Installing tree
`tree` command may not be pre-installed on most Linux distributions. Below are installation methods for major operating systems.
Install tree on Linux
You can install `tree` using the package manager of each distribution.
Install tree on Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install treeUse the APT package manager to install `tree`.
Install tree on Fedora/CentOS/RHEL
sudo yum install tree # CentOS/RHEL 7 and below
sudo dnf install tree # Fedora/CentOS/RHEL 8 and aboveUse YUM or DNF package manager to install `tree`.
Overview of tree
`tree` command visually clarifies the relationships between directories and files. Unlike the `ls -R` command, which simply lists all files and directories, it uses indentation to intuitively represent the hierarchy.
Main Roles of tree
`tree` command is primarily used for the following purposes:
Key Use Cases
- Understanding Directory Structure: Quickly comprehend the overall structure of complex projects or file systems.
- Documentation: Save the directory structure as a text file for documentation purposes.
- Finding Files: Visually check where specific files or directories are located in the hierarchy.
- Troubleshooting: Useful for finding misplaced files or unexpected directories.
Main tree Command Options
`tree` command offers various options to flexibly control the output content, depth, filtering, formatting, and more.
1. Controlling Output Content
2. Filtering and Sorting
3. Output Formats and Others
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Description:
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Usage Examples
Learn how to visually check the directory structure and extract necessary information through various examples of `tree` command usage.
Output Default Tree Structure of Current Directory
treeShows the current directory and all its subdirectories and files in tree format.
Output Only Up to 2 Levels Deep for a Specific Directory
tree -L 2 /var/logShows the contents of the `/var/log` directory only up to 2 levels deep to prevent excessive output.
Output Including Hidden Files/Directories
tree -aShows the tree structure of the current directory, including hidden items like `.git` folders or `.bashrc`.
Show File Size (Human-Readable) and Modification Time
tree -hDDisplays the size (e.g., 12K, 3.5M) and last modification time of each file along with the directory structure for quick information retrieval.
Output Including Only Specific Pattern Files
tree -P "*.js|*.css"Shows the tree structure including only files with `.js` or `.css` extensions from the current directory. (The pattern must match the full path)
Output Excluding Specific Directory
tree -I "node_modules|\.git"Shows the tree structure of the current directory excluding `node_modules` and `.git` directories. (Multiple patterns can be specified using a pipe `|`)
Save Tree Structure to a File
tree -o directory_structure.txtSaves the tree structure of the current directory to a file named `directory_structure.txt`. Useful for documentation or sharing.