Course

Learn the Command Line

Discover the power of this simple yet essential text-based tool and increase your productivity as a developer.

4.58 out of 5 stars
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379,156 learners enrolled
  • Skill level

    Beginner
  • Time to complete

    Approx. 8 hours
  • Certificate of completion

    Included with paid plans
  • Prerequisites

    None

About this course

We use our mouse and fingers to click images of icons and access files, programs, and folders on our devices. However, this is just one way for us to communicate with computers.

The command line is a quick, powerful, text-based interface developers use to more effectively and efficiently communicate with computers to accomplish a wider set of tasks. Learning how to use it will allow you to discover all that your computer is capable of!

Syllabus

4 lessons • 4 projects • 4 quizzes
The platform

Hands-on learning

Don’t just watch or read about someone else coding — write your own code live in our online, interactive platform. You’ll even get AI-driven recommendations on what you need to review to help keep you on track.
Animated demonstration of running code in Codecademy's learning environment

Learn the Command Line course ratings and reviews

4.58 out of 5 stars
2,781 ratings
  1. 5 stars
  2. 4 stars
  3. 3 stars
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  5. 1 star
  • I went from having zero knowledge of the command line to being able to create and manipulate directories and files with ease. I highly recommend this course for anyone who wants to learn the basics of computer programming and their file system.
    Samuel P.
    Verified Learner
  • This was a great course given the pace and overall coverage that took me from no prior knowledge on the subject to a solid beginner. Now I can navigate and perform basic commands and gained an extensive understanding of chaining commands with the pipe function.
    Darius S.
    Verified Learner
  • Very intuitive and well explained. Reduced the headache of having to piece a bunch of different sources from the internet into one cohesive learning experience.
    Noah V.
    Verified Learner

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Unlock additional features with a paid plan

  • Practice Projects

    Guided projects that help you solidify the skills and concepts you're learning.
  • Assessments

    Auto-graded quizzes and immediate feedback help you reinforce your skills as you learn.
  • Certificate of Completion

    Earn a document to prove you've completed a course or path that you can share with your network.

Join over 50 million learners and start Learn the Command Line today!

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Frequently asked questions about the Command Line

  • The command line is a powerful text-based interface that you can use to operate your computer more efficiently and accomplish a wider range of tasks.