Akshat is a software engineer, product designer and the co-founder of Scrutify. He's an experienced Linux professional and the senior editor of this blog. He...Read more
TL;DR
To rename a directory in Linux, you can try any of the four methods:
- Use the mv command to move or rename files and directories in Linux:
mv old_dir_name new_dir_name - The rename command is for batch renaming files and directories:
rename 's/old_dir_name/new_dir_name/' * - Rename multiple directories using the mv command and wildcard patterns:
mv old_* new_* - Linux’s rename command can rename directories using regular expression patterns:
rename 's/old_/new_/g' old_*
When renaming a directory in Linux, be aware of three potential issues: “Permission denied” errors can be resolved by adjusting ownership or permissions, “Directory not found” errors may indicate the wrong location or non-existent directory, and conflicting names can be resolved by deleting the existing directory. Follow best practices like backups, avoiding system directories, using descriptive names, checking dependencies, using version control, and updating references.
Read our article below to learn more about how to easily and efficiently rename a directory in Linux.
Renaming directories in Linux is a common task that is necessary for a variety of reasons, such as improving organization and updating naming conventions. In this article, I will provide a comprehensive guide on how to rename a directory in Linux, including advanced techniques and troubleshooting tips.
How to Rename a Directory in Linux [4 Simple Ways]
To rename a directory in Linux, use the mv or rename commands. You can also use them with wildcards or regular expression patterns. Here’s the step-by-step guide for each method:
1. mv Command
The mv command is used to move or rename files and directories in Linux. To rename a directory in Linux using the mv command, follow these steps:
- In the Terminal window, navigate to the directory containing the directory you want to rename using the
cdcommand. - Type the following command:
mv old_dir_name new_dir_nameReplace old_dir_name with the current name of the directory and new_dir_name with the new name you want to give to the directory.
- Press Enter to execute the command. Here is an example of renaming a directory called text to doc using the
mvcommand:
2. rename Command
The rename command is specifically designed for batch renaming files and directories. Here’s how you can rename a directory in Linux using the rename command:
- Open the Terminal app and use
cdcommand to head to the location containing the directory you want to rename. - Type the following command:
rename 's/old_dir_name/new_dir_name/' *Replace old_dir_name with the current name of the directory and new_dir_name with the new name you want to give to the directory.
- Press Enter to execute the command.
- Here is the output of renaming a directory called files to docs using the
renamecommand:
3. Wildcard Pattern
The mv command is a simple and effective tool for renaming directories in bulk. You can use a wildcard pattern to match all directories that you want to rename and specify the new name for each directory. Here’s how you can do it:
- Launch the Terminal application on your Linux system and execute the following command to change the directory to your desired location:
cd ~/directory_name- List the contents of the directory using the
lscommand to verify the presence of the directories you want to rename.
ls- To rename all directories with the prefix old_ to have the prefix new_, you could use the following command:
mv old_* new_*- This command uses the old_* wildcard pattern to match all directories with the prefix old_, and the new_* pattern to specify the new prefix for each matching directory. The
mvcommand will move each directory to a new location with the new prefix. Here is the output:
4. Regular Expression Pattern
The rename command can also be used to rename directories in bulk, using regular expression patterns to match and replace parts of the directory names. For example, to rename all directories with the old_ to have the new_, you could follow these steps:
- Head to the Terminal app and navigate to the location where you want to rename the directory:
cd ~/directory_name- To rename all directories at once, run the following command:
rename 's/old_/new_/g' old_*- The regular expression pattern s/old_/new_/g is used to globally substitute all occurrences of the old_ prefix in a file or directory name with the new_ prefix. This pattern is commonly used in the
renamecommand to rename files or directories in bulk. You’ll see the following output:
3 Potential Issues When Renaming a Directory in Linux
When renaming a directory in Linux, you may encounter three common issues or errors. To address these concerns, consider the following troubleshooting methods tailored to each specific error type:
1. Permission Denied Errors
If you get a “Permission denied” error when trying to rename a directory in Linux, it means that you don’t have the required permissions to perform the action. To fix this, you need to change the ownership or permissions of the directory. There are two ways to do this, which are:
- To change the ownership of the directory, use the
chowncommand. For example:
sudo chown username:groupname directory_name- To change the permissions of the directory, use the
chmodcommand. For example:
chmod u+rwx,g+rwx,o+rwx directory_name- Once you execute these commands, you can test whether the error has been resolved by attempting to rename the directory.
2. Directory Not Found Errors
If you get a “Directory not found” error when trying to rename a directory in Linux, it means that the directory you are trying to rename doesn’t exist or you are trying to rename it from the wrong directory. To fix this error, follow these steps:
- Ensure that you are in the correct directory by using the
cdcommand.
cd ~/directory_name- Next, make sure that you have entered the correct name of the directory you want to rename. To do that, you can execute the following command to view and confirm the directory name:
ls- If the directory doesn’t exist, you may need to create the directory using the
mkdircommand and then try renaming the newly created directory.
mkdir directory_name3. Conflicting Directory Names
If you encounter an error indicating that the new directory name you want to use already exists, you may need to delete the existing directory before proceeding with the renaming process. To do so, follow these steps:
- In the Terminal window, execute the following command:
rmdir directory_name- Alternatively, you can run the following command:
rm -r directory_name- Once done, use the following command to ensure the existing directory is successfully deleted from the current location. If so, try renaming the directory again.
ls7 Best Practices to Rename Directories in Linux
To rename directories in Linux, it’s essential to follow certain practices to maintain organization and efficient management. Here are seven best practices to follow when renaming directories in Linux:
- 🔑 Always take a backup: Prior to renaming a directory in Linux, it’s always recommended to take a backup of the directory to avoid losing any important data. This can be done by copying the entire directory to another location (
cp -r source_dir destination_dir) or using a backup tool liketarorrsync. - ⚠️ Avoid renaming system directories: System directories contain important files and configurations required for the proper functioning of the system. Renaming system directories can cause issues with the system’s functionality and even render it unusable. It’s always advisable to avoid renaming system directories unless you know exactly what you’re doing.
- ❌ Avoid using special characters or spaces: Using special characters or spaces in directory names can cause errors and make it difficult to access the directory. Some special characters have specific meanings in Linux, and using them in directory names can cause conflicts. However, you can use alphanumeric characters, underscores, or hyphens when renaming a directory in Linux.
- 🔍 Check for dependencies before renaming a directory: Before renaming a directory, it’s a good idea to check if any programs or scripts are dependent on that directory. If there are dependencies, renaming the directory can cause those programs or scripts to fail. It’s best to check for dependencies beforehand and update any programs or scripts that reference the directory.
- 📝 Use descriptive and meaningful names for directories: Using descriptive and meaningful names for directories can make it easier to understand their contents and purpose. This can be especially useful when working in teams or sharing files with others. Descriptive names can also make it easier to locate specific files or directories in a large file system.
- 🔄 Use version control to track changes to directories: When working with directories, it’s a good practice to use version control tools like
Gitto track changes and keep a history of modifications. This can be useful when working on large projects with multiple collaborators or when troubleshooting issues that arise during the renaming process. - 📌 Update any references to the renamed directory: After renaming a directory, it’s important to update any references to that directory in scripts, configuration files, or other applications. Failure to update these references can cause errors or unexpected behavior.
To Sum Up
In conclusion, renaming a directory in Linux is straightforward using the mv and rename commands. By incorporating wildcard patterns with mv and regular expressions with rename, you can efficiently rename multiple directories. However, be mindful of common issues and follow the best practices when renaming directories in Linux.
If you’re looking to enhance your understanding of the Linux filesystem, I recommend exploring my comprehensive guide on viewing the Linux file content and concatenating files using Linux CLI. Additionally, you can learn how to efficiently run binary files, enabling you to become proficient in Linux programming and effectively utilize the Ubuntu environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic structure of directories in Linux?
Linux follows a hierarchical structure where the root directory is at the top of the tree, and all other directories are its subdirectories. Currently, it has a root directory (/), home directory (~), system directories (/bin, /sbin, /usr, /var, etc.), temporary directories (/tmp), and configuration directories (/etc).
Can I use wildcards when renaming directories?
Yes, you can use wildcards when renaming directories, but the process depends on your operating system. In Unix-based systems (Linux, macOS), you can use shell features like globbing with the mv command in a for loop to iterate through and rename directories. In Windows, you can use the rename or ren command with a for /d loop for similar results. However, be cautious when using wildcards, as they may lead to unintended consequences. Double-check your commands and consider backing up your data before making bulk changes.
How can I use directories to organize files in Linux?
To organize files and directories in Linux, you can create new directories using the mkdir command and move files and directories using the mv command. It’s important to choose descriptive names for directories to make it easier to find and manage files.
Akshat is a software engineer, product designer and the co-founder of Scrutify. He's an experienced Linux professional and the senior editor of this blog. He is also an open-source contributor to many projects on Github and has written several technical guides on Linux. Apart from that, he’s also actively sharing his ideas and tutorials on Medium and Attirer. As the editor of this blog, Akshat brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to provide readers with valuable insights and advice on a wide range of Linux-related topics.
