If you've ever run ls -l in your Linux terminal and felt like you were staring at cryptic hieroglyphics, you're not alone. Let’s break down what that first column of characters actually means — and why it's super useful for any Linux user.
Example Output
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 18047 Dec 20 2017 alternatives.log
drwxr-x--- 2 root adm 4096 Dec 20 2017 apache2
Decoding the First Column
The first field has 10 characters, and it tells you two key things:
The type of file
The permissions (read, write, execute) for user, group, and others
Let’s focus on the very first character, which tells us the file type:
| Symbol | File Type | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
- |
Regular file | Text, images, binaries, compressed files |
d |
Directory | A folder that holds other files |
l |
Symbolic link | A shortcut to another file or directory |
s |
Socket | Communication between processes |
p |
Pipe | Another way for processes to talk |
b |
Block file | Talks to hardware, like hard drives |
c |
Character file | Talks to hardware, one character at a time |
Real World Example Breakdown
alternatives.log
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 18047 Dec 20 2017 alternatives.log
First character: - = regular file
Permissions: Owner can read/write, others can only read
Why This Matters
Knowing what these characters mean lets you:
Understand if you're dealing with a file or a folder
Quickly spot broken links, special devices, or hidden communication tools
Diagnose permission errors like "Permission denied"
TL;DR
Run ls -l to view file details
First character tells you the type of file
Master this and you’ll start navigating Linux like a pro
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