mkdir

What it does

How to write it

mkdir [OPTION]... DIRECTORY...

Most used

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$ run as a normal user# run as root (or with sudo)

1. 1Make one folder

   $mkdir reports

   In the current folder.

2. 2Make a whole path at once

   $mkdir -p /srv/app/releases/2026-10

   Every missing folder is made. No error if it exists.

3. 3Make several folders with braces

   $mkdir -p /data/{web,db,backup}/{logs,tmp}

   Six folders in one command.

4. 4Make a private folder

   $mkdir -m 700 ~/secrets

   Only you can enter it. No separate chmod needed.

5. 5Make a shared folder for a team

   #mkdir -m 2770 /srv/shared
   #chgrp devs /srv/shared

   The 2 sets SGID: new files get the group devs.

6. 6Show what is made

   $mkdir -pv /tmp/a/b/c
   mkdir: created directory '/tmp/a'
   mkdir: created directory '/tmp/a/b'
   mkdir: created directory '/tmp/a/b/c'

   Good in logs of scripts.

7. 7Make a folder with the right SELinux label for a web site

   #mkdir -Z /var/www/shop
   $ls -dZ /var/www/shop

   The folder gets the default label of its place (httpd_sys_content_t).

8. 8Make a dated backup folder

   #mkdir -p /backup/$(date +%F)

   One folder per day, like /backup/2026-10-25.

9. 9Make a folder only if it does not exist (script)

   $[ -d /var/lib/myapp ] || mkdir -p /var/lib/myapp

   With -p the test is not even needed; it shows the idea.

10. 10Make a mount point for a new disk

    #mkdir -p /mnt/data

    A mount point is just an empty folder.

11. 11Make the folders of a project from a list

    $xargs -a dirs.txt mkdir -p

    One folder name per line in dirs.txt.

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