Quick Tip

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

Challenge: You’re working in a directory and need to see all files, including those hidden by default (those starting with a dot `.`), but you don’t want the verbose `ls -l` output.

The Solution: Use the `ls -A` command.

ls -A

Why it works: The `-A` (or `–almost-all`) option for `ls` displays all entries except for `.` (current directory) and `..` (parent directory), effectively showing hidden files without the extra detail of `ls -l` or the unnecessary entries of `ls -a`.

Pro-Tip: Combine `ls -A` with `-l` (e.g., `ls -Al`) for a detailed, all-inclusive listing of your directory’s contents.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 6/4/2026