Shell commands are an essential part of any Unix-based operating system, including macOS. They allow users to perform a wide range of tasks, from file manipulation to system monitoring, directly from the Terminal. This article will guide you through the basics of running shell commands on macOS, their importance, and how they can be used effectively. We will cover some common commands and provide practical examples to help you get started.

Examples:

1. Navigating the File System:

   • Command: ls
   • Description: Lists the contents of a directory.
   • Example:

     ls /Users/yourusername/Documents

   • Output:

     file1.txt  file2.txt  folder1  folder2

2. Changing Directories:

   • Command: cd
   • Description: Changes the current working directory.
   • Example:

     cd /Users/yourusername/Documents

   • Verification:

     pwd

   • Output:

     /Users/yourusername/Documents

3. Creating a New Directory:

   • Command: mkdir
   • Description: Creates a new directory.
   • Example:

     mkdir /Users/yourusername/Documents/NewFolder

   • Verification:

     ls /Users/yourusername/Documents

   • Output:

     file1.txt  file2.txt  folder1  folder2  NewFolder

4. Copying Files:

   • Command: cp
   • Description: Copies files or directories.
   • Example:

     cp /Users/yourusername/Documents/file1.txt /Users/yourusername/Documents/NewFolder/

   • Verification:

     ls /Users/yourusername/Documents/NewFolder

   • Output:

     file1.txt

5. Moving Files:

   • Command: mv
   • Description: Moves or renames files or directories.
   • Example:

     mv /Users/yourusername/Documents/file2.txt /Users/yourusername/Documents/NewFolder/

   • Verification:

     ls /Users/yourusername/Documents/NewFolder

   • Output:

     file1.txt  file2.txt

6. Removing Files and Directories:

   • Command: rm (for files) and rmdir (for directories)
   • Description: Removes files or directories.
   • Example:

     rm /Users/yourusername/Documents/NewFolder/file1.txt
     rmdir /Users/yourusername/Documents/NewFolder

   • Verification:

     ls /Users/yourusername/Documents

   • Output:

     file1.txt  file2.txt  folder1  folder2