Cheat Sheet #day44

`pwd` Cheatsheet

Basic Usage

Print the Current Working Directory
```
  pwd
```

Common Options

Print the Logical Current Working Directory
```
  pwd -L
```
Print the Physical Current Working Directory (Avoids Symlinks)
```
  pwd -P
```

Examples

Basic Usage

  # Simply prints the current directory path
  pwd

Print the Logical Current Working Directory

  # Prints the logical current directory path, including symlinks
  pwd -L

Print the Physical Current Working Directory

  # Prints the actual physical directory path, resolving symlinks
  pwd -P

Practical Tips

Default Behavior
- By default, pwd behaves like pwd -L, showing the logical path.
Using with Symlinks
- When navigating directories with symbolic links, use pwd -P to see the actual physical path.
Shell Built-in vs External Command
- pwd is typically a shell built-in command, but an external version also exists at /bin/pwd.
- The behavior might slightly differ between the built-in and the external command.

Advanced Usage

Using pwd in Scripts

  # Store the current directory path in a variable
  CURRENT_DIR=$(pwd)
  echo "The current directory is $CURRENT_DIR"

Combining with Other Commands

  # Change directory and print the new working directory
  cd /path/to/directory && pwd

Examples with Explanations

Change Directory and Print Logical Path

  cd /path/to/symlinked/directory
  pwd -L
  # Outputs: /path/to/symlinked/directory

Change Directory and Print Physical Path

  cd /path/to/symlinked/directory
  pwd -P
  # Outputs: /actual/path/to/real/directory

Store the Current Directory Path in a Variable

  # Useful in scripts for returning to the original directory after performing operations
  ORIG_DIR=$(pwd)
  # Change to another directory
  cd /another/directory
  # Do something in the new directory
  # ...
  # Return to the original directory
  cd "$ORIG_DIR"

Quick Reference

Print the Current Working Directory
```
  pwd
```
Print the Logical Path (Including Symlinks)
```
  pwd -L
```
Print the Physical Path (Resolved Symlinks)
```
  pwd -P
```

This cheatsheet covers the essential commands and options for using pwd effectively, from basic usage to advanced scripting and handling symbolic links. Adjust the commands according to your specific requirements and environment.

Cheat Sheet #day44 - pwd

pwd Cheatsheet