- 1How to Create a File in Linux
- 2How to Rename a File in Linux
- 3How to Copy a File in Linux
- 4How to Move a File in Linux
- 5How to Delete a File in Linux
- 6How to Create a Directory in Linux
- 7How to Delete a Directory in Linux
- 8How to Copy Directories Recursively in Linux
- 9Delete Directories Recursively in Linux
- 10How to View Hidden Files in Linux
- 11How to Create a Hidden File in Linux
- 12How to Create a Hidden Directory in Linux
- 13How to Find Files in Linux Using find Command
- 14Find Files in Linux Using locate Command
- 15How to View File Contents Using cat in Linux
- 16How to View File Contents Using less in Linux
- 17View File Contents Using the more Command in Linux
- 18Compare Files Using diff Command in Linux
- 19Compare Files in Linux Using cmp Command
- 20Check File Type in Linux with file Command
- 21Create Symbolic Links with ln -s in Linux
- 22How to Archive Files Using tar Command in Linux
- 23Compress Files with gzip in Linux – Beginner Tutorial
- 24How to Compress Files Using bzip2 in Linux
- 25Compress Files in Linux Using zip Command
- 26Extract Compressed Files using tar in Linux
- 27Extract ZIP Files on Linux with unzip
- 28How to Extract .gz Files using gunzip in Linux
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.
Don’t forget to subscribe to ProgramGuru.org and keep leveling up your Linux skills. See you in the next tutorial!
Next Topic ⮕How to Create a Hidden Directory in Linux
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