How to create a new directory in Linux using the terminal?

The mkdir command is used to create a new directory in the Linux/Unix operating system. It can create single or multiple directories at once and set permissions during creation, similar to the chmod command.

Syntax

The general syntax of the mkdir command is as follows −

$ mkdir [OPTION]... [DIRECTORIES]...

Command Options

Creating a Single Directory

To create a new directory in the current location, use the basic mkdir command −

$ mkdir newdir

This creates a directory named newdir in the current working directory.

Creating Multiple Directories

You can create multiple directories at once by specifying multiple names −

$ mkdir dir1 dir2 dir3 dir4

Creating Parent and Child Directories

To create nested directory structures, use the -p option with -v for verbose output −

$ mkdir --parent --verbose parent/child

mkdir: created directory 'parent'
mkdir: created directory 'parent/child'

This creates both the parent directory and child directory in one command.

Setting Permissions During Creation

To create a directory with specific permissions, use the -m option −

$ mkdir -m 755 newdir

This creates a directory with read, write, and execute permissions for the owner, and read and execute permissions for group and others.

Checking Version and Help

To view version information −

$ mkdir --version

To display detailed help information −

$ mkdir --help

Common Examples

Here are practical examples combining different options −

# Create directory with 744 permissions and verbose output
$ mkdir -m 744 -v myproject

# Create nested structure with intermediate directories
$ mkdir -p project/src/main/java

# Create multiple directories with permissions
$ mkdir -m 755 docs images scripts

Important Notes

• You must have write permissions in the parent directory to create new directories

• Directory names are case-sensitive in Linux

• Avoid spaces in directory names or use quotes if necessary

Conclusion

The mkdir command is essential for directory management in Linux systems. It provides flexible options for creating single directories, multiple directories, nested structures, and setting permissions during creation. Understanding these options helps organize files efficiently in the Linux filesystem.