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The Current Directory

When you log on to a UNIX computer, the operating system sets your home directory as the current directory or working directory. The current directory is the directory under which files and other directories may be created and deleted and is a point of reference for many UNIX commands (this concept will be explored further a little later in this section).

If you ever get lost, the command pwd will display the name of the current directory. Unfortunately, it can return confusing names such as /tmp_amd/bizet/import/1/angies. Get used to translating this to /home/angies in your mind.

The current directory is represented by the character `.'. The parent directory of the current directory is represented by the string `..'. This may seem strange at the moment, but all will become clear a little later in this section, so read on!