Mac Terminal Command to Change Directory

Changing Directories in Mac Terminal

To navigate between folders, you can use the cd (change directory) command in Terminal.

Steps to Change Directory

• Step 1: Open Terminal.
• Step 2: Type cd [directory] to change to a specific directory. You can use both relative and absolute paths:
  • Relative path: cd Documents (navigates to the Documents folder in the current directory).
  • Absolute path: cd /Users/username/Documents (navigates to the Documents folder from the root directory).
• Step 3: To go up one directory, use cd ...
• Step 4: To return to your home directory, use cd ~ or simply cd without any arguments.

Understanding the Output

The command pwd will show the current directory after changing directories. The output will look something like this: /Users/username/Documents.

Conclusion

The cd command is fundamental for navigating your file system. Understanding the difference between relative and absolute paths can help you move quickly between directories.