cd

change the current working directory

TLDR

Change to directory

$ cd [/path/to/directory]

Go to home directory

$ cd

Go to previous directory

$ cd -

Go up one directory

$ cd ..

Go up two directories

$ cd ../..

cd (change directory) is a shell built-in command that changes the current working directory. It updates the shell's current directory and the PWD environment variable.The command is fundamental for navigating the filesystem in shell sessions.

PARAMETERS

directory

Path to change to (default: $HOME)

Change to previous directory (OLDPWD)

-L

Follow symbolic links (default)

-P

Use physical directory structure (don't follow symlinks)

-e

With -P, exit with error if the current directory cannot be determined

Present extended attributes as a directory (on supported systems)

SPECIAL DIRECTORIES

Home directory ($HOME)

~user

Specified user's home directory

Current directory

Parent directory

Previous directory

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

PWD

Current working directory

OLDPWD

Previous working directory

HOME

User's home directory

CDPATH

Search path for cd command

INSTALL

sudo apk add execline

brew install execline

nix profile install nixpkgs#execline

CAVEATS

Shell built-in (behavior varies by shell). Spaces in paths need quoting. Symbolic links can be confusing (-P vs -L). No cd command history by default. Cannot cd to files, only directories.

HISTORY

cd has been a shell built-in command since the earliest Unix shells in the 1970s, essential for directory navigation.

cd