Changing Directories (cd)

The cd command changes your current working directory. It's how you navigate through the Linux filesystem.

Basic Usage

cd directory_name

Navigation Shortcuts

Command	Description
cd	Go to home directory
cd ~	Go to home directory
cd /	Go to root directory
cd ..	Go up one directory
cd ../..	Go up two directories
cd -	Go to previous directory

Absolute vs Relative Paths

Absolute Paths (start with /)

cd /home/user/documents
cd /etc
cd /var/log

Relative Paths (from current location)

cd documents          # Into documents subfolder
cd ../projects        # Up one, then into projects
cd ./scripts          # Into scripts (. is optional)

Exercise: Navigate Directories

Navigate from your home directory to the projects directory:

Common Patterns

Return Home Quickly

cd        # Just cd with no arguments
cd ~      # Using the tilde shortcut

Toggle Between Directories

cd /var/log
cd /etc
cd -        # Back to /var/log
cd -        # Back to /etc

Navigate Deep Structures

cd projects/web-app    # Multiple levels at once
cd ../../documents     # Up and into another folder

Exercise: Go Back Home

After navigating somewhere else, return to your home directory:

Tab Completion

When typing paths, use Tab to autocomplete:

1. Type cd doc
2. Press Tab
3. Shell completes to cd documents/

This saves time and prevents typos!

Troubleshooting

Error	Cause	Solution
No such file or directory	Path doesn't exist	Check spelling, use ls first
Not a directory	Target is a file	Check the target with ls -l
Permission denied	No access	Check permissions, use sudo if needed

Key Takeaways

• cd changes your current directory
• Use cd or cd ~ to go home
• Use cd .. to go up one level
• Use cd - to go to previous directory
• Tab completion helps with long paths