Learn about touch command in Linux

The touch command in Linux is used to create empty files or update the access and modification timestamps of existing files. It’s a versatile command that is often used to indicate the presence of a file or update its timestamp without changing its content.

Usage:

touch [option] file_name

Example:

1. Creating a New File:
   To create a new empty file named “newfile.txt”:

   touch newfile.txt

2. Updating Timestamps:
   To update the access and modification timestamps of an existing file named “existing.txt”:

   touch existing.txt

3. Creating Multiple Files:
   You can create multiple files in a single command:

   touch file1.txt file2.txt file3.txt

4. Creating Files in Specific Directory:
   To create a new file named “report.txt” in the “documents” directory:

   touch documents/report.txt

5. Using with Variables:
   In a shell script, you can use the touch command to create files dynamically:

   file_name="dynamic_file.txt"
   touch "$file_name"

6. Combining with Other Commands:
   You can use touch along with other commands to create and update files:

   touch "$(date +%Y-%m-%d)_log.txt"

This creates a file with a timestamp in its name, such as “2023-08-29_log.txt”.

The touch command is a handy tool for file management and timestamp manipulation. It’s commonly used in shell scripts, automation tasks, and scenarios where updating timestamps is necessary without altering file content.