How to change directory in Linux using cd command

How to change directory in Linux

The procedure changes a directory or folder in Linux as follows:

1. Let us change to your home directory in Linux, run: cd
2. If you want to change to the /etc/security/ directory on Linux, execute: cd /etc/security/
3. Want to go up one level of the directory tree in Linux? Try: cd ..

Let us see some examples and usage in details.

All examples tested with GNU/bash version 5.0.17 running on Ubuntu Linux 20.04 LTS desktop.

Changes the current directory in Linux

Let us change the current working directory to the home (login) directory in Linux, run:
cd
The default DIR is the value of the HOME shell variable. We can print that using the printf command/echo command as follows:
echo "$HOME"
To print the current working directory, use the pwd command:
pwd
Next change to an arbitrary directory named /etc/ufw/, type:
cd /etc/ufw
pwd
At this stage, you may want to list the directory contents. Hence, try the ls command:
ls
ls -l
Say you need to go down one level of the directory tree (say you want to change to the applications.d), run:
cd applications.d
pwd
ls -l

How do I go back to my home folder or directory in Linux?

Simply type any one of the following command:
cd
OR
cd ~
OR
cd $HOME

Changing to another directory in Linux using the cd command

How to change a folder in Linux

Get list of directories only in the current directory using the following:
ls -d */
Once you know the directory names, change it as per your needs:
cd linux
pwd
ls
To move back to a parent directory directory, type:
cd ..
Verify it:
pwd
ls

Linux change directory using the cd command

Linux change directory and symbolic links

One can force symbolic links to be followed. The syntax is:
cd -L dir1
cd -L link2
To use the physical directory structure without following symbolic links:
cd -P link2

Force symbolic links with the -L option and he physical directory structure with the -P option

Shell environment variables

1. CDPATH : The search path for the cd command. It is a : separated list of pathnames that refer to directories. The cd utility shall use this list in its attempt to change the directory. An empty string in place of a directory pathname represents the current directory. If CDPATH is not set, it shall be treated as if it were an empty string. We can set it as follows:
   export CDPATH=/home/vivek/projects
## another example ##
export CDPATH=/home/vivek/projects:/nfs:/efs
   Now go to /home/vivek/projects/aws, I can simply type
   cd aws
   Insetad of
   cd /home/vivek/projects/aws/
# OR #
cd ~/projects/aws/
2. HOME : The name of the directory, used when no directory operand is specified.
3. OLDPWD : The previous working directory as set by the cd command.
4. PWD : The current working directory as set by the cd command.

A note about the autocd option

If set, a command name that is the name of a directory is executed as if it were the argument to the cd command. This option is only used by interactive shells. Turn it on:
shopt -s autocd
Now type directory or folder names such as bin in the $HOME and it will automatically convert to “cd $HOME/bin”:
bin
Another example:
Downloads

Autocorrect errors/typos of a folder name

Suppose cdspell is set to on, minor errors in the spelling of a directory component in a cd command will be corrected. For example:

shopt -s cdspell # Turn it on 
cd Downloadz
shopt -u cdspell # unset it/ turn it off

Conclusion

This page explained the cd command that allows you to change directories. For more info type the following command at the terminal or read man page online:
cd --help
OR
help cd
Also do check your shell man page. For instance:
man bash