Quick Tip

Tame Your Terminal: Unmask Hidden Files with `ls -A`

Challenge: By default, ls doesn’t show files or directories that start with a dot (hidden files and directories). This can be inconvenient when you need to see or interact with configuration files or hidden application data.

The Solution: Use the -A flag with the ls command.

ls -A

Why it works: The -A option (which stands for “almost all”) tells ls to list all entries except for “.” (current directory) and “..” (parent directory). This is often more useful than ls -a, which includes these two entries and can clutter the output.

Pro-Tip: Combine it with other useful ls flags like -l for long listing format: ls -Al

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 5/30/2026