mkdir Command in Linux - Scaler Topics

Overview

The mkdir command in Linux is used to create new directories. It stands for 'make directory' and is a fundamental command for managing the file system hierarchy in Linux.

Linux mkdir Command Syntax

The syntax for the mkdir command is as follows:

Where:

OPTIONS: These are the flags that can be used to modify the behavior of the mkdir command.
DIRECTORY: The name of the new directory or directories to be created.

mkdir Command Options:

-m, --mode=MODE: Sets the file mode (permissions) for the new directory.
-p, --parents: Creates parent directories as needed. If the directory already exists, it does not return an error.
-v, --verbose: Provides more detailed output of the command execution.
--help: Displays help information for the command.

Example Usages

Create a single directory.:
Explanation: This command creates a new directory named 'test_directory' in the current working directory.
Create multiple directories.:
Explanation: This command creates three new directories (dir1, dir2, and dir3) in the current working directory.

Tips

Always check if a directory with the same name already exists before creating a new one, to avoid overwriting or errors.
Use the -p option to create a complete directory hierarchy in one command.

Advanced Use Cases of mkdir Command in Linux

Create a directory with specific permissions.:
Explanation: This command creates a new directory named 'private_directory' with permissions set to 700 (rwx------), meaning only the owner has read, write, and execute permissions.
Create a directory hierarchy.:
Explanation: This command creates a directory hierarchy with dir1 as the parent, dir2 as a subdirectory of dir1, and dir3 as a subdirectory of dir2. If any of the directories already exist, no error is returned.
Create a directory and display verbose output.:
Output:
Explanation: This command creates a new directory named 'verbose_directory' and displays a detailed output of the command execution.

Conclusion

The mkdir command is used to create new directories in Linux.
Various options are available to modify the behavior of the command, such as setting permissions or creating parent directories.
Always check for existing directories before creating new ones to avoid overwriting or errors.