Unix - Useful Commands

This quick guide lists commands, including a syntax and a brief description. For more detail, use −

$man command

Files and Directories

These commands allow you to create directories and handle files.

Given below is the list of commands in Files and Directories.

Manipulating data

The contents of files can be compared and altered with the following commands.

Given below is the list of commands in Manipulating data.

Compressed Files

Files may be compressed to save space. Compressed files can be created and examined.

S.No.	Command & Description
1	compress Compresses files
2	gunzip Helps uncompress gzipped files
3	gzip GNU alternative compression method
4	uncompress Helps uncompress files
5	unzip List, test and extract compressed files in a ZIP archive
6	zcat Cat a compressed file
7	zcmp Compares compressed files
8	zdiff Compares compressed files
9	zmore File perusal filter for crt viewing of compressed text

Getting Information

Various Unix manuals and documentation are available on-line. The following Shell commands give information −

S.No.	Command & Description
1	apropos Locates commands by keyword lookup
2	info Displays command information pages online
2	man Displays manual pages online
3	whatis Searches the whatis database for complete words
4	yelp GNOME help viewer

Network Communication

These following commands are used to send and receive files from a local Unix hosts to the remote host around the world.

S.No.	Command & Description
1	ftp File transfer program
2	rcp Remote file copy
3	rlogin Remote login to a Unix host
4	rsh Remote shell
5	tftp Trivial file transfer program
6	telnet Makes terminal connection to another host
7	ssh Secures shell terminal or command connection
8	scp Secures shell remote file copy
9	sftp Secures shell file transfer program

Some of these commands may be restricted at your computer for security reasons.

Messages between Users

The Unix systems support on-screen messages to other users and world-wide electronic mail −

S.No.	Command & Description
1	evolution GUI mail handling tool on Linux
2	mail Simple send or read mail program
3	mesg Permits or denies messages
4	parcel Sends files to another user
5	pine Vdu-based mail utility
6	talk Talks to another user
7	write Writes message to another user

Programming Utilities

The following programming tools and languages are available based on what you have installed on your Unix.

Given below is the list of tools and languages in Programming Utilities.

Misc Commands

These commands list or alter information about the system −
Given below is the list of Misc Commands in Unix.