157 Basic Linux Commands for Beginners Guide

If you’re new to Linux, you’ve probably heard it’s not like Windows - and that’s absolutely true!
Linux is a powerful open-source operating system that gives users full control over their systems. Unlike Windows, Linux doesn’t need anything from Microsoft - you can build a full, secure, and high-performance PC with just Linux.

Back in 1991, a student named Linus Torvalds from the University of Helsinki created the first version of the Linux kernel. His goal was simple: to create a UNIX-like OS that works on personal computers - something flexible, free, and open to everyone.
Fast forward to today, Linux is everywhere - from your Android phone to the servers that power the web!

Let’s dive into the 157 most important Linux commands every beginner and pro should know. These commands are the foundation of mastering the Linux terminal.

Why You Should Learn Linux Commands ​

Learning Linux commands is one of the most valuable skills for programmers, network engineers, and ethical hackers.
They allow you to:

• Control your system efficiently
• Manage files, users, and permissions
• Troubleshoot network issues
• Automate repetitive tasks
• Configure servers like a pro

Now, let’s explore these commands one by one - with simple explanations and real examples

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Essential Linux Commands for Everyday Use ​

Here are some of the most used Linux commands that will help you manage your system like a pro:

Command	Function / Description	Example
ls	Displays directory contents	ls -l
cd	Change directory	cd /home/user
pwd	Print working directory	pwd
cp	Copy files or folders	cp file.txt /backup/
mv	Move or rename files	mv old.txt new.txt
rm	Remove files	rm file.txt
mkdir	Create new directories	mkdir projects
rmdir	Remove empty directories	rmdir old_folder
cat	View file content	cat notes.txt
clear	Clear the terminal screen	clear

File Management Commands ​

Managing files in Linux is super easy once you know the right commands:

• touch → Create a new empty file
  touch newfile.txt
• chmod → Change file permissions
  chmod 755 script.sh
• chown → Change file owner
  chown user:user file.txt
• find → Search for files
  find /home -name "*.txt"
• locate → Quickly find file locations
  locate config.php

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System Information & Monitoring Commands ​

These are used to check your system’s performance, hardware, and processes:

• top → Show running processes in real-time
  top
• df -h → Display disk usage
  df -h
• free -m → Check memory usage
  free -m
• uname -a → Show system details
  uname -a
• uptime → Display system uptime
  uptime

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Networking Commands ​

For network engineers and ethical hackers, these are must-know commands:

• ping → Test network connectivity
  ping google.com
• ifconfig → Show network interfaces
  ifconfig
• netstat → Show network connections
  netstat -tuln
• traceroute → Trace route to a host
  traceroute google.com
• nslookup → Get DNS information
  nslookup example.com

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User Management Commands ​

Managing users and permissions is an essential part of Linux system administration:

• useradd → Add a new user
  useradd newuser
• passwd → Set or change user password
  passwd newuser
• usermod → Modify user details
  usermod -aG sudo newuser
• userdel → Delete a user
  userdel olduser
• groups → Show user’s groups
  groups

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Package Management Commands ​

Depending on your Linux distribution (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, etc.), package management commands differ slightly:

• apt-get (for Debian/Ubuntu):
  sudo apt-get install nginx
• yum (for Fedora/CentOS):
  sudo yum install httpd
• rpm (for RedHat-based systems):
  rpm -qa
• dpkg (Debian-based):
  dpkg -l

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Process Control Commands ​

Sometimes you need to manage processes - start, stop, or kill them:

• ps aux → View running processes
• kill [PID] → Terminate a process
  kill 2345
• killall [name] → Kill all processes with the same name
  killall firefox
• bg → Move a process to background
• fg → Bring it back to foreground

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Compression and Backup Commands ​

Linux supports multiple compression tools:

• tar → Compress or extract multiple files
  tar -czvf backup.tar.gz /home/user/
• gzip / gunzip → Compress or uncompress files
  gzip file.txt
gunzip file.txt.gz
• bzip2 → Another compression tool
  bzip2 file.log

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Text Editing & Viewing Commands ​

Working with text files in Linux is super easy using these:

• vi / vim → Advanced text editor
• nano → Simple and beginner-friendly editor
• less → Scroll through files
  less /etc/passwd

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Final Thoughts ​

Learning these Linux commands will make you feel like a true system pro!
Whether you’re into programming, networking, or ethical hacking, mastering the terminal gives you real power and flexibility.

Keep practicing every day and experiment with new commands. The Linux world is full of tools that make your work faster, smarter, and more efficient.