How to Count Files in a Directory in Linux?

Introduction

There is one fairly common task that potentially has to be solved many times when working with directories - the number of files in the directory. At other times, it is as essential as actually carrying out the administrative functions of the programs, comprehending disk space, or even sorting files logically. As stated in the case, there are various ways of doing this job with the open-source Linux operating system that has a powerful command system. In the following article, several methods of counting files in a directory that will be interesting for both CLI and GUI users will be described.

Required Conditions

Before going to the following parts, there is a need to have some prior understanding of the Linux terminal or command line. If you are still getting used to the command line interface, you might want to take a look at some of the beginner lessons. This is how the course of action will look.

Using the Terminal:

In most of the distributions of LINUX, the terminal application commonly known as the command Prompt under Windows can be found under the Application menu. In some of the distribution, you may also include the use of shortcut keys as highlighted by Ctrl +Alt +T.

Simple Command Line Skills:

We also don't really know how to use simple command prompts and how to explore directories. As the symbol of the command, we have chosen 'ls' and, as the command, to be inserted into the 'pipe,' 'wc.'

Utilizing the 'ls' Command and 'wc' Piping

The Command "ls"

The ls is another Linux command that is common and that works in listing files and directories in a computer. When written with the wc command, it can be used to count the files.

File Counting Using ls and wc

The command below can be used to give the number of files in a directory:

Command:

Here you can quickly determine the number of files by means of the command line tool called wc -l and the command ls -1.

Example

You can run in the terminal, type cd ~ to go into your home directory.

Command:

In this lecture, the 'find' command has been discussed in the following ways. The discovery One of the most valuable commands that can be used in cases of searching for files and directories is found. This is very important, especially if it is a matter of counting files, for instance, on an organization's computer system.

Utilizing the find Command

We have used 'find' in order to count the files. Use the following to count every file in the current directory and all of its subdirectories. This type of search can be for just the number of lines based on the 'find' command in the Word Count.

Command:

Example: Using 'find' to Tally Files

1. Use the following to count every file in the current directory and all of its subdirectories:

Command:

2. You can use the following to count just text files in a directory:

Command:

Applying the Command "tree."

Overview of "tree"

Filenames are at the bottom of the trees with the directory paths being the branches of trees that are shown by the tree command.

Setting up

Should "tree" not be installed, you can do so by using. If you wish to implement a "tree" then you can do so by using the following:

For RedHat/CentOS, Debian/Ubuntu, use the command

Command:

Regarding the file counting using 'a tree', it would be appropriate to note that the 'tree' called here is actually an incredibly complex binary tree.

Counting the Number of Files Using tree

All files within a directory, including those in subdirectories, can be counted using Files within a directory, and even the files within the subdirectories can be counted with the help of:

Command:

Why Write a Script?

That is why, if it is needed just to count files, for example, to write a script that will continue counting, a person has to spend more time.

Scriptwriting

Make a count_files. sh file and insert the following code in its sh file. It should look like this at the bottom of the Code tab:

Command:

Executing the Script

Activate the script by making it executable. This is usually done through a command to place an executable script at the top of the file' #!/bin/sh'.

Command:

Some of these graphical implements include remote counting of documents, as illustrated in the graphics above. If you prefer GUIs rather than termination, all the Linux file managers, such as Nautilus, Dolphin, etc, provide info about the number of files in the properties or status bar of any folder.

Typical Errors and Troubleshooting

Typical Mistakes

1. Permissions: Make sure you can access that directory or not.
2. Syntax Mistakes: If possible this part should be checked whether the commands contain punctuations, spelling mistakes, and grammatical errors.

Answers and Advice

However, if you have a problem getting permission, then the best thing I can do is to use sudo. For more details about the commands and their options, type 'man' and the name of the command, for instance, man ls, man find, and so on.

In Summary

Linux allows you to count files in a directory in a number of ways. You may find that one approach works better for you than another, depending on your needs and tastes. Try out the various methods to see which one suits you the best. Please use the comments section below to ask any queries or to suggest your preferred approach.