pwd (print working directory) in Linux CLI - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What is the output of the pwd command?

You run the pwd command in your terminal. What does it show?

Linux CLI

pwd

A /home/username

B username@hostname:~$

C ls -l

D No such file or directory

💡 Hint

Think about what 'pwd' stands for and what it shows you in your terminal.

The pwd command prints the full path of the current directory you are in. It does not show the prompt, list files, or error unless the directory doesn't exist.

💻 Command Output

intermediate

What happens if you run pwd after changing directories?

You run these commands in order:
cd /var/log
pwd
What is the output of the second command?

Linux CLI

cd /var/log
pwd

A /var/log

B /home/username

C cd: /var/log: No such file or directory

D /var

💡 Hint

The cd command changes your directory, and pwd shows where you are now.

After changing directory to /var/log, running pwd shows the new current directory path.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Which command correctly prints the current directory?

Choose the correct command that prints the current working directory.

A print working directory

B pwd()

C pwd

D show pwd

💡 Hint

The command is a simple shell command without parentheses or extra words.

The pwd command is a standard shell command. Adding parentheses or extra words causes errors or is invalid.

🔧 Debug

advanced

What error occurs if you run pwd in a deleted directory?

You are inside a directory, then from another terminal, that directory is deleted. Now you run pwd. What happens?

Linux CLI

pwd

A Command not found

B /home/username

C Permission denied

D pwd: error retrieving current directory: No such file or directory

💡 Hint

Think about what happens if your current directory no longer exists.

If the directory you are in is deleted, pwd cannot find it and shows an error message.

🚀 Application

expert

How to use pwd output in a script to create a backup folder?

You want to create a backup folder named 'backup' inside your current directory using a shell script. Which command correctly uses pwd output to do this?

A mkdir pwd/backup

B mkdir "$(pwd)/backup"

C mkdir $pwd/backup

D mkdir `pwd/backup`

💡 Hint

Use command substitution syntax to get the output of pwd.

To use the output of pwd inside a command, you must use $(pwd) or backticks. The other options misuse the syntax.

Practice

1. What does the pwd command do in a Linux terminal?

easy

A. Lists all files in the current directory

B. Deletes the current directory

C. Changes the current directory

D. Shows the full path of the current directory you are in

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of pwd

   The pwd command stands for 'print working directory'. It shows the full path of the directory you are currently in.

2. Step 2: Compare with other options

   Options A, C, and D describe other commands like ls, cd, and rm, which do not print the current directory path.

3. Final Answer:

   Shows the full path of the current directory you are in -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   pwd = current directory path [OK]

Hint: Remember: pwd = print working directory path [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing pwd with ls (list files)
• Thinking pwd changes directory
• Assuming pwd deletes files

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to display the current directory path in Linux?

easy

A. pwd

B. pwd -l

C. printwd

D. showdir

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the standard command

   The standard command to print the current directory is exactly pwd without any extra letters or options.

2. Step 2: Check other options for validity

   Options B, C, and D are not valid Linux commands for this purpose. pwd -l is not a standard option, and printwd and showdir do not exist.

3. Final Answer:

   pwd -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Correct syntax = pwd [OK]

Hint: Type exactly 'pwd' to print current directory [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding wrong options like -l
• Using non-existent commands
• Confusing with print working directory spelled out

3. If you run these commands in order:

cd /usr/local
pwd

What will be the output of pwd?

medium

A. /usr

B. /usr/local

C. /local

D. /home/user

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the cd command effect

   The command cd /usr/local changes the current directory to /usr/local.

2. Step 2: Check what pwd outputs

   After changing directory, pwd prints the full path of the current directory, which is /usr/local.

3. Final Answer:

   /usr/local -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   cd changes directory, pwd shows it [OK]

Hint: pwd shows the directory set by last cd command [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming pwd shows only part of the path
• Confusing directory names
• Thinking pwd shows home directory always

4. You run the command pwd but get an error: command not found. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The current directory is empty

B. You are not logged in as root

C. You typed pwd incorrectly or misspelled it

D. The terminal is broken and needs restart

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the error message

   The error command not found means the shell cannot find the command you typed.

2. Step 2: Identify common causes

   This usually happens if the command is misspelled or typed incorrectly. Being root or directory contents do not affect pwd availability.

3. Final Answer:

   You typed pwd incorrectly or misspelled it -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Misspelling commands causes 'command not found' [OK]

Hint: Check spelling if 'command not found' appears [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming permissions cause 'command not found'
• Thinking empty directory breaks pwd
• Restarting terminal unnecessarily

5. You want to save the current directory path to a file named current_dir.txt (overwriting it if it exists). Which command correctly does this?

hard

A. pwd > current_dir.txt

B. pwd >> current_dir.txt

C. pwd | current_dir.txt

D. pwd current_dir.txt

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand output redirection

   The symbol > redirects the output of a command to a file, overwriting it.

2. Step 2: Apply redirection to pwd

   Using pwd > current_dir.txt writes the current directory path into the file current_dir.txt.

3. Step 3: Check other options

   pwd >> current_dir.txt appends instead of overwriting. Options A and C are invalid syntax.

4. Final Answer:

   pwd > current_dir.txt -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Use > to save command output to a file [OK]

Hint: Use > to save output; >> appends output [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using pipe (|) incorrectly to file
• Forgetting > or >> for redirection
• Using command with filename as argument