Quick Tip

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

Challenge: You’re navigating your Linux filesystem and realize that files starting with a dot (hidden files) aren’t showing up with the standard ls command, making it hard to see configurations or other important hidden items.

The Solution: Use the ls -A command to list all files, including hidden ones, but excluding the special . and .. directories.

ls -A

Why it works: The -A (or --almost-all) option for ls tells it to show all entries except for . (current directory) and .. (parent directory), which are often not needed when you just want to see hidden files and regular files.

Pro-Tip: If you want to see ALL files, including . and .., use ls -a. For a more visually appealing and detailed list, consider ls -alF.

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 6/28/2026