LS(1L)LS(1L)NAME
ls, dir, vdir - list contents of directories
SYNOPSIS
ls [-abcdfgiklmnpqrstuxABCFGLNQRSUX1] [-w cols] [-T cols] [-I pattern]
[--all] [--escape] [--directory] [--inode] [--kilobytes] [--numeric-
uid-gid] [--no-group] [--hide-control-chars] [--reverse] [--size]
[--width=cols] [--tabsize=cols] [--almost-all] [--ignore-backups]
[--classify] [--file-type] [--full-time] [--ignore=pattern] [--derefer‐
ence] [--literal] [--quote-name] [--recursive]
[--sort={none,time,size,extension}] [--format={long,verbose,com‐
mas,across,vertical,single-column}]
[--time={atime,access,use,ctime,status}] [--help] [--version] [name...]
DESCRIPTION
This manual page documents the GNU version of ls. dir and vdir are
versions of ls with different default output formats. These programs
list each given file or directory name. Directory contents are sorted
alphabetically. For ls, files are by default listed in columns, sorted
vertically, if the standard output is a terminal; otherwise they are
listed one per line. For dir, files are by default listed in columns,
sorted vertically. For vdir, files are by default listed in long for‐
mat.
OPTIONS
-a, --all
List all files in directories, including all files that start
with `.'.
-b, --escape
Quote nongraphic characters in file names using alphabetic and
octal backslash sequences like those used in C.
-c, --time=ctime, --time=status
Sort directory contents according to the files' status change
time instead of the modification time. If the long listing for‐
mat is being used, print the status change time instead of the
modification time.
-d, --directory
List directories like other files, rather than listing their
contents.
-f Do not sort directory contents; list them in whatever order they
are stored on the disk. The same as enabling -a and -U and dis‐
abling -l, -s, and -t.
--full-time
List times in full, rather than using the standard abbreviation
heuristics.
-g Ignored; for Unix compatibility.
-i, --inode
Print the index number of each file to the left of the file
name.
-k, --kilobytes
If file sizes are being listed, print them in kilobytes. This
overrides the environment variable POSIXLY_CORRECT.
-l, --format=long, --format=verbose
In addition to the name of each file, print the file type, per‐
missions, number of hard links, owner name, group name, size in
bytes, and timestamp (the modification time unless other times
are selected). For files with a time that is more than 6 months
old or more than 1 hour into the future, the timestamp contains
the year instead of the time of day.
-m, --format=commas
List files horizontally, with as many as will fit on each line,
separated by commas.
-n, --numeric-uid-gid
List the numeric UID and GID instead of the names.
-p Append a character to each file name indicating the file type.
-q, --hide-control-chars
Print question marks instead of nongraphic characters in file
names.
-r, --reverse
Sort directory contents in reverse order.
-s, --size
Print the size of each file in 1K blocks to the left of the file
name. If the environment variable POSIXLY_CORRECT is set,
512-byte blocks are used instead.
-t, --sort=time
Sort directory contents by timestamp instead of alphabetically,
with the newest files listed first.
-u, --time=atime, --time=access, --time=use
Sort directory contents according to the files' last access time
instead of the modification time. If the long listing format is
being used, print the last access time instead of the modifica‐
tion time.
-x, --format=across, --format=horizontal
List the files in columns, sorted horizontally.
-A, --almost-all
List all files in directories, except for `.' and `..'.
-B, --ignore-backups
Do not list files that end with `~', unless they are given on
the command line.
-C, --format=vertical
List files in columns, sorted vertically.
-F, --classify
Append a character to each file name indicating the file type.
For regular files that are executable, append a `*'. The file
type indicators are `/' for directories, `@' for symbolic links,
`|' for FIFOs, `=' for sockets, and nothing for regular files.
-G, --no-group
Inhibit display of group information in a long format directory
listing.
-L, --dereference
List the files linked to by symbolic links instead of listing
the contents of the links.
-N, --literal
Do not quote file names.
-Q, --quote-name
Enclose file names in double quotes and quote nongraphic charac‐
ters as in C.
-R, --recursive
List the contents of all directories recursively.
-S, --sort=size
Sort directory contents by file size instead of alphabetically,
with the largest files listed first.
-U, --sort=none
Do not sort directory contents; list them in whatever order they
are stored on the disk. This option is not called -f because
the Unix ls -f option also enables -a and disables -l, -s, and
-t. It seems useless and ugly to group those unrelated things
together in one option. Since this option doesn't do that, it
has a different name.
-X, --sort=extension
Sort directory contents alphabetically by file extension (char‐
acters after the last `.'); files with no extension are sorted
first.
-1, --format=single-column
List one file per line.
-w, --width cols
Assume the screen is cols columns wide. The default is taken
from the terminal driver if possible; otherwise the environment
variable COLUMNS is used if it is set; otherwise the default is
80.
-T, --tabsize cols
Assume that each tabstop is cols columns wide. The default is
8.
-I, --ignore pattern
Do not list files whose names match the shell pattern pattern
unless they are given on the command line. As in the shell, an
initial `.' in a filename does not match a wildcard at the start
of pattern.
--help Print a usage message on standard output and exit successfully.
--version
Print version information on standard output then exit success‐
fully.
BUGS
On BSD systems, the -s option reports sizes that are half the correct
values for files that are NFS-mounted from HP-UX systems. On HP-UX
systems, it reports sizes that are twice the correct values for files
that are NFS-mounted from BSD systems. This is due to a flaw in HP-UX;
it also affects the HP-UX ls program.
FSF GNU File Utilities LS(1L)
