Introduction to Bash: Basics and Practical Examples for Beginners

 

What is Bash?

Bash stands for Bourne Again Shell, and it is a Command Line Interface (CLI) used in Linux, macOS, and Windows (via WSL).
In simple terms, Bash lets you control your system by typing commands—for managing files, running programs, or writing scripts to automate repetitive tasks.

Why learn Bash?

• Saves your time and effort on daily tasks.

• Helps you understand Linux and web servers better.

• Many DevOps and Web Development tools rely on Bash.

Basic commands for beginners

# Change directories
cd /path/to/folder

# List files in current directory
ls -la

# Create a new file
touch file.txt

# Read file content
cat file.txt

Practical example

If you have a folder with images and want to rename them all automatically:

for file in *.jpg; do
  mv "$file" "newprefix-$file"
done

This adds "newprefix-" before each file name.

Tips for beginners

• Always try commands in a test folder first.

• Use man <command> to check details of any command.

• Practice is the best way to master Bash.

Ready for the next step?
If you want to learn how to apply Bash on your own projects or real websites, contact me or explore my services here: Portfolio / Services