mkdir (create directories) in Linux CLI - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the command to create a directory named 'photos'.

Linux CLI

mkdir [1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-v photos

Bphotos

C-p photos

D-m 755 photos

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Adding unnecessary options when just creating a simple directory.

Forgetting to specify the directory name.

The mkdir command followed by the directory name creates that directory. Here, photos is the directory name.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the command to create nested directories '2024/June' in one step.

Linux CLI

mkdir [1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-p 2024/June

B-v 2024/June

C-m 755 2024/June

D2024 June

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Trying to create nested directories without the -p option, which causes an error.

Using spaces instead of slashes for nested directories.

The -p option tells mkdir to create parent directories as needed, so nested directories like 2024/June are created in one command.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the command to create a directory named 'docs' with verbose output.

Linux CLI

mkdir [1] docs

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-p

B-m

C-v

D-x

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using -p which creates parent directories but does not show messages.

Using invalid options like -x which cause errors.

The -v option makes mkdir show a message for each directory it creates, which is the verbose mode.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to create directories 'music' and 'videos' in one command.

Linux CLI

mkdir [1] [2]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Amusic

B-p

Cvideos

D-v

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Trying to use options like -p or -v as directory names.

Using commas or other separators instead of spaces.

You can create multiple directories at once by listing their names separated by spaces after mkdir.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to create a directory named 'projects' with permissions set to 700 and verbose output.

Linux CLI

mkdir [1] [2] [3] projects

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-v

B-m

C700

D-p

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Putting the permission number before the -m option.

Forgetting the verbose option -v.

The -m option sets permissions, here 700 means only the owner can read, write, and execute. The -v option shows messages during creation.

Practice

1. What does the mkdir command do in Linux?

easy

A. Deletes files from the system

B. Creates new directories (folders) to organize files

C. Lists files in a directory

D. Changes the current directory

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of mkdir

   The mkdir command is used to create new directories (folders) in Linux.

2. Step 2: Compare with other commands

   Deleting files is done by rm, listing files by ls, and changing directories by cd.

3. Final Answer:

   Creates new directories (folders) to organize files -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   mkdir = create folders [OK]

Hint: mkdir always makes folders, not files or lists [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing mkdir with rm or ls commands
• Thinking mkdir deletes files
• Assuming mkdir changes directories

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to create a directory named projects?

easy

A. mkdir: projects

B. mkdir -d projects

C. mkdir projects

D. mkdir > projects

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall mkdir syntax

   The basic syntax to create a directory is mkdir directory_name. No extra symbols or options are needed for a simple directory.

2. Step 2: Evaluate options

   mkdir -d projects uses a non-existent -d flag, mkdir: projects uses invalid colon syntax, and mkdir > projects uses redirection which is incorrect here.

3. Final Answer:

   mkdir projects -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Simple mkdir = mkdir directory_name [OK]

Hint: Use just mkdir plus folder name to create one folder [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding unnecessary flags like -d
• Using colons or symbols incorrectly
• Trying to redirect output with >

3. What will be the result of running this command?

mkdir -p home/user/docs

medium

A. Creates home, user, and docs directories if they don't exist

B. Creates only the docs directory if home/user exists

C. Shows an error because -p is invalid

D. Deletes existing home/user/docs directory

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the -p option

   The -p option tells mkdir to create parent directories as needed without error if they already exist.

2. Step 2: Analyze the command effect

   This command creates the full path home/user/docs including any missing directories in the path.

3. Final Answer:

   Creates home, user, and docs directories if they don't exist -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   mkdir -p = create nested folders [OK]

Hint: Use -p to make all needed folders in one go [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking -p only creates the last folder
• Assuming -p is invalid or causes errors
• Confusing mkdir with delete commands

4. You run mkdir folder1 folder2 folder3 but get an error. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You need to use -p to create multiple folders

B. mkdir cannot create more than one folder at a time

C. You must create folders one by one with separate commands

D. One or more folder names contain spaces without quotes

Solution

1. Step 1: Check mkdir multiple folder support

   mkdir supports creating multiple folders by listing names separated by spaces.

2. Step 2: Identify common error with spaces

   If folder names contain spaces, they must be quoted or escaped. Otherwise, mkdir treats parts as separate names causing errors.

3. Final Answer:

   One or more folder names contain spaces without quotes -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Spaces in names need quotes for mkdir [OK]

Hint: Quote folder names with spaces to avoid errors [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking -p is needed for multiple folders
• Believing mkdir only creates one folder at a time
• Not quoting folder names with spaces

5. You want to create a project folder structure with src, bin, and docs inside myproject in one command. Which command achieves this?

hard

A. mkdir -p myproject/src myproject/bin myproject/docs

B. mkdir myproject && mkdir src bin docs

C. mkdir -p myproject/src/bin/docs

D. mkdir myproject/src myproject/bin myproject/docs

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand nested folder creation

   Using -p allows creating parent directories and nested folders in one command without errors.

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   mkdir myproject/src myproject/bin myproject/docs lacks -p so may fail if myproject doesn't exist. mkdir -p myproject/src myproject/bin myproject/docs correctly uses -p to create all paths. mkdir -p myproject/src/bin/docs creates nested folders incorrectly. mkdir myproject && mkdir src bin docs creates folders separately, not in one command.

3. Final Answer:

   mkdir -p myproject/src myproject/bin myproject/docs -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use mkdir -p with full paths for multiple nested folders [OK]

Hint: Use mkdir -p with all paths to create nested folders at once [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting -p when parent folder doesn't exist
• Creating nested folders incorrectly as one path
• Running multiple mkdir commands instead of one