This post will guide you how to change or rename a file or directory under Linux operating system. How do I rename a directory via command line in Linux.
Rename Directory in Linux
You can use mv (move) command to remove for either a directory or a file. This command also can be used to move file to other directory in Linux. To rename a file or directory, you can refer the following syntax:
mv /path/oldDir /path/newDir
You need to add one or more space between old and new directory names.
For example, renaming a directory called fio to fio.new in your current directory, type the following command:
# mv ./fio ./fio.new
Outputs:
root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# ls -d fio fio root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# mv ./fio ./fio.new root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# ls -d fio.new fio.new
If you want to move one directory call fio.new to another directory /tmp, you can use the following command:
# mv ./fio.new /tmp
Outputs:
root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# mv ./fio.new/ /tmp root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# ls /tmp fio.new
If you want to show what is being done for mv command, you can use mv command with -v option, type:
root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# mv -v fio /tmp 'fio' -> '/tmp/fio' root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# ls /tmp fio
More Help for Mv Command
If you want to get more information or usage about mv command, you can use the following command:
# mv --help
or
# man mv
Outputs:
root@devops-osetc:/home/devops/working# mv --help Usage: mv [OPTION]... [-T] SOURCE DEST or: mv [OPTION]... SOURCE... DIRECTORY or: mv [OPTION]... -t DIRECTORY SOURCE... Rename SOURCE to DEST, or move SOURCE(s) to DIRECTORY. Mandatory arguments to long options are mandatory for short options too. --backup[=CONTROL] make a backup of each existing destination file -b like --backup but does not accept an argument -f, --force do not prompt before overwriting -i, --interactive prompt before overwrite -n, --no-clobber do not overwrite an existing file If you specify more than one of -i, -f, -n, only the final one takes effect. --strip-trailing-slashes remove any trailing slashes from each SOURCE argument -S, --suffix=SUFFIX override the usual backup suffix -t, --target-directory=DIRECTORY move all SOURCE arguments into DIRECTORY -T, --no-target-directory treat DEST as a normal file -u, --update move only when the SOURCE file is newer than the destination file or when the destination file is missing -v, --verbose explain what is being done -Z, --context set SELinux security context of destination file to default type --help display this help and exit --version output version information and exit The backup suffix is '~', unless set with --suffix or SIMPLE_BACKUP_SUFFIX. The version control method may be selected via the --backup option or through the VERSION_CONTROL environment variable. Here are the values: none, off never make backups (even if --backup is given) numbered, t make numbered backups existing, nil numbered if numbered backups exist, simple otherwise simple, never always make simple backups GNU coreutils online help: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/> Full documentation at: <http://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/mv> or available locally via: info '(coreutils) mv invocation'