How to Read a Filename with Spaces in Linux

Manage file name with spaces in linux

It's not very common in Linux to handle filename with spaces but sometimes files copied or mounted from windows would end up with spaces.

While it is not recommended to have file names with spaces, let discuss how to manage filename with spaces in a Linux system.

We will cover how to create, read and copy a file which has spaces in their filename.

1) Creating file names with spaces

To create files with spaces in file names, run the command as shown

$ touch'firstname secondname'

For example, to create a file called 'linoxide docs' use the syntax below

$ touch 'linoxide docs'

Output

create and view files with spaces

If you want to view such a file with space in the file name, use the same principle of enclosing the file names inside the quotation marks.

2) Read a File with spaces in filename

You can use 'cat' command or open the document using your preferred text editor such as vim, nano or gedit.

$  cat 'linoxide docs'

Alternatively, you can use the syntax below

$ cat file\ name\ with\ spaces

Let's add some text to the 'linoxide docs' file

$ echo "Hello guys! Welcome to Linoxide" >> 'linoxide docs'

To view the file execute the command below

$ cat linoxide\ docs

Output

cat file names with spaces

3) Creating directory names with spaces

To create directory names with space in between use the syntax below

$ mkdir firstname\ secondname

Please note the space after the backslash

For example, to create a directory called 'linoxide files' run

$ mkdir linoxide\ files

Output

create directory names with spaces

4) Navigating to a directory with spaces in the directory name

To navigate to a directory with spaces in its directory name, use the syntax below

$ cd  directory\ name

To navigate to the directory 'linoxide files' execute the command below

$ cd linoxide\ files

cd into directory with directory name with spaces

5) Copying a directory with spaces in the directory name

To copy a directory with spaces in its directory name to a different location use the syntax below

$ cp -R directory\ name  /destination/path

OR

$ cp -R 'directory name'  /destination/path/

For example to copy 'linoxide files' to /home/james path execute

$ cp -R 'linoxide files'  /home/james/

copy directory with spaces in directory name

or

$ cp -R linoxide\ files /home/james

copy directory with spaces in directory name-2

Hope this article explained well on how to manage filename with spaces. Thanks for taking the time to read this article and please leave your comments.