The mv is a Unix command that renames one or more files or directories. The original filename or directory name is no longer accessible. Write permission is required on all directories and files being modified. Use the mv command to:
Tutorial details | |
---|---|
Difficulty | Easy (rss) |
Root privileges | No |
Requirements | None |
Time | 5m |
- Moves a file (i.e. gives it a different name).
- Rename a file.
mv command syntax
You need to use the mv command to rename a file as follows:
mv old-file-name new-file-name mv file1 file2 mv source target mv [options] source target
Examples
Open the terminal (bash shell prompt) and type the following command to list file names:
ls ls -l
In this example, rename a file called data.txt to letters.txt, enter:
mv data.txt letters.txt ls -l letters.txt
File is renamed so the following command will display an error on screen:
ls -l data.txt
Outputs:
ls: cannot access data.txt: No such file or directory
The following would rename a file called foo to bar, while keeping it in the current directory:
mv foo bar
Rename a directory/folder Unix command
The following would rename a directory (folder) called dir1 to dir2, while keeping it in the current directory:
mv dir1 dir2
Move a file/folder to an existing directory
The following would move a file named resume.txt, without changing its name, to an existing subdirectory called /home/nixcraft/Documents/
mv resume.txt /home/nixcraft/Documents/ ## verify new file location with ls -l command ## ls -l /home/nixcraft/Documents/
Suggested Readings:
Type the following command to read mv command man page:
man mv
🐧 Get the latest tutorials on Linux, Open Source & DevOps via:
- RSS feed or Weekly email newsletter
- Share on Twitter • Facebook • 6 comments... add one ↓
Category | List of Unix and Linux commands |
---|---|
File Management | cat |
Firewall | Alpine Awall • CentOS 8 • OpenSUSE • RHEL 8 • Ubuntu 16.04 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04 |
Network Utilities | dig • host • ip • nmap |
OpenVPN | CentOS 7 • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Debian 8/9 • Ubuntu 18.04 • Ubuntu 20.04 |
Package Manager | apk • apt |
Processes Management | bg • chroot • cron • disown • fg • jobs • killall • kill • pidof • pstree • pwdx • time |
Searching | grep • whereis • which |
User Information | groups • id • lastcomm • last • lid/libuser-lid • logname • members • users • whoami • who • w |
WireGuard VPN | Alpine • CentOS 8 • Debian 10 • Firewall • Ubuntu 20.04 |
Hi,
How can i read a multiples files from MF/Cobol, whose inside programs is assigned to read “file1”.
i am getting: 201108251343file1
201108251430file1
201108251740file1
Is there an routine to added the 3 files into one file1.
Many Thanks.
cat 201108251343file1 201108251430file1 201108251740file1>file1
it is use ful for engg
Damn i copied all :P
Please allow a question that is surely easy. A directory has many files with names resembling DSC01234.JPG, DSC01235.JPG, DSC01236.JPG, etc. Is there a one-line command that will rename all in the directory to DSC11234.JPG, DSC11235.JPG, DSC11236.JPG, etc? That is, “DSC0” becomes “DSC1”?
Thank you.
Probably late, but:
rename ‘s/DSC0/DSC1/g’ *.JPG