Linux tree Command

The tree command is used to display files and directories in a hierarchical tree structure.

It is extremely useful for:

• Understanding folder structures
• Documentation
• Development projects
• Linux administration
• Server management

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What is the tree command?

Instead of displaying files like:

ls

The tree command shows:

Projects
├── Website
│   ├── index.php
│   └── style.css
├── Scripts
│   └── backup.sh
└── README.md

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Installation

Some Linux distributions do not include tree by default.

Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt install tree

Fedora:

sudo dnf install tree

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S tree

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Syntax

tree [OPTIONS] [DIRECTORY]

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Basic Usage

tree

Example:

.
├── Documents
├── Downloads
└── Projects

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View Specific Directory

tree /etc

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Command Options

Flag	Description
-a	Show hidden files
-d	Show only directories
-L	Limit depth level
-f	Show full paths
-h	Human readable sizes
-s	Show file sizes
-I	Ignore patterns
--dirsfirst	Directories first
-p	Show permissions
-u	Show owner
-g	Show group

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tree -a

Display hidden files.

tree -a

Output:

.
├── .bashrc
├── .ssh
└── Documents

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tree -d

Display only directories.

tree -d

Output:

.
├── Documents
├── Downloads
└── Projects

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tree -L

Limit depth.

tree -L 2

Example:

Projects
├── Website
└── Scripts

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tree -f

Show full paths.

tree -f

Output:

/home/aayan/Documents
/home/aayan/Projects

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tree -h

Show human readable sizes.

tree -h

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tree -s

Show file sizes.

tree -sh

Output:

[4.0K] Documents
[1.2K] file.txt

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tree -I

Ignore directories or files.

Example:

tree -I "node_modules"

Multiple patterns:

tree -I "node_modules|vendor|.git"

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tree --dirsfirst

Display directories before files.

tree --dirsfirst

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tree -p

Display permissions.

tree -p

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tree -u

Display owner.

tree -u

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tree -g

Display group.

tree -g

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Combining Flags

Example:

tree -aL 3

Example:

tree -ah

Example:

tree -aL 3 --dirsfirst

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Real Development Example

Laravel Project:

tree -L 2

Output:

app
bootstrap
config
database
public
resources
routes
storage

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PocketMine Server Example

tree -L 2

Output:

server
├── plugins
├── worlds
├── logs
├── resource_packs
└── players

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Website Example

tree /var/www/html

Output:

html
├── index.php
├── css
├── js
└── images

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Ethical Hacking Example

tree /usr/share/wordlists

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Common Mistakes

Command not found

Install:

sudo apt install tree

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Huge output

Limit depth:

tree -L 2

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Exercises

tree

tree -a

tree -L 3

tree -d

tree -I ".git"

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Mini Project

Create:

mkdir -p Website/{css,js,images}
touch Website/index.php

Run:

tree Website

Output:

Website
├── css
├── images
├── index.php
└── js

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Command Summary

Command	Purpose
tree	Display hierarchy
tree -a	Show hidden files
tree -d	Directories only
tree -L	Limit depth
tree -I	Ignore patterns

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Next Chapter

➡ Linux realpath Command