What is the purpose of the -d argument to ls? [duplicate]

-1

This question already has an answer here:

What is the meaning of ls -d ?

4 answers

why does ls -d also list files, and where is it documented?

7 answers

I currently study bash commands and in my tutuorial I have this command:

ls -d

I try to understand what is meaning of -d with ls I tried to run it on my computer and I get this result -> .

I tried to look in man ls and it says :

  -d, --directory

  list directories themselves, not their contents

But this doesn't say to me much.

Any idea why should I use -d with ls command?

what does it do?

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, GAD3R, roaima Jan 28 at 16:47

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

migrated from stackoverflow.com Jan 28 at 16:38

This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.

That said, compare cd /; ls -d * with cd /; ls * -- the difference will be obvious.

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

In other words -d will only show you folders, not files.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:27

2

@RobertHarvey, eh? -d will still show files, if passed names of any files on its argument list; what it won't show is the contents of directories named on its argument list (or ., as the default directory for ls to operate on if no non-option arguments are given).

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

I don't understand what you just said. Clearly the documentation could use some improvement.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:29

1

ls / vs ls -d / would be a simpler demonstration of the difference.

– chepner
Jan 28 at 16:35

|
show 10 more comments

-1

This question already has an answer here:

What is the meaning of ls -d ?

4 answers

why does ls -d also list files, and where is it documented?

7 answers

I currently study bash commands and in my tutuorial I have this command:

ls -d

I try to understand what is meaning of -d with ls I tried to run it on my computer and I get this result -> .

I tried to look in man ls and it says :

  -d, --directory

  list directories themselves, not their contents

But this doesn't say to me much.

Any idea why should I use -d with ls command?

what does it do?

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, GAD3R, roaima Jan 28 at 16:47

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

migrated from stackoverflow.com Jan 28 at 16:38

This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.

That said, compare cd /; ls -d * with cd /; ls * -- the difference will be obvious.

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

In other words -d will only show you folders, not files.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:27

2

@RobertHarvey, eh? -d will still show files, if passed names of any files on its argument list; what it won't show is the contents of directories named on its argument list (or ., as the default directory for ls to operate on if no non-option arguments are given).

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

I don't understand what you just said. Clearly the documentation could use some improvement.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:29

1

ls / vs ls -d / would be a simpler demonstration of the difference.

– chepner
Jan 28 at 16:35

|
show 10 more comments

-1

This question already has an answer here:

What is the meaning of ls -d ?

4 answers

why does ls -d also list files, and where is it documented?

7 answers

I currently study bash commands and in my tutuorial I have this command:

ls -d

I try to understand what is meaning of -d with ls I tried to run it on my computer and I get this result -> .

I tried to look in man ls and it says :

  -d, --directory

  list directories themselves, not their contents

But this doesn't say to me much.

Any idea why should I use -d with ls command?

what does it do?

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

This question already has an answer here:

What is the meaning of ls -d ?

4 answers

why does ls -d also list files, and where is it documented?

7 answers

I currently study bash commands and in my tutuorial I have this command:

ls -d

I try to understand what is meaning of -d with ls I tried to run it on my computer and I get this result -> .

I tried to look in man ls and it says :

  -d, --directory

  list directories themselves, not their contents

But this doesn't say to me much.

Any idea why should I use -d with ls command?

what does it do?

This question already has an answer here:

What is the meaning of ls -d ?

4 answers

why does ls -d also list files, and where is it documented?

7 answers

directory ls arguments

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

edited Jan 28 at 16:39

Jeff Schaller

41k1056131

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

asked Jan 28 at 16:25

Michael

marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, GAD3R, roaima Jan 28 at 16:47

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

migrated from stackoverflow.com Jan 28 at 16:38

This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.

marked as duplicate by Jeff Schaller, Stephen Kitt, Christopher, GAD3R, roaima Jan 28 at 16:47

This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.

migrated from stackoverflow.com Jan 28 at 16:38

This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.

That said, compare cd /; ls -d * with cd /; ls * -- the difference will be obvious.

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

In other words -d will only show you folders, not files.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:27

2

@RobertHarvey, eh? -d will still show files, if passed names of any files on its argument list; what it won't show is the contents of directories named on its argument list (or ., as the default directory for ls to operate on if no non-option arguments are given).

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

I don't understand what you just said. Clearly the documentation could use some improvement.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:29

1

ls / vs ls -d / would be a simpler demonstration of the difference.

– chepner
Jan 28 at 16:35

|
show 10 more comments

That said, compare cd /; ls -d * with cd /; ls * -- the difference will be obvious.

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

In other words -d will only show you folders, not files.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:27

2

@RobertHarvey, eh? -d will still show files, if passed names of any files on its argument list; what it won't show is the contents of directories named on its argument list (or ., as the default directory for ls to operate on if no non-option arguments are given).

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

I don't understand what you just said. Clearly the documentation could use some improvement.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:29

1

ls / vs ls -d / would be a simpler demonstration of the difference.

– chepner
Jan 28 at 16:35

That said, compare cd /; ls -d * with cd /; ls * -- the difference will be obvious.

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

In other words -d will only show you folders, not files.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:27

@RobertHarvey, eh? -d will still show files, if passed names of any files on its argument list; what it won't show is the contents of directories named on its argument list (or ., as the default directory for ls to operate on if no non-option arguments are given).

– Charles Duffy
Jan 28 at 16:27

I don't understand what you just said. Clearly the documentation could use some improvement.

– Robert Harvey
Jan 28 at 16:29

ls / vs ls -d / would be a simpler demonstration of the difference.

– chepner
Jan 28 at 16:35

|
show 10 more comments

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