\ <===> Escape character. If you want to reference a special character, you must “escape” it with a backslash first. Example: touch /tmp/filename\* / <===> Directory separator, used to separate a string of directory names. Example: /usr/src/linux . <===> Current directory. Can also “hide” files when it is the first character in a filename. .. <===> Parent directory ~ <===> User's home directory
* <===> Represents 0 or more characters in a filename, or by itself, all files in a directory. Example: pic*2002 can represent the files pic2002, picJanuary2002, picFeb292002, etc. ? <===> Represents a single character in a filename. Example: hello?.txt can represent hello1.txt, helloz.txt, but not hello22.txt [ ] <===> Can be used to represent a range of values, e.g. [0-9], [A-Z], etc. Example: hello[0-2].txt represents the names hello0.txt, hello1.txt, and hello2.txt | <===> “Pipe”. Redirect the output of one command into another command. Example: ls | more > <===> Redirect output of a command into a new file. If the file already exists, over-write i Example: ls > myfiles.txt >> <===> Redirect the output of a command onto the end of an existing file. Example: echo “Mary 555-1234” >> phonenumbers.txt < <===> Redirect a file as input to a program. Example: more < phonenumbers.txt /././>; <===> Command separator. Allows you to execute multiple commands on a single line. Example: cd /var/log ; less messages && <===> Command separator as above, but only runs the second command if the first one finished without errors. Example: cd /var/logs && less messages & <===> Execute a command in the background, and immediately get your shell back. Example: find / -name core > /tmp/corefiles.txt &
