Linux `pwd` Command

pwd (print working directory) displays the full path of the current directory in the file system. It’s one of the most fundamental commands for shell navigation and scripting.

Prerequisites

• Access to any Linux distribution shell (bash, zsh, sh, etc.)
• Basic familiarity with file system hierarchy (/home, /etc, /var, etc.)
• Terminal or SSH access to a Linux host

Command Overview

1. `pwd` – Print the absolute path of the current working directory.
2. `pwd [OPTIONS]` – Use options to modify output behavior.
3. Exit code: `0` on success; non‑zero on error (e.g., inaccessible directory).

Common Options

By default, most shells use the logical (-L) path, preserving symbolic links in $PWD.

Usage Examples

1. Basic usage: simply type pwd to see your current directory:
```bash $ pwd /home/youruser/projects ```
2. Follow symbolic links (`-L` logical):
```bash $ cd /tmp/link_to_dir $ pwd -L /tmp/link_to_dir ```
3. Resolve to actual physical directory (`-P`):
```bash $ pwd -P /var/www/html/projects ```
4. Use in a script to store current path:
```bash #!/usr/bin/env bash CURRENT_DIR=$(pwd) echo "Script is running from $CURRENT_DIR" ```

Use Cases & Integration

• Scripting: capture directory paths for backups, logs, or configuration files.
• Automation: use in build scripts to reference project root regardless of invocation location.
• Debugging: verify the working directory when troubleshooting path-related errors.
• Documentation: include `pwd` output in tutorials to orient users to directory structures.

Best Practices

1. Combine `pwd` with variables (e.g., `$PWD`) in scripts for readability.
2. Prefer `pwd -P` in scripts to avoid unintended symbolic-link behaviors.
3. Avoid changing directories unnecessarily; always check with `pwd` before file operations.
4. Use absolute paths (`$(pwd)/subdir`) to avoid context errors in cron jobs.

Next Steps

• Learn other navigation commands: `cd`, `ls`, `pushd`, and `popd`.
• Explore environment variables: `HOME`, `OLDPWD`, and `PWD`.
• Build complex scripts that dynamically detect project directories.
• Combine with `basename` and `dirname` for path component extraction.

For more Linux command tutorials, refer to the Linux Documentation Project and your distribution’s man pages (man pwd).