How to Create Directories in Linux

The mkdir command in Linux stands for “make directory” and is used to create new directories (folders) in the filesystem. It allows users to organize files hierarchically by generating single or multiple directories at once.

Key features include creating nested directory structures automatically, setting permissions during creation, and handling complex directory names with spaces or special characters. The command is indispensable for scripting, file management, and maintaining an organized directory tree.

Create a Single Directory

mkdir documents

Creates a directory named documents in the current location.

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Create Multiple Directories

mkdir dir1 dir2 dir3

Creates three directories (dir1, dir2, dir3) in the current directory.

Create Nested Directories Recursively

mkdir -p projects/2023/src

• The -p flag creates parent directories if they don’t exist.
• Builds the full path projects/2023/src even if projects or 2023 are missing.

Set Directory Permissions

mkdir -m 750 private_dir

• -m sets permissions (e.g., 750 = owner: rwx, group: r-x, others: ---).

Create Directories with Spaces

mkdir "My Photos"

Use quotes to create directories with spaces in their names.

Handle Special Characters in Names

mkdir 'dir$name'    # Quotes for special characters like $
mkdir dir\#temp     # Backslash to escape #

Creates directories with names containing $, #, or other special characters.

Verbose Mode (Show Confirmation)

mkdir -v logs

• -v prints a message:
  mkdir: created directory 'logs'.

Create Timestamped Directories

mkdir "backup_$(date +%F)"

Creates a directory like backup_2023-10-23 using the current date.

Use Brace Expansion for Multiple Subdirectories

mkdir -p app/{src,dist,test}

Creates app/src, app/dist, and app/test in one command.

Create Directories from a List in a File

xargs mkdir -p < list_of_dirs.txt

Reads directory names from list_of_dirs.txt and creates them.

Create Hidden Directories

mkdir .config

Hidden directories start with a . (e.g., .config for configuration files).

Temporary Directories for Scripts

mkdir -p /tmp/myscript_temp

Creates a temporary directory for short-lived files in scripts.

Combine with && for Workflows

mkdir -p /opt/app && cd "$_"

Creates /opt/app and immediately navigates into it using cd "$_".

Create Directories with Default Permissions via umask

umask 022 && mkdir new_project

• umask 022 ensures new directories have 755 permissions by default.

Avoid Errors with Existing Directories

mkdir -p existing_dir

• -p suppresses errors if existing_dir already exists.

Key Notes:

• Use -p (parents) to automate nested directory creation.
• Always quote directory names with spaces or special characters.
• Verify permissions with ls -l after creating directories.

The mkdir command simplifies directory management, making it essential for both casual users and system administrators. 🐧