Mac Terminal Cheatsheet

Your friendly guide to mastering the Mac Terminal — because sometimes clicking is just too slow! 🚀

What is Terminal? Terminal is macOS's command-line interface (CLI) that lets you control your Mac using text commands instead of clicking — faster, scriptable, and more powerful.

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🧭 Navigation Basics

Getting around your file system is like navigating a building. Your Mac's files are organized in folders (directories), and the terminal lets you walk through them using text commands instead of clicking. Think of pwd as asking "Where am I?", ls as "What's in this room?", and cd as "Take me to...".

Command	What It Does	Example
pwd	Print Working Directory — shows your current location	pwd → /Users/john/Documents
ls	List contents of current directory	ls
ls -la	List ALL files (including hidden) with details	ls -la
ls -lh	List with human-readable file sizes	ls -lh
cd <folder>	Change Directory — move into a folder	cd Documents
cd ..	Go up one level (parent folder)	cd ..
cd ~	Go to your home directory	cd ~
cd -	Go back to previous directory	cd -
cd /	Go to root directory	cd /

💡 Pro Tip: Press Tab to auto-complete folder and file names — saves tons of typing!

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📁 File & Folder Operations

Creating, copying, moving, and deleting files is the bread and butter of terminal work. These commands are faster than drag-and-drop once you get the hang of them. Just remember: the terminal doesn't have a trash can — when you rm something, it's gone for good!

Command	What It Does	Example
mkdir <name>	Make Directory — create a new folder	mkdir projects
mkdir -p a/b/c	Create nested folders in one go	mkdir -p src/components/ui
touch <file>	Create an empty file (or update timestamp)	touch notes.txt
cp <src> <dest>	Copy a file	cp file.txt backup.txt
cp -r <src> <dest>	Copy a folder and all its contents	cp -r folder1 folder2
mv <src> <dest>	Move or rename a file/folder	mv old.txt new.txt
rm <file>	Remove (delete) a file — no undo!	rm unwanted.txt
rm -r <folder>	Remove a folder and everything inside	rm -r old_project
rm -rf <folder>	Force remove without confirmation	rm -rf node_modules
rmdir <folder>	Remove an empty folder only	rmdir empty_folder

⚠️ Warning: rm -rf is powerful and dangerous. Double-check your path before hitting Enter!

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👀 Viewing File Contents

Sometimes you just need a quick peek inside a file without opening an editor. These commands let you view file contents right in the terminal. Use cat for small files, less for scrolling through big ones, and head/tail when you only need the beginning or end.

Command	What It Does	Example
cat <file>	Display entire file contents	cat readme.md
less <file>	View file with scrolling (press q to quit)	less long_log.txt
more <file>	Similar to less, but simpler	more file.txt
head <file>	Show first 10 lines	head log.txt
head -n 20 <file>	Show first 20 lines	head -n 20 log.txt
tail <file>	Show last 10 lines	tail log.txt
tail -n 50 <file>	Show last 50 lines	tail -n 50 log.txt
tail -f <file>	Follow file in real-time (great for logs!)	tail -f server.log
wc <file>	Word count — lines, words, characters	wc essay.txt
wc -l <file>	Count lines only	wc -l data.csv

💡 Pro Tip: tail -f is perfect for watching log files update live while debugging!

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🔍 Finding Things

Lost a file? Need to find text inside files? These search commands are your detective tools. find searches by file name and location, while grep searches inside files for specific text. Combine them for powerful searches across your entire system.

Command	What It Does	Example
find <path> -name "<pattern>"	Find files by name	find . -name "*.txt"
find . -type f	Find files only (not folders)	find . -type f
find . -type d	Find directories only	find . -type d
find . -mtime -7	Files modified in last 7 days	find . -mtime -7
find . -size +100M	Files larger than 100MB	find . -size +100M
grep "<text>" <file>	Search for text in a file	grep "error" log.txt
grep -r "<text>" <dir>	Search recursively in directory	grep -r "TODO" src/
grep -i "<text>" <file>	Case-insensitive search	grep -i "hello" file.txt
grep -n "<text>" <file>	Show line numbers	grep -n "function" app.js
grep -c "<text>" <file>	Count matching lines	grep -c "error" log.txt
mdfind "<query>"	Spotlight search from terminal	mdfind "budget 2024"
which <command>	Find where a command lives	which python

💡 Pro Tip: Use grep -rn "search" . to search all files and show line numbers — super handy!

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✏️ Text Editing in Terminal

Need to edit a file without leaving the terminal? These built-in editors work right in your terminal window. nano is beginner-friendly with on-screen help, while vim is powerful but has a learning curve. For quick edits, nano is your friend!

Command	What It Does	Example
nano <file>	Open file in Nano editor (beginner-friendly)	nano config.txt
vim <file>	Open file in Vim editor (powerful but tricky)	vim script.sh
vi <file>	Same as vim on Mac	vi file.txt
open <file>	Open file with default Mac app	open photo.jpg
open -a "App" <file>	Open with specific app	open -a "VS Code" .
open .	Open current folder in Finder	open .
pbcopy	Copy input to clipboard	cat file.txt | pbcopy
pbpaste	Paste from clipboard	pbpaste > newfile.txt

Nano Quick Reference:

• Ctrl + O → Save file
• Ctrl + X → Exit
• Ctrl + K → Cut line
• Ctrl + U → Paste line

Vim Quick Reference (if you accidentally open it!):

• Press i → Enter insert mode (to type)
• Press Esc → Exit insert mode
• Type :wq → Save and quit
• Type :q! → Quit without saving

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📊 Disk & Storage

Running out of space? Need to know how big a folder is? These commands help you understand what's eating up your disk. df shows overall disk usage, while du digs into specific folders. Perfect for hunting down those mystery files hogging your storage!

Command	What It Does	Example
df -h	Show disk space usage (human-readable)	df -h
du -sh <folder>	Show folder size	du -sh ~/Downloads
du -sh *	Show size of all items in current dir	du -sh *
du -h -d 1	Show sizes one level deep	du -h -d 1
diskutil list	List all disks and partitions	diskutil list
diskutil info <disk>	Show disk information	diskutil info disk0

💡 Pro Tip: du -sh * | sort -h sorts folders by size — great for finding space hogs!

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🔐 Permissions & Ownership

Every file has rules about who can read, write, or run it. Permissions are like locks on doors — they control access. When you see "Permission denied", you might need sudo (superuser do) to override, or chmod to change the rules.

Command	What It Does	Example
chmod +x <file>	Make file executable	chmod +x script.sh
chmod 755 <file>	rwx for owner, rx for others	chmod 755 app
chmod 644 <file>	rw for owner, r for others	chmod 644 config.txt
chown <user> <file>	Change file owner	chown john file.txt
chown -R <user> <dir>	Change owner recursively	chown -R john project/
sudo <command>	Run as superuser (admin)	sudo rm protected.txt
sudo !!	Re-run last command as sudo	sudo !!

Permission Numbers Explained:

• 7 = read + write + execute (rwx)
• 6 = read + write (rw-)
• 5 = read + execute (r-x)
• 4 = read only (r--)
• 0 = no permissions (---)

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🌐 Networking

Curious about your network connection or need to download something? These commands let you check connectivity, download files, and troubleshoot network issues — all without opening a browser.

Command	What It Does	Example
ping <host>	Test connection to a server	ping google.com
curl <url>	Download content from URL	curl https://api.example.com
curl -O <url>	Download and save file	curl -O https://example.com/file.zip
wget <url>	Download file (if installed)	wget https://example.com/file.zip
ifconfig	Show network interfaces	ifconfig
ipconfig getifaddr en0	Get your local IP address	ipconfig getifaddr en0
networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi	Get Wi-Fi network info	networksetup -getinfo Wi-Fi
lsof -i :<port>	Find what's using a port	lsof -i :3000
netstat -an	Show all network connections	netstat -an
traceroute <host>	Trace route to host	traceroute google.com
nslookup <domain>	DNS lookup	nslookup github.com
ssh <user>@<host>	Connect to remote server	ssh john@192.168.1.100
scp <file> <user>@<host>:<path>	Copy file to remote server	scp file.txt john@server:/home/

💡 Pro Tip: Use curl -I <url> to see just the headers — quick way to check if a site is up!

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⚙️ Process Management

Programs running on your Mac are called processes. Sometimes apps freeze or hog resources. These commands let you see what's running, find resource hogs, and kill misbehaving programs — like Task Manager, but cooler!

Command	What It Does	Example
ps aux	List all running processes	ps aux
ps aux | grep <name>	Find specific process	ps aux | grep chrome
top	Live view of processes (press q to quit)	top
htop	Better top (if installed)	htop
kill <PID>	Terminate process by ID	kill 1234
kill -9 <PID>	Force kill process	kill -9 1234
killall <name>	Kill all processes by name	killall Safari
pkill <pattern>	Kill processes matching pattern	pkill -f "node server"
Activity Monitor (GUI)	Open via: open -a "Activity Monitor"

💡 Pro Tip: In top, press o then type cpu to sort by CPU usage, or mem for memory!

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📦 Package Management (Homebrew)

Homebrew is like an app store for your terminal. It makes installing command-line tools and apps incredibly easy — no more hunting for downloads or dealing with installers. If you don't have it, install it first!

# Install Homebrew (one-time setup)
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Command	What It Does	Example
brew install <package>	Install a package	brew install git
brew uninstall <package>	Remove a package	brew uninstall node
brew update	Update Homebrew itself	brew update
brew upgrade	Upgrade all packages	brew upgrade
brew upgrade <package>	Upgrade specific package	brew upgrade python
brew list	List installed packages	brew list
brew search <name>	Search for packages	brew search postgres
brew info <package>	Get package information	brew info node
brew doctor	Check for problems	brew doctor
brew cleanup	Remove old versions	brew cleanup
brew services list	List background services	brew services list
brew services start <svc>	Start a service	brew services start postgresql
brew services stop <svc>	Stop a service	brew services stop postgresql
brew install --cask <app>	Install GUI app	brew install --cask visual-studio-code

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🔧 System Information

Want to know more about your Mac? These commands reveal system details like macOS version, hardware specs, and uptime. Handy for troubleshooting or just satisfying your curiosity!

Command	What It Does	Example
sw_vers	Show macOS version	sw_vers
uname -a	System information	uname -a
hostname	Show computer name	hostname
whoami	Show current username	whoami
id	Show user and group IDs	id
uptime	How long system has been running	uptime
date	Current date and time	date
cal	Show calendar	cal
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType	Hardware overview	system_profiler SPHardwareDataType
sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string	CPU model	sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string
top -l 1 | head -n 10	Quick system stats	top -l 1 | head -n 10

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🎯 Handy Shortcuts & Tricks

These tricks will make you feel like a terminal wizard! From keyboard shortcuts to command chaining, these tips speed up your workflow dramatically.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	What It Does
Ctrl + C	Cancel current command
Ctrl + Z	Suspend current process
Ctrl + D	Logout / Exit shell
Ctrl + L	Clear screen (same as clear)
Ctrl + A	Move cursor to beginning of line
Ctrl + E	Move cursor to end of line
Ctrl + U	Delete from cursor to beginning
Ctrl + K	Delete from cursor to end
Ctrl + W	Delete word before cursor
Ctrl + R	Search command history
Tab	Auto-complete file/folder names
Tab Tab	Show all auto-complete options
↑ / ↓	Navigate command history
!!	Repeat last command
!$	Last argument of previous command

Command Chaining

Pattern	What It Does	Example
cmd1 && cmd2	Run cmd2 only if cmd1 succeeds	npm install && npm start
cmd1 || cmd2	Run cmd2 only if cmd1 fails	test -f file || touch file
cmd1 ; cmd2	Run both regardless of success	echo "Hi" ; echo "Bye"
cmd1 | cmd2	Pipe output of cmd1 to cmd2	cat file.txt | grep "error"
cmd > file	Redirect output to file (overwrite)	ls > files.txt
cmd >> file	Redirect output to file (append)	echo "log" >> log.txt
cmd 2>&1	Redirect errors to stdout	command 2>&1 | tee log.txt

Aliases (Shortcuts You Create)

Add to ~/.zshrc (or ~/.bash_profile for bash):

# Quick navigation
alias ..="cd .."
alias ...="cd ../.."
alias ll="ls -la"
alias la="ls -A"

# Git shortcuts
alias gs="git status"
alias ga="git add ."
alias gc="git commit -m"
alias gp="git push"

# Quick edits
alias zshrc="nano ~/.zshrc"
alias reload="source ~/.zshrc"

# Custom paths
alias projects="cd ~/Projects"
alias downloads="cd ~/Downloads"

After editing, run source ~/.zshrc to apply changes!

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📝 Quick Reference Card

# Navigation
pwd                     # Where am I?
ls -la                  # What's here?
cd <folder>             # Go somewhere
cd ..                   # Go back

# Files
touch file.txt          # Create file
mkdir folder            # Create folder
cp src dest             # Copy
mv src dest             # Move/rename
rm file                 # Delete (careful!)

# Viewing
cat file                # Show contents
less file               # Scroll through
head -n 20 file         # First 20 lines
tail -f file            # Watch live

# Finding
find . -name "*.txt"    # Find files
grep "text" file        # Search in file
grep -r "text" .        # Search all files

# System
top                     # Monitor processes
kill -9 PID             # Kill process
df -h                   # Disk space
du -sh folder           # Folder size

# Homebrew
brew install pkg        # Install
brew update && brew upgrade  # Update all

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Happy terminal-ing! Remember: with great power comes great responsibility... especially with rm -rf! 😄

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📚 Useful References & Links

Resource	Description
Apple Terminal User Guide	Official Apple documentation for Terminal
Homebrew	The missing package manager for macOS
Oh My Zsh	Framework for managing Zsh configuration with themes and plugins
tldr pages	Simplified man pages with practical examples
ExplainShell	Paste any command to see what each part does
SS64 macOS Commands	Comprehensive A-Z reference of macOS commands
The Art of Command Line	Master the command line in one page
Bash Scripting Cheatsheet	Quick reference for shell scripting
macOS Defaults	Collection of macOS defaults commands
iTerm2	Popular Terminal replacement with extra features

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Last updated: February 2026