How to Rename Directory in Linux System

To rename a directory in a Linux system, you can use the mv (move) command, which is commonly used for moving files and directories, but it can also be used for renaming.

Steps to Rename a Directory:

1. Open a terminal on your Linux system.
2. Use the mv command to rename the directory:

   mv old-directory-name new-directory-name
   

   • old-directory-name: The current name of the directory you want to rename.
   • new-directory-name: The new name you want to give to the directory.

Example:

If you have a directory named old_folder and you want to rename it to new_folder, you would run:

mv old_folder new_folder

Notes:

• Permissions: Ensure that you have the necessary permissions to rename the directory. If not, you may need to use sudo:

  sudo mv old_folder new_folder
  

• Relative and Absolute Paths: You can also use relative or absolute paths to specify the directories. For example:

  mv /home/user/old_folder /home/user/new_folder
  

• Renaming Directories with Spaces: If the directory names contain spaces, enclose the names in quotes:

  mv "old folder name" "new folder name"
  

Summary

• Use mv old-directory-name new-directory-name to rename directories.
• Use sudo if you don’t have permission to rename the directory.
• Enclose names with spaces in quotes.