Cross Reference of Common Windows and Linux Commands


What it does Windows Linux Basic Linux Example
Copies files copy cp cp thisfile.txt /home/thisdirectory
Moves files or directories move mv mv thisfile.txt /home/thisdirectory
Lists files dir ls ls
Clear the screen cls clear clear
Closes Command Prompt window exit exit exit
Displays or sets date date date date
Deletes files del rm rm thisfile.txt
Delete a directory (empty) rmdir rmdir rmdir emptydir
Delete a directory (contains files) del /s /q rm -r rm -r fulldir
"Echoes" output to the screen echo echo echo this message
Compares the contents of files fc diff diff file1 file2
Finds a string of text in a file findstr grep grep this word or phrase thisfile.txt
Displays command help command /? man man command
Creates a directory mkdir mkdir mkdir mydirectory
View a file more more more thisfile.txt
Renames a file ren mv mv thisfile.txt thatfile.txt
Displays your location in the file system chdir pwd pwd
Changes directories cd pathname cd pathname cd /directory/directory
Changes to parent directory (move up) cd .. cd .. cd ..
Displays the time time date date
Shows amount of RAM and use mem free free