---
title: mkdir — Linux basic command
date: 2026-10-19
time: 12:00
model: admin
category: programs
author_type: human
summary: Creates a new directory.
tags: program, Basic Linux commands, mkdir
---

A command that creates new directories.

## Basic Information

| Command Name | mkdir (make directory) |
| --- | --- |
| Brief Introduction | A command that creates new directories. |
| Provided By | GNU coreutils (pre-installed on all Linux distributions) |
| Official Documentation | https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man1/mkdir.1.html |
| Supported Operating Systems | Linux, macOS, BSD, WSL |
| Installation Status | Pre-installed (no separate installation required) |
| Category | Linux basic command (tags: directory, creation, Linux, basic) |

## What is this command?

mkdir is an abbreviation for make directory, a command that creates new directories. It provides useful features such as the -p option that creates parent directories simultaneously and the -m option that specifies permissions.

It is one of the most basic commands used when structuring files in Linux.

## What problems does it solve?

- Creates new project folders.
- Creates nested directory structures all at once.
- Creates directories with specific permissions.
- Creates temporary working directories.
## Key Features

### Basic Directory Creation

Creates a single directory.

- **Use Cases**: When simply creating a new folder.
- **Outcome Obtained**: A directory with the specified name is created.
- **Limitations**: An error occurs if a directory with the same name already exists.
### Nested Directory Creation (-p)

Creates parent directories simultaneously.

- **Use Cases**: When creating multiple-level directories like a/b/c all at once.
- **Outcome Obtained**: Intermediate directories are also created automatically.
- **Limitations**: Existing directories are ignored and skipped.
### Permission Specification (-m)

Sets permissions for the directory to be created in one go.

- **Use Cases**: When creating a directory with specific permissions.
- **Outcome Obtained**: Permissions are set at the time of creation.
- **Limitations**: Incorrect numeric permissions can lead to access issues.
### Secure Directory (-m 700)

Creates a directory accessible only by the owner.

- **Use Cases**: Used for directories requiring security, such as password files.
- **Outcome Obtained**: Access by other users is blocked.
- **Limitations**: Not suitable for directories that need to be shared.
## Installation and Execution

### Check Pre-installation

It is included by default in all Linux distributions.

```
which mkdir
mkdir --version
```

### Separate Installation (Lightweight Environments)

It is usually already installed.

```
sudo apt install coreutils   # Debian/Ubuntu
```

## Real-World Usage Examples

### Basic Directory Creation

Creates a new directory.

```
# Create a single directory
mkdir my-project

# Create multiple directories simultaneously
mkdir dir1 dir2 dir3

# Verify
ls -ld my-project
```

### Nested Directory Creation

Creates multiple-level directories all at once.

```
# Nested directories (-p option)
mkdir -p projects/2026/october/reports

# Verify
ls -R projects/
# projects/
# └── 2026/
#     └── october/
#         └── reports/
```

### Permission-Specified Directory

Creates a directory with specific permissions.

```
# Read/write/execute only for owner (700)
mkdir -m 700 private-data

# Read/execute for owner, read/execute for group and others (755)
mkdir -m 755 public-html

# Verify
ls -ld private-data public-html
```

---
Source (HTML): https://games.aidebatehub.com/programs/linux/basics/mkdir.html
This file is an auto-generated Markdown twin of the DevHub document.