ls

list directory contents

References

man ls
Unix LS Command: 15 Practical Examples : https://www.thegeekstuff.com/2009/07/linux-ls-command-examples/

Quickstart

# Common
ls -hl      # List with human readable sizes in long format
ls -ahl     # List all with …
ls -hl file    # List info about file
ls -hl f1 f2   # List info about files

## Range options
# -a : List all ( Do not ignore entries starting with `.` )
# -A : List all except for `.` and `..`
# -d : List dirs

## Format options
# -h : Print sizes in human readable format
# -l : List in long format
# -p : Append '/' indicator to directories ( e.g. dir/ )

# Sort by time
# - Newest first
# - With option -l to show *time sorted by
ls -lt      # Sort by mtime ( content last Modification time )
ls -ltc     # Sort by ctime ( metadata last Changed time )
ls -ltu     # Sort by atime ( last access time )
ls -ltU     # Sort by creation time ( Notice: BSD only! )

## `-r, --reverse` : In reverse order
ls -ltr
ls -ltcr
ls -ltur
ls -ltUr

Options

Filter

-a, --all Do not ignore entries starting with .
-A, --almost-all List all entries except for . and ..
-d, --directory List directories themselves, not their contents
--hide=PATTERN Do not list implied entries matching shell PATTERN (overridden by -a or -A)
-I, --ignore=PATTERN Do not list implied entries matching shell PATTERN

Format

Description

-h, --human-readable With -l, print sizes in human readable format (e.g., 1K 234M 2G)
- Use unit suffixes: Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte and Petabyte in order to reduce the number of digits to three or less using base 2 for sizes.
-l List in long format
- If the output is to a terminal, a total sum for all the file sizes is output on a line before the long listing.

Indicators

--indicator-style=WORD Append indicator with style WORD to entry names :
- none ( default )
- slash ( same as -p )
- file-type ( same as --file-type )
- classify ( same as -F )
-F, --classify Append indicator ( one of */=>@| ) to entries
- Indicators :
  - * executable
  - / directory
  - @ symbolic link ( or that the file has extended attributes )
  - | named pipe
  - = socket
  - > door
--file-type Likewise, except do not append *
-p, --indicator-style=slash Append / indicator to directories

Seldom

-k, --kibibytes Default to 1024-byte blocks for disk usage
--si Likewise, but use powers of 1000 not 1024
-1 List one file per line
-x List entries by lines instead of by columns
-m Fill width with a comma separated list of entries
-L, --dereference When showing file information for a symbolic link, show information for the file the link references rather than for the link itself.
--quoting-style=WORD Use quoting style WORD for entry names :
- literal ''
- locale ‘’ ( ZH )
- shell ( none )
- shell-always ''
- c ""
- escape ( ? )

Sort

Default File Timestamp : Last Modification Time

-S Sort by file size, largest first
-t Sort by time, newest first
- File Timestamps
  - Default : mtime
  - -lt mtime : last modification time (content)
  - -ltc ctime : last changed time (metadata)
  - -ltu atime : last access time
  - -ltU creation time ( BSD only! )
- See details in section "Timestamps" below
-c Sort by ctime ( (metadata) last changed time )
- with -lt : sort by, and show, ctime;
- with -l : show ctime and sort by name;
- otherwise : sort by ctime.
-u Sort by atime ( last access time )
- with -lt : sort by, and show, atime;
- with -l : show atime and sort by name;
- otherwise : sort by atime.
-U Differ on different OS
- On Linux : Do not sort; list entries in directory order
- On BSD : Sort by file creation time
-r, --reverse Reverse order
-R, --recursive List subdirectories recursively
-v Natural sort of (version) numbers within text
-X Sort alphabetically by entry extension

Usage

List

All

List all ( except . & .. )

ls -A

# e.g.
ls -A1 | tail
Documents
Downloads
Library
Movies
Music
OneDrive - elcass
Pictures
Public
README.md
VirtualBox VMs

Details

List with details ( human-readable )

$ ls -hl
total 280
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Nov 23  2017 Applications
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 17:11 Desktop
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 21 18:42 Documents
……

List all with details

ls -Ahl
# e.g.
$ ls -Ahl | tail
drwxr-xr-x    3 icehe  staff    96B Nov 23  2017 Applications
drwx------+  24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 17:11 Desktop
drwx------+  21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 21 18:42 Documents
drwx------+  17 icehe  staff   544B Nov  2 16:20 Downloads
drwx------+  97 icehe  staff   3.0K Sep  2 16:00 Library
drwx------+   9 icehe  staff   288B Jun  8 13:52 Movies
drwx------+  13 icehe  staff   416B Sep 11  2017 Music
drwx------+  29 icehe  staff   928B Oct 29 16:01 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x+   5 icehe  staff   160B Oct 16  2015 Public
-rw-r--r--    1 icehe  staff    70B Aug  5 14:44 README.md

Indicators

Default

$ ls
bin   data0  dev  home  lib64       media  nonexistent  proc  run   srv  tmp  var
boot  data1  etc  lib   lost+found  mnt    opt          root  sbin  sys  usr

Append / indicator to directories

$ ls -p
bin    data0/  dev/  home/  lib64        media/  nonexistent/  proc/  run/  srv/  tmp/  var/
boot/  data1/  etc/  lib    lost+found/  mnt/    opt/          root/  sbin  sys/  usr/

Append indicator ( one of */=>@| ) to entries

$ ls -F
bin@   data0/  dev/  home/  lib64@       media/  nonexistent/  proc/  run/   srv/  tmp/  var/
boot/  data1/  etc/  lib@   lost+found/  mnt/    opt/          root/  sbin@  sys/  usr/

Hide / Ignore

Sample

$ ls -l | head
total 208
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root   root        7 Jul 11 19:37 bin -> usr/bin
dr-xr-xr-x.   5 root   root     4096 Jul 18 14:42 boot
drwxr-xr-x    9 root   root     4096 Jul 19 03:45 data0
drwxr-xr-x    5 root   root     4096 Sep 21 17:51 data1
drwxr-xr-x   18 root   root     3180 Jul 18 14:41 dev
drwxr-xr-x. 148 root   root    12288 Oct 25 19:02 etc
drwxr-xr-x.   2 root   root     4096 Apr 11  2018 home
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root   root        7 Jul 11 19:37 lib -> usr/lib
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root   root        9 Jul 11 19:37 lib64 -> usr/lib64

Hide some files

--hide
-I, --ignore

ls --hide=<shell_pattern>

# e.g.
$ ls -l --hide=b* | head
# or
$ ls -l --ignore=b* | head
total 204
drwxr-xr-x    9 root   root     4096 Jul 19 03:45 data0
drwxr-xr-x    5 root   root     4096 Sep 21 17:51 data1
drwxr-xr-x   18 root   root     3180 Jul 18 14:41 dev
drwxr-xr-x. 148 root   root    12288 Oct 25 19:02 etc
drwxr-xr-x.   2 root   root     4096 Apr 11  2018 home
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root   root        7 Jul 11 19:37 lib -> usr/lib
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root   root        9 Jul 11 19:37 lib64 -> usr/lib64
drwx------.   2 root   root    16384 Apr 25  2018 lost+found
drwxr-xr-x.   2 root   root     4096 Apr 11  2018 media

$ ls -l --hide=[bdl]* | head
# or
$ ls -l --ignore=[bdl]* | head
total 180
drwxr-xr-x. 148 root   root    12288 Oct 25 19:02 etc
drwxr-xr-x.   2 root   root     4096 Apr 11  2018 home
drwxr-xr-x.   2 root   root     4096 Apr 11  2018 media
drwxr-xr-x.   2 root   root     4096 Apr 11  2018 mnt
drwx------.   3 sysmon sysmon   4096 Apr 25  2018 nonexistent
drwxr-xr-x.   9 root   root     4096 Jul 16 17:51 opt
dr-xr-xr-x  379 root   root        0 Jul 18 22:41 proc
dr-xr-x---.  15 root   root     4096 Nov  3 20:32 root
drwxr-xr-x   41 root   root     1200 Oct  9 19:59 run

Link

Default : Show symbolic link itself

$
ls -l
total 208
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Jul 11 19:37 bin -> usr/bin
……
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 7 Jul 11 19:37 lib -> usr/lib
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Jul 11 19:37 lib64 -> usr/lib64
……
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 8 Jul 11 19:37 sbin -> usr/sbin
……

Show real file linked to

$ ls -lL
dr-xr-xr-x.   2 root   root    61440 Oct 26 12:24 bin
……
dr-xr-xr-x.  52 root   root     4096 Aug 29 14:46 lib
dr-xr-xr-x. 118 root   root    98304 Sep 13 16:41 lib64
……
dr-xr-xr-x.   2 root   root    20480 Sep 13 16:28 sbin
……

Sort By

-r options

Show the largest at last ( size )
Show the newest at last ( time )

Size

File Size ( largest first )

$ ls -hlS
total 280
drwx------+ 97 icehe  staff   3.0K Sep  2 16:00 Library
drwx------+ 29 icehe  staff   928B Oct 29 16:01 Pictures
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 17:11 Desktop
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 21 18:42 Documents
drwx------+ 17 icehe  staff   544B Nov  2 16:20 Downloads
drwx------+ 13 icehe  staff   416B Sep 11  2017 Music
drwx------+  9 icehe  staff   288B Jun  8 13:52 Movies
drwxr-xr-x+  5 icehe  staff   160B Oct 16  2015 Public
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Nov 23  2017 Applications
-rw-r--r--   1 icehe  staff    70B Aug  5 14:44 README.md

Size in Reverse Order ( smallest first )

$ ls -hlSr
total 280
-rw-r--r--   1 icehe  staff    70B Aug  5 14:44 README.md
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Nov 23  2017 Applications
drwxr-xr-x+  5 icehe  staff   160B Oct 16  2015 Public
drwx------+  9 icehe  staff   288B Jun  8 13:52 Movies
drwx------+ 13 icehe  staff   416B Sep 11  2017 Music
drwx------+ 17 icehe  staff   544B Nov  2 16:20 Downloads
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 21 18:42 Documents
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 17:11 Desktop
drwx------+ 29 icehe  staff   928B Oct 29 16:01 Pictures
drwx------+ 97 icehe  staff   3.0K Sep  2 16:00 Library

Time

mtime

Default : Modification Time ( newest first )

$ ls -hlt
total 280
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 17:11 Desktop
drwx------+ 17 icehe  staff   544B Nov  2 16:20 Downloads
drwx------+ 29 icehe  staff   928B Oct 29 16:01 Pictures
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 21 18:42 Documents
drwx------+ 97 icehe  staff   3.0K Sep  2 16:00 Library
-rw-r--r--   1 icehe  staff    70B Aug  5 14:44 README.md
drwx------+  9 icehe  staff   288B Jun  8 13:52 Movies
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Nov 23  2017 Applications
drwx------+ 13 icehe  staff   416B Sep 11  2017 Music
drwxr-xr-x+  5 icehe  staff   160B Oct 16  2015 Public

Modification Time in Reverse Order ( oldest first )

$ ls -hltr
total 280
drwxr-xr-x+  5 icehe  staff   160B Oct 16  2015 Public
drwx------+ 13 icehe  staff   416B Sep 11  2017 Music
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Nov 23  2017 Applications
drwx------+  9 icehe  staff   288B Jun  8 13:52 Movies
-rw-r--r--   1 icehe  staff    70B Aug  5 14:44 README.md
drwx------+ 97 icehe  staff   3.0K Sep  2 16:00 Library
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 21 18:42 Documents
drwx------+ 29 icehe  staff   928B Oct 29 16:01 Pictures
drwx------+ 17 icehe  staff   544B Nov  2 16:20 Downloads
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 17:11 Desktop

atime

Access Time

$ ls -hltu
total 280
drwx------+ 97 icehe  staff   3.0K Nov  4 18:18 Library
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Nov  4 15:16 Documents
drwx------+ 17 icehe  staff   544B Nov  3 20:27 Downloads
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 20:27 Desktop
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Nov  3 03:16 Applications
drwx------+ 29 icehe  staff   928B Oct 29 16:10 Pictures
drwx------+ 13 icehe  staff   416B Oct 29 16:03 Music
-rw-r--r--   1 icehe  staff    70B Aug 24 16:44 README.md
drwxr-xr-x+  5 icehe  staff   160B Aug 17 15:10 Public
drwx------+  9 icehe  staff   288B Jun  8 13:52 Movies

ctime

Changed Time

$ ls -hltc
total 280
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Nov  3 17:11 Desktop
drwx------+ 17 icehe  staff   544B Nov  2 16:20 Downloads
drwx------+ 29 icehe  staff   928B Oct 29 16:01 Pictures
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 21 18:42 Documents
drwx------+ 97 icehe  staff   3.0K Sep  2 16:00 Library
-rw-r--r--   1 icehe  staff    70B Aug  5 14:44 README.md
drwx------+  9 icehe  staff   288B Jun  8 13:52 Movies
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Nov 23  2017 Applications
drwx------+ 13 icehe  staff   416B Sep 11  2017 Music
drwxr-xr-x+  5 icehe  staff   160B Sep 12  2016 Public

creation

Creation Time

$ ls -hltU
total 280
-rw-r--r--   1 icehe  staff    70B Aug  5 14:44 README.md
drwx------+ 24 icehe  staff   768B Oct 12  2017 Desktop
drwx------+ 21 icehe  staff   672B Oct 12  2017 Documents
drwx------+  9 icehe  staff   288B Sep 12  2016 Movies
drwxr-xr-x   3 icehe  staff    96B Jun 17  2015 Applications
drwx------+ 17 icehe  staff   544B Apr 15  2015 Downloads
drwx------+ 13 icehe  staff   416B Apr 15  2015 Music
drwx------+ 29 icehe  staff   928B Apr 15  2015 Pictures
drwxr-xr-x+  5 icehe  staff   160B Apr 15  2015 Public
drwx------+ 97 icehe  staff   3.0K Mar  7  2015 Library

Aliases

Confis file : https://github.com/IceHe/mac-conf/blob/master/.config/zsh/ls.zsh

######
# ls #
######

# List
# ( overwrite $ZSH/lib/directories.zsh )
alias l='ls -h'
alias la='ls -hA'
alias ll='ls -hl'
alias lla='ls -hlA'

# List & Grep
alias lg='ls | grep'
alias lag='ls -A | grep'
alias llg='ls -hl | grep'
alias llag='ls -Ahl | grep'

# Sort by Size
alias lS='ls -AhlS'

# Sort by Time
# - Modified
alias lt='ls -Ahlt'
# - Changed (metadata)
alias ltc='ls -Ahltc'
# - Access
alias ltu='ls -Ahltu'
# - Creation
alias ltU='ls -AhltU'

Output Columns

References

What does the second column in the output of 'ls -n' mean? https://askubuntu.com/questions/19510/what-does-the-second-column-in-the-output-of-ls-n-mean/19513#19513
See man ls

Description

Description of Output Columns

1 : Permissions ( access rights )
- 1st character : File Type
- Next 9 characters : File Permissions
2 : Count of Hard Links to the file
3 : Owner User : UID | username
4 : Owner Group : GID | group name
5 : Size
6 : Timestamps : mtime / atime / ctime ( see below )
7 : Name

File Type

- Regular File
d Directory
l Symbolic Link
s Socket Link
b Block Special File
c Character pecial File
p FIFO

Permission Characters

9 characters specifies the file permissions

# e.g.
rwxrwxrwx
rwxr-xr-x
r-xr-x---
rwx------

Each 3 characters refers to permissions
- r read
- w write
- x execute
for
- u user
- g group
- o others

Timestamps

Reference

atime, ctime and mtime in Unix filesystems : https://www.unixtutorial.org/atime-ctime-mtime-in-unix-filesystems/

Notice!

There's no file creation timestamp kept in most filesystems
- None on Linux…
- Exist on macOS!
When a new file or directory is created, usually all three times atime, ctime and mtime are configured to capture the current time.

atime

Last Access Time

The last time the data from a file or directory was accessed.
Read by one of the Unix processes directly or through commands and scripts.

mtime

Last Modification Time

The Time of the last change to file's contents.
It does not change with owner or permission changes, and is therefore used for tracking the actual changes to data of the file itself.

ctime (metadata)

Last Changed Time

When your file or directory got metadata changes
- typically that's file ownership (username and/or group) and access permissions,
- ctime will also get updated if the file contents got changed.

Provide feedback

Saved searches

Use saved searches to filter your results more quickly

ls.md

ls.md

ls

Quickstart

Options

Filter

Format

Sort

Usage

List

All

Details

Indicators

Hide / Ignore

Link

Sort By

Size

Time

mtime

atime

ctime

creation

Aliases

Output Columns

Description

File Type

Permission Characters

Timestamps

atime

mtime

ctime (metadata)

Files

ls.md

Latest commit

History

ls.md

File metadata and controls

ls

Quickstart

Options

Filter

Format

Sort

Usage

List

All

Details

Indicators

Hide / Ignore

Link

Sort By

Size

Time

mtime

atime

ctime

creation

Aliases

Output Columns

Description

File Type

Permission Characters

Timestamps

atime

mtime

ctime (metadata)