You can rename a file by “moving it” to a new file name. You may be relieved to know that there is an easier method. And then the file would no longer work! Linux provides a lot of power and a lot of freedom. This gives way to another issue: We could have named that second file september.jpg or september.doc. Linux users will perform more operations incrementally, but they have complete control over how those operations are performed. Linux has a lot of power, but it manages that power by putting it in the user’s hands. You may be wondering why this is so cumbersome compared to Windows, where you’d just rename a file. You’ll resolve this by deleting the old file. This will create a copy of the file with a new name. $ cp old_file new_fileĪs an example, if we were to rename “august.png” to “september.png”: $ cp august.png september.png When you copy a file, you give the source files and rename the files.

Linux users copy a file by using the “cp” command. Renaming a file by copying and deleting it We’ll look at the rename tools that Linux offers, renaming a single file, how to rename files and directories, and renaming multiple files through batch rename. Today, we’re going to take a look at how to rename a file in Linux.

But with Linux, it’s all about knowing individual commands - including the commands to rename and move files. If you’ve worked in DOS or have programmed in C, you will know how to use a command line. Working with Linux requires prior knowledge because most commands are given through a command-line text. While today most Linux distributions have a GUI (graphical user interface), many don’t. That said, Linux does require some advanced knowledge to use. There are many individuals (primarily industry professionals) who prefer using Linux over any other operating system. Based on Unix, the Linux system is prized for its portability, reliability, and stability. Today, there are over 600 Linux distributions (versions) available, though only a handful of them remain in common use. Developed in the early 1990s, Linux has remained a popular operating system for both personal use and commercial servers.

Linux rename user