Quick Tip

Quickly Unmask Hidden Files with `ls -A`

Challenge: You’re working in a directory and need to see all files, including hidden ones (those starting with a dot), but you don’t want to clutter your output with ‘.’ and ‘..’ entries.

The Solution: Use the ls -A command.

ls -A

Why it works: The -A flag for ls (list) displays all entries in a directory, including hidden files, but it omits the special entries for the current directory (.) and the parent directory (..). This provides a clean view of all actual files and subdirectories.

Pro-Tip: Combine ls -A with other ls flags like -l for long listing or -h for human-readable file sizes (e.g., ls -Alh).

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/15/2026