How to Rename Directories on Ubuntu Terminal

Renaming directories in Ubuntu can be a straightforward task when using the terminal. Whether you are managing a large project or organizing your personal files, knowing how to rename directories efficiently can save you a lot of time and effort. This article will guide you through the process of renaming directories using the terminal in Ubuntu.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open the Terminal:
   
   
   
   • You can open the terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on your keyboard or by searching for "Terminal" in the application menu.
   
   
   
   


2. Navigate to the Directory:
   
   
   
   • Use the cd (change directory) command to navigate to the parent directory of the directory you want to rename. For example, if your directory is located in /home/username/Documents, you would type:
     

     cd /home/username/Documents
     
     

     
     
   
   
   
   


3. List the Directories:
   
   
   
   • To ensure you are in the correct directory and to see the list of directories, use the ls command:
     

     ls
     
     

     
     
   
   
   
   


4. Rename the Directory:
   
   
   
   • Use the mv (move) command to rename the directory. The syntax for renaming a directory is:
     

     mv old_directory_name new_directory_name
     
     

     
     
   
   
   • For example, if you want to rename a directory called old_folder to new_folder, you would type:
     

     mv old_folder new_folder
     
     

     
     
   
   
   
   


5. Verify the Change:
   
   
   
   • To confirm that the directory has been renamed, use the ls command again to list the directories in the current location:
     

     ls
     
     

     
     
   
   
   
   

Additional Tips

• Using Tab Completion:
  
  
  
  • To save time and avoid typos, you can use the Tab key to auto-complete directory names. For example, if you type mv ol and press Tab, the terminal will auto-complete old_folder if it is the only directory that starts with ol.
  
  
  
  


• Renaming Multiple Directories:
  
  
  
  • If you need to rename multiple directories, you can use a loop in the terminal. For example, to rename all directories starting with old_ to new_, you can use:
    

    for dir in old_*; do mv "$dir" "new_${dir#old_}"; done
    
    

    
    
  
  
  
  


• Permissions:
  
  
  
  • If you encounter permission issues, you may need to use sudo to run the command with superuser privileges:
    

    sudo mv old_directory_name new_directory_name
    
    

    
    
  
  
  
  

Conclusion

Renaming directories in Ubuntu using the terminal is a simple and efficient process. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily manage your directories and keep your file system organized. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced user, the mv command is a powerful tool in your arsenal.

For more detailed information and advanced usage, you can refer to the official documentation and additional resources. Here is a useful reference link for further reading:

• How to Rename Directories on Ubuntu Terminal

Happy renaming!