Quick Tip

Unlock Hidden Files Instantly with `ls -A`

TITLE: Unlock Hidden Files Instantly with `ls -A`

Challenge: You need to see all files in a directory, including those that start with a dot (hidden files), without listing the parent and current directory entries (‘.’ and ‘..’).

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

ls -A

Why it works: The -A (or --almost-all) option tells ls to list all entries except for . and ... This is a cleaner way to view hidden files compared to ls -a which includes these entries.

Pro-Tip: Combine it with other ls flags like -l for long listing format (ls -lA) or -h for human-readable sizes (ls -lAh).

Linux Tips & Tricks | © ngelinux.com | 6/16/2026