Create a Hidden Directory

Sometimes a tool needs several settings files, so a single dot-prefixed file is not enough. A directory such as .school keeps those files together while following the hidden-name convention. Beneath that name, it behaves like the other directories you have already used.

We will put a class setting inside it. This helps you see that hiding applies to the directory's name in a listing, while its children still have their own paths and normal access rules.

Prepare the example

Begin in a fresh folder with no .school directory. The first line creates the directory before the next command writes its child file. Writing to a path beneath a missing parent would fail, so keep that preparation step in the same example.

Bash · Linux terminal

mkdir .school
printf '10A\n' > .school/class.txt
cat .school/class.txt

Expected result

10A

mkdir .school creates the parent directory. The destination .school/class.txt means the child file named class.txt inside it. printf saves the class value, and the final cat reads that exact path.

A normal listing of the parent may omit .school, but knowing its name lets you refer to it directly. Directory search permission still controls whether a user can traverse to the child, and the child's permissions still govern its content. Hiding the parent does not automatically hide or protect every resource from an authorized user.

A hidden directory follows the same naming rule as a hidden file: its name starts with a dot. The directory still works normally; default listings simply leave it out.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Hidden Directory

Let’s start with the basics. Open your terminal, and we’ll create a hidden directory together.

mkdir .my_hidden_folder

What Just Happened?

By adding a dot at the beginning of the folder name, Linux treats it as hidden. If you list files normally with ls, you won’t see it:

ls

Documents  Downloads  Music  Pictures

But if you use the -a flag, it shows all files, including hidden ones:

ls -a

.  ..  .my_hidden_folder  Documents  Downloads

Navigating into a Hidden Directory

You can still use cd to go inside it like any normal folder:

cd .my_hidden_folder

Optional: Creating a Hidden Directory Inside Another One

mkdir -p projects/.config_folder

This creates a hidden directory called .config_folder inside the projects folder. The -p flag ensures the parent directory is created if it doesn't already exist.

Create hidden directories with dot-prefixed names

• Hidden directories in Linux start with a dot (.)
• Use ls -a to view them
• You can enter them with cd just like regular folders

And that’s it! Now you know how to hide your folders like a Linux ninja . Whether you’re organizing config files or just keeping things tidy, hidden directories are a simple and powerful trick.

Your task: Create a dot-prefixed settings directory.

Begin in a fresh folder with no .school directory. The first line creates the directory before the next command writes its child file. Writing to a path beneath a missing parent would fail, so keep that preparation step in the same example.

Bash · complete example for this question

mkdir .school
printf '10A\n' > .school/class.txt
cat .school/class.txt

Expected result

10A

Worked answer

mkdir .school

Use mkdir .school because you need a directory. touch .school would create a regular file instead, and you could not store class.txt beneath it. A name with a dot elsewhere, such as school.hidden, does not follow the leading-dot hidden convention.

A dot-prefixed directory is useful organization, not a new filesystem type. Create the parent first, use the complete child path, and inspect hidden entries when listing. Access control still needs the same deliberate permission choices as a visible directory.