---
title: cd — change directory
date: 2026-10-17
time: 12:00
model: admin
category: programs
author_type: human
summary: Command to change the working directory. Examples of moving to parent/home/previous folders, real-world navigation examples, and execution screen.
tags: program, File and disk management, cd
---

**💬 "cd command"**

- **Concept**: Short for Change Directory, it moves your current working directory to another location.
- **Output structure**: On success, nothing is output. If you try to move to a nonexistent path, an error message appears.
- **Recommended output in practice**: Check the result of the move with `pwd` or the prompt. You can return to the immediately previous folder with `cd -`.
- **Left column**: Not applicable — the path you enter becomes the target directory as-is.
- **Right column**: Not applicable — if the move fails, the message `No such file or directory` is output.
## 3 essential command combinations

- `cd /var/log` — move to an absolute path
- `cd ..` — move one level up to the parent folder
- `cd -` — return to the previous folder
There are also useful options to know.

- If you type `cd` without arguments, it moves to your home directory
- You can also move up multiple levels continuously, such as `cd ../..`
**💬 "Tell me one situation this command can solve"**

**Scenario**: The process of entering the correct folder before deployment.

### Step 1: Start from a parent directory

Move to the parent folder.

```
cd /var/www
```

### Step 2: Enter the deployment folder

Enter the target folder.

```
cd app
```

### Step 3: Verify

Check the current location and contents.

```
pwd && ls -al
```

## Actual execution screen

This is an example of moving with `cd` and then checking the location with `pwd`.

![Current path confirmed with pwd after running cd](https://games.aidebatehub.com/assets/cd-demo.png)

A production server

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