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In Linux, files and directories follow specific naming rules that users should adhere to for compatibility and ease of use. Here's a tutorial on Linux file (directory) naming rules:
Allowed characters:
In Linux, filenames and directory names can contain any characters except the forward slash /, which is reserved as the path separator. The following characters are generally allowed:
A-Z, a-z, 0-9., ,, ', ", -, _, :, ;, |~, !, @, #, $, %, ^, &, *, (, ), +, {, }, [, ], <, >, ?Case sensitivity:
Linux filenames and directory names are case-sensitive. This means that file.txt, File.txt, and FILE.TXT are considered different files.
Hidden files and directories:
In Linux, files and directories that start with a dot . are considered hidden. These hidden files and directories are not shown by default when using the ls command. To display hidden files and directories, use the -a flag with ls:
ls -a
File extensions:
Linux does not rely on file extensions to determine a file's type. However, it is a good practice to use file extensions to help users identify the contents of a file. Common file extensions in Linux include:
.txt: Text files.conf: Configuration files.sh: Shell scripts.log: Log filesAvoid using spaces:
Although spaces are allowed in filenames and directory names, they can be problematic in the command line as they are treated as delimiters between arguments. To avoid issues, use underscores _, hyphens -, or camel case (e.g., MyFile.txt) instead of spaces.
Length limitations:
Linux has a maximum filename length of 255 characters and a maximum path length of 4,096 characters (including the full path and the filename). However, for practical purposes, it's best to keep filenames and directory names reasonably short and descriptive.
Avoid special characters in critical files and directories:
While Linux allows most special characters in filenames and directory names, it's best to avoid using them in critical system files and directories for compatibility and ease of use. Stick to alphanumeric characters, underscores, hyphens, and periods in essential files and directories.
By following these Linux file and directory naming rules, you can ensure better compatibility, easier navigation, and more consistent user experience across various Linux environments.
Renaming files and directories in accordance with Linux conventions:
mv command to rename files and directories:mv old_file_name new_file_name