Understanding the pwd Command

Basic Usage of pwd

The pwd (print working directory) command in Linux is used to display the full path of the current directory you are working in. Here's how to use it:

This will return the absolute path of your current directory. For example:

Options Available with pwd

The pwd command has two main options that control how it displays the path:

pwd -L (Logical Path)

This option shows the logical path, meaning it displays the path with any symbolic links:

Even if /var/www is a symlink to /home/user/public_html, pwd -L will show the path you entered.

pwd -P (Physical Path)

This option resolves and displays the actual physical path by ignoring symbolic links:

Differences Between -L and -P

Common Use Cases

• Finding Your Current Directory: Simply run pwd to display the current directory.
• Confirming Directory Paths in Scripts: Use pwd in scripts to ensure you're in the correct directory.
• Handling Symlinks: Use pwd -P to verify the actual physical location of a directory.

Manual Pages

For more detailed information, use the man pwd command: