How to Create a Hidden File in Linux

How to Create a Hidden File in Linux

In this tutorial, we're going to learn how to create hidden files in Linux.

If you're new to Linux, you might be wondering: what exactly is a hidden file? Well, in Linux, any file that starts with a dot (.) is considered hidden. These files aren’t shown when you run the ls command by default. They're often used to store configuration settings or personal preferences.

Let’s go step-by-step and create one together.

Step 1: Open Your Terminal

First things first, open your terminal. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on most Linux systems, or by searching for "Terminal" in your application menu.

Step 2: Use the touch Command

To create a hidden file, we use the touch command, but we make sure the filename starts with a dot.

touch .myhiddenfile

This command will instantly create an empty hidden file named .myhiddenfile in your current directory.

Step 3: Verify the File is Hidden

If you run the regular ls command, the hidden file won’t show up:

ls

  (no output for hidden files)

To actually see hidden files, you need to use the -a (all) option with ls:

ls -a

.  ..  .myhiddenfile

And there it is! The .myhiddenfile shows up along with the current (.) and parent (..) directory markers.

Step 4: Add Some Content (Optional)

You can edit the hidden file using a text editor like nano or vim. For example:

nano .myhiddenfile

Type anything you like, then press Ctrl + O to save and Ctrl + X to exit.

And You're Done!

That’s it! You've just created and verified a hidden file in Linux. Hidden files are an essential part of working efficiently and securely in Linux environments.

Next time, we'll look into how to hide entire directories and how to manage them like a pro.

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