10 Most Common Terminal Commands Explained To A Beginner 😎

October 9, 2025

This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by kevmongare

As a Junior Dev or Engineer, one of the first things that can feel super overwhelming is the terminal jargon. Engineers throw commands around like magic spells, and sometimes no one explains what they actually do.

That was me a few years ago—just a mix of eagerness, frustration, and curiosity, desperately trying to figure it all out.

By the end of this article, you’ll be able to write your first 5–10 terminal commands without asking ChatGPT . Let’s make your “evil relatives” who doubted you think you’re a computer wizard .
Ready? Let’s dive in!I promise this should be short and sweet .

This are the Terminal Commands Every Beginner Dev Should Know (and Actually Use!)

ls – List Files and Folders

ls is short for “list,” and that’s exactly what it does. Your computer is made of files and folders, and ls lets you see what’s in your current directory.

ls           # list files and folders
ls -l        # detailed list
ls -a        # include hidden files

cd – Change Directory

Ever feel lost in your folders? cd (change directory) is your teleportation spell. Move between folders like a boss.

cd /home/user   # go to /home/user
cd ..           # go up one folder
cd ~            # go to your home directory

pwd – Print Working Directory

When in doubt, just ask yourself: “Where am I?” That’s what pwd does. It prints the full path of your current folder.

pwd
# /home/user/projects

mkdir – Make a Directory

Want to create a new folder? mkdir is your magic wand. Name it anything you like and organize your files neatly.

mkdir my_first_project

touch – Create a File

Need a blank file to start coding or taking notes? touch has you covered.

touch hello_world.py

Now you’ve got a file ready for action.

rm – Remove Files or Folders

Every wizard needs the power to delete things . rm removes files, and with -r it deletes folders recursively (be careful, no undo!).

rm old_file.txt
rm -r old_folder

cp – Copy Files or Folders

Copying is caring. cp lets you make duplicates without moving the original.

cp hello_world.py backup_hello.py
cp -r my_first_project my_first_project_backup

mv – Move or Rename

mv is the teleportation + renaming spell. Move files around or just rename them.

mv hello_world.py code.py      # rename
mv code.py ~/projects/         # move to another folder

cat – View File Contents

Want to peek inside a file without opening a full editor? cat shows everything in one go.

cat hello_world.py

It’s like unwrapping a present—instant gratification.

ssh – Connect to Another Server

The ultimate hacker move —ssh lets you securely log in to another server and work remotely.

ssh user@hostname

Imagine controlling another computer from your terminal. Feels like magic, right?

Final Words

Congratulations!

If you practice these 10 commands daily, you’ll quickly go from terminal newbie to someone who navigates folders, creates projects, edits files, and connects to servers like a pro.

Soon enough, your “evil relatives” will look at you and ask you to hack the banks and save them from poverty. on a lighter note.