Linux command anatomy: name, options and arguments

A Linux command is the name of a program followed by options and arguments.

Syntax

name [options] [arguments]

Common cases

ls                      # the name alone
ls -l                   # the -l option changes the output
ls -l /etc              # option and argument: what to show
mkdir d && cd d         # && chains commands together

How it works: options, arguments and chains

An option (-l, --all) changes how a command behaves; an argument (/etc, a file name) says what to act on. Short options can be bundled: ls -la is the same as ls -l -a. Operators join commands: ; runs them in turn, && runs the next only if the previous succeeded, || runs it only if the previous failed.

Used in

You need this in the lesson The command line. The theory is the chapter The command line: first contact.

See also

The echo command, Redirection > and >>.

Try it

Open the sandbox: a real throwaway Linux terminal in your browser. Run the commands above by hand - the container is deleted when you leave.