# Finding Your Way

Where you are, what's around you, and how to get anywhere, without a mouse.

Updated: November 10, 2026

## [Where You Are](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/bash-in-depth/topics/bash-where-you-are)

1. [Where Am I? pwd and Paths](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/bash-where-am-i) (Novice): The terminal always works in one folder at a time, and pwd tells you which one as a path, the folder's address read from the top of the computer down to you.
2. [Looking Around: ls](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/bash-looking-around) (Novice): ls lists what's in a folder, ls -a adds the hidden names that start with a dot, and ls -l shows each one's details, such as whether it's a folder, its size and when it last changed.

## [Getting Around](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/bash-in-depth/topics/bash-getting-around)

1. [Moving Around: cd, .. and ~](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/bash-moving-around) (Novice): cd moves the terminal into another folder, by a folder's name, up one level with .., home with ~ or anywhere with a full path, and cd - takes you back to where you just were.
2. [Let the Shell Type for You: Tab](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/bash-tab-completion) (Novice): Press Tab and the shell finishes a file or folder name for you, press it twice to see every name that fits, and let it type the backslashes that a name with spaces needs.

## [Exercise: Find Your Way](https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/bash-in-depth/topics/exercise-bash-find-your-way)

1. [Exercise: Find Your Way](https://www.ask-codey.com/lessons/exercise-bash-find-your-way) (Novice): Explore a summer camp made of folders with pwd, ls, cd and Tab, write down what you find, and let a check script tell you which answers are right.

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/courses/bash-in-depth/chapters/bash-finding-your-way