently deletes a file.	rm   file
	To verify prior to removal:	rm -i   file
rmdir	Deletes an empty directory.	rmdir   directory
	To verify prior to removal:	rmdir -i   directory
spell	Checks the spelling in a file.	spell   file
staffdir	Displays the Online UW Staff Directory.	staffdir   "lastname, firstname"
	To display all fields:	staffdir -full   "lastname, firstname"
telnet	Starts a telnet session with a remote computer.	telnet   address
vi	Starts the vi text editor with a file.	vi   file
w	Displays a list of who is on system.
wc	Counts lines, words, and characters in a file.	wc   file

Special commands and characters:

Redirection

Wildcards used in filenames

Control codes

UW Technology
help@u.washington.edu
Modified: October 9, 2007