Quick Tip

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

Challenge: By default, the `ls` command in Linux hides files and directories that start with a dot (‘.’). These are often configuration files or hidden directories, and sometimes you need to see them for troubleshooting or management.

The Solution: To reveal all files, including hidden ones, use the -A flag with ls.

ls -A

Why it works: The -A (or --almost-all) option tells ls to list all entries except for . (current directory) and .. (parent directory). This is generally more useful than ls -a which includes these special entries.

Pro-Tip: Combine it with -l for a long listing format: ls -lA

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 7/2/2026