How to Create a File in Linux (5 Methods)

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This guide demos how to create a file in Linux.

Option 1: Create a File with echo command

Ideally, the echo command is used to writes a given string to the terminal. But if combined with the redirection operator (>), echo can create a new file as well.

Here are the steps to create a new file with echo:

• Change to the directory you wish to create the file. For this example, I want to create a file in my home directory victora. To change to this directory, I will type the command below. Then press enter.

cd /home/victora

Here is the command in Linux…

• To create a file called NewFile1, type the command below. Then press enter.

echo -n > NewFile1.txt

• To confirm that the file was created successfully, type dir and press enter.

Option 2: Create a File with Redirection Operator (>)

You can also create a new file using just the redirection operator (>). Normally, when you execute a command in Linux, the output is displayed on the terminal. But if you use >, you can ask the command to send the output to say a file.

Interestingly, the redirection operator can also be used to create a new file. Here are the steps:

• Use cd command to change to the directory you want to create the file.
• Then, to create a file called NewFile2 type the command below. Then press enter.

> NewFile2.txt 

• To confirm that the file was created, use the dir command as shown in the example below…

How to Create a file in Linux with touch command

You can also create a file in Linux using the touch command.

Here are the detailed steps for this method:

• Use cd command to change to the directory you want to create the new file. For example, to change to your home directory, use a command similar to the one below..

cd /home/victora 

• To create a new file, NewFile3 with touch command, type this command. Then press enter.

touch NewFile3.txt

• You can confirm that the file was created by running the dir command.

Option 3: Create a File with cat command

Another easy way to create a file in Linux is to use the cat command. To create a new file with cat requires combining cat with the redirection operator (>).

Here are the steps:

• cd to the directory you want to create your file.
• Then run this command to create a text file called NewFile5.

cat > NewFile5.txt

• If the terminal does not return, type Ctrl + C.
• Finally, to confirm that the file was created, use the dir command.

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Option 4: Create a File with vi Editor

The vi editor is one of the oldest editors in Unix. It is used to modify a text file but it can also be used to create a new text file.

All the methods discussed in this guide so far are used to create empty files. With vi editor, you can create a new file, add contents to it then save the file.

The steps below demos how to create a new file with vi editor.

• Use the cd command to navigate to the directory you wish to create a file
• Then type the command below and press enter. In this example, I want to create a file called NewFile4.

vi NewFile4.txt

• The editor will open the new file in vi editor…

• Type whatever you want into the text file. When you finish, press the Esc key. Then press Shift + : keys.
• When you press Shift + : keys, : will be displayed at the bottom of vi editor. Type wq then press enter.

• You’ll be returned to the terminal. To confirm that the file was created, use the dir command.

It is that easy to create a file in Linux! This guide offered 5 easy methods.

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Finally, for more Linux guides, visit our Linux How To page.

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