How to list files and directories in Linux

· Category: Linux

Short answer

Use ls with flags like -l, -a, -h, and -t to control how files and directories are displayed.

Steps

  1. List all files including hidden:
ls -la
  1. Human-readable sizes:
ls -lh
  1. Sort by time modified:
ls -lt
  1. Reverse sort:
ls -ltr
  1. List directories only:
ls -d */

Tips

  • ls -la --color=auto adds color coding for file types.
  • Combine flags: ls -lah shows all files with human sizes.
  • Use tree for hierarchical directory listings.

Common issues

  • ls without -a hides dotfiles (files starting with .).
  • Timezone differences can affect -t sorting on remote systems.