Top 25 Important Linux Commands for Beginners and DevOps Enginners

Good Morning everyone! In today’s post, we will learn some Important Linux basics commands to build a strong foundation for Linux, Cloud and DevOps careers.

But before that, let’s quickly go through Linux once again and quickly understand what Linux actually is.
So, Linux is a free and open-source operating system based on Unix, created by Linus Torvalds in 1991. It is used to manage computer Hardware and Software and to run applications, and it is widely used in servers and systems because it is stable and secure.

Why Linux Commands Are Important ?

Answer: Learning Linux commands is important for system administrators, cloud enginners, DevOps enginners, and cybersecurity professionals. Most servers around the world run on Linux, so understanding basic Linux commands helps you manage systems efficiently.

Now that you understand What is Linux, let’s look at the most important and the most commonly used commands in Linux to prepare the Linux Interview.

Linux Commands :

ls -> List files and directories
pwd -> Show current directory path
cd -> Change directory
mkdir -> Create new directory
rmdir -> Remove empty directory
rm -> Delete files or directories
cp -> Copy files or directories
mv -> Move or rename files
touch -> Create empty file
cat -> Display file contents
less -> View file content page by page
head -> Show first lines of a file
tail -> Show last lines of a file
nano -> Edit file in terminal
grep -> Search text patterns inside files
chmod -> Change file permissions
chown -> Change file owner
df -> Show disk space usage
du -> Show directory size
top -> Display running processes
ps -> Show process status
kill -> Terminate process by ID
wget -> Download files from internet
curl -> Transfer data from or to a server
man -> Display manual pages for Linux commands

These commands are mainly used in day-to-day work. Yes, there are many more commands like,
For User management : adduser, deluser, chmod
For Process management : ps, htop, nice, renice
For File management : sed, awk, vim, vi

Those commands are also important, but if you are just starting your Linux journey or preparing for beginner-level interviews, these 25 commands are the best place to start. For rest of the commands of Linux, Don’t worry – I will also help you learn those commands in upcoming posts.

All the information in this article is gathered from the official Linux documentation and learning resources. If you have any questions or want to learn more, feel free to leave a comment or contact us through the Contact us page.

FAQ section :

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What command is used to rename file1.txt to textfile1.txt ?
Answer: The mv command is used.

mv file1.txt textfile1.txt

Question: What command is used to check current directory path ?
Answer: The pwd command displays the full path of the current directory.

$ pwd

Question: I want to find textfile1.txt file in the current directory, which command i need to use ?
Answer: find command.

$ find . -name "textfile1.txt"