How can I list (ls) the 5 last modified files in a directory?
I know ls -t will list all files by modified time. But how can I limit these results to only the last n files?
linux list terminal limit ls
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
add a comment |
I know ls -t will list all files by modified time. But how can I limit these results to only the last n files?
linux list terminal limit ls
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
7
Reverse the orderls -lrtmight help somebody.
– PJ Brunet
Jan 12 '15 at 14:51
Love it @PJBrunet. I've formed the habit of always ls'ing withtharlas it tends to have everything I need.
– Adam Grant
Feb 15 '18 at 16:57
add a comment |
I know ls -t will list all files by modified time. But how can I limit these results to only the last n files?
linux list terminal limit ls
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
I know ls -t will list all files by modified time. But how can I limit these results to only the last n files?
linux list terminal limit ls
linux list terminal limit ls
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
asked Mar 28 '13 at 20:17
RyanRyan
8,0632275138
8,0632275138
7
Reverse the orderls -lrtmight help somebody.
– PJ Brunet
Jan 12 '15 at 14:51
Love it @PJBrunet. I've formed the habit of always ls'ing withtharlas it tends to have everything I need.
– Adam Grant
Feb 15 '18 at 16:57
add a comment |
7
Reverse the orderls -lrtmight help somebody.
– PJ Brunet
Jan 12 '15 at 14:51
Love it @PJBrunet. I've formed the habit of always ls'ing withtharlas it tends to have everything I need.
– Adam Grant
Feb 15 '18 at 16:57
7
7
Reverse the order
ls -lrt might help somebody.– PJ Brunet
Jan 12 '15 at 14:51
Reverse the order
ls -lrt might help somebody.– PJ Brunet
Jan 12 '15 at 14:51
Love it @PJBrunet. I've formed the habit of always ls'ing with
tharl as it tends to have everything I need.– Adam Grant
Feb 15 '18 at 16:57
Love it @PJBrunet. I've formed the habit of always ls'ing with
tharl as it tends to have everything I need.– Adam Grant
Feb 15 '18 at 16:57
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Try using head or tail. If you want the 5 most-recently modified files:
ls -1t | head -5
The -1 (that's a one) says one file per line and the head says take the first 5 entries.
If you want the last 5 try
ls -1t | tail -5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
2
If I'm not mistaken, the shell represents the output oflsin multiple columns, but the output oflsis piped to following command with 1 file/dir at a time
– Alex
Mar 28 '13 at 20:22
that does seem to be the case. Nice simplification.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 28 '13 at 20:34
3
This ignores the Total at the top:ls -1t | head -n 6 | tail -n 5
– Ryan
Mar 28 '13 at 21:50
I don't see a total, but if there is one that would certainly work.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 29 '13 at 13:31
add a comment |
Use tail command:
ls -t | tail -n 5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
add a comment |
The accepted answer lists only the filenames, but to get the top 5 files one can also use:
ls -lht | head -6
where:
-l outputs in a list format
-h makes output human readable (i.e. file sizes appear in kb, mb, etc.)
-t sorts output by placing most recently modified file first
head -6 will show 5 files because ls prints the block size in the first line of output.
I think this is a slightly more elegant and possibly more useful approach.
Example output:
total 26960312
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 1.2K 11 Jan 11:22 phone2.7.py
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 2.7M 10 Jan 15:26 03-cookies-1.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 9.2M 9 Jan 16:21 Wk1_sem.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 502K 8 Jan 10:20 lab-01.pdf
-rw-rw-rw-@ 1 user staff 2.0M 5 Jan 22:06 0410-1.wmv
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
add a comment |
ls -t list files by creation time not last modified time. Use ls -ltc if you want to list files by last modified time from last to first(top to bottom). Thus to list the last n: ls -ltc | head ${n}
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
1
Which platform/version do you refer to? Can you provide a link? Looking at the linux man-page yields the opposite of what you state:-t sort by modification time, newest first
– Joma
Sep 8 '16 at 21:35
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Try using head or tail. If you want the 5 most-recently modified files:
ls -1t | head -5
The -1 (that's a one) says one file per line and the head says take the first 5 entries.
If you want the last 5 try
ls -1t | tail -5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
2
If I'm not mistaken, the shell represents the output oflsin multiple columns, but the output oflsis piped to following command with 1 file/dir at a time
– Alex
Mar 28 '13 at 20:22
that does seem to be the case. Nice simplification.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 28 '13 at 20:34
3
This ignores the Total at the top:ls -1t | head -n 6 | tail -n 5
– Ryan
Mar 28 '13 at 21:50
I don't see a total, but if there is one that would certainly work.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 29 '13 at 13:31
add a comment |
Try using head or tail. If you want the 5 most-recently modified files:
ls -1t | head -5
The -1 (that's a one) says one file per line and the head says take the first 5 entries.
If you want the last 5 try
ls -1t | tail -5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
2
If I'm not mistaken, the shell represents the output oflsin multiple columns, but the output oflsis piped to following command with 1 file/dir at a time
– Alex
Mar 28 '13 at 20:22
that does seem to be the case. Nice simplification.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 28 '13 at 20:34
3
This ignores the Total at the top:ls -1t | head -n 6 | tail -n 5
– Ryan
Mar 28 '13 at 21:50
I don't see a total, but if there is one that would certainly work.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 29 '13 at 13:31
add a comment |
Try using head or tail. If you want the 5 most-recently modified files:
ls -1t | head -5
The -1 (that's a one) says one file per line and the head says take the first 5 entries.
If you want the last 5 try
ls -1t | tail -5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
Try using head or tail. If you want the 5 most-recently modified files:
ls -1t | head -5
The -1 (that's a one) says one file per line and the head says take the first 5 entries.
If you want the last 5 try
ls -1t | tail -5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
Paul RubelPaul Rubel
21.9k74673
21.9k74673
2
If I'm not mistaken, the shell represents the output oflsin multiple columns, but the output oflsis piped to following command with 1 file/dir at a time
– Alex
Mar 28 '13 at 20:22
that does seem to be the case. Nice simplification.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 28 '13 at 20:34
3
This ignores the Total at the top:ls -1t | head -n 6 | tail -n 5
– Ryan
Mar 28 '13 at 21:50
I don't see a total, but if there is one that would certainly work.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 29 '13 at 13:31
add a comment |
2
If I'm not mistaken, the shell represents the output oflsin multiple columns, but the output oflsis piped to following command with 1 file/dir at a time
– Alex
Mar 28 '13 at 20:22
that does seem to be the case. Nice simplification.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 28 '13 at 20:34
3
This ignores the Total at the top:ls -1t | head -n 6 | tail -n 5
– Ryan
Mar 28 '13 at 21:50
I don't see a total, but if there is one that would certainly work.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 29 '13 at 13:31
2
2
If I'm not mistaken, the shell represents the output of
ls in multiple columns, but the output of ls is piped to following command with 1 file/dir at a time– Alex
Mar 28 '13 at 20:22
If I'm not mistaken, the shell represents the output of
ls in multiple columns, but the output of ls is piped to following command with 1 file/dir at a time– Alex
Mar 28 '13 at 20:22
that does seem to be the case. Nice simplification.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 28 '13 at 20:34
that does seem to be the case. Nice simplification.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 28 '13 at 20:34
3
3
This ignores the Total at the top:
ls -1t | head -n 6 | tail -n 5– Ryan
Mar 28 '13 at 21:50
This ignores the Total at the top:
ls -1t | head -n 6 | tail -n 5– Ryan
Mar 28 '13 at 21:50
I don't see a total, but if there is one that would certainly work.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 29 '13 at 13:31
I don't see a total, but if there is one that would certainly work.
– Paul Rubel
Mar 29 '13 at 13:31
add a comment |
Use tail command:
ls -t | tail -n 5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
add a comment |
Use tail command:
ls -t | tail -n 5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
add a comment |
Use tail command:
ls -t | tail -n 5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
Use tail command:
ls -t | tail -n 5
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
answered Mar 28 '13 at 20:19
AlexAlex
6,62363152
6,62363152
add a comment |
add a comment |
The accepted answer lists only the filenames, but to get the top 5 files one can also use:
ls -lht | head -6
where:
-l outputs in a list format
-h makes output human readable (i.e. file sizes appear in kb, mb, etc.)
-t sorts output by placing most recently modified file first
head -6 will show 5 files because ls prints the block size in the first line of output.
I think this is a slightly more elegant and possibly more useful approach.
Example output:
total 26960312
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 1.2K 11 Jan 11:22 phone2.7.py
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 2.7M 10 Jan 15:26 03-cookies-1.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 9.2M 9 Jan 16:21 Wk1_sem.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 502K 8 Jan 10:20 lab-01.pdf
-rw-rw-rw-@ 1 user staff 2.0M 5 Jan 22:06 0410-1.wmv
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
add a comment |
The accepted answer lists only the filenames, but to get the top 5 files one can also use:
ls -lht | head -6
where:
-l outputs in a list format
-h makes output human readable (i.e. file sizes appear in kb, mb, etc.)
-t sorts output by placing most recently modified file first
head -6 will show 5 files because ls prints the block size in the first line of output.
I think this is a slightly more elegant and possibly more useful approach.
Example output:
total 26960312
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 1.2K 11 Jan 11:22 phone2.7.py
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 2.7M 10 Jan 15:26 03-cookies-1.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 9.2M 9 Jan 16:21 Wk1_sem.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 502K 8 Jan 10:20 lab-01.pdf
-rw-rw-rw-@ 1 user staff 2.0M 5 Jan 22:06 0410-1.wmv
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
add a comment |
The accepted answer lists only the filenames, but to get the top 5 files one can also use:
ls -lht | head -6
where:
-l outputs in a list format
-h makes output human readable (i.e. file sizes appear in kb, mb, etc.)
-t sorts output by placing most recently modified file first
head -6 will show 5 files because ls prints the block size in the first line of output.
I think this is a slightly more elegant and possibly more useful approach.
Example output:
total 26960312
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 1.2K 11 Jan 11:22 phone2.7.py
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 2.7M 10 Jan 15:26 03-cookies-1.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 9.2M 9 Jan 16:21 Wk1_sem.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 502K 8 Jan 10:20 lab-01.pdf
-rw-rw-rw-@ 1 user staff 2.0M 5 Jan 22:06 0410-1.wmv
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
The accepted answer lists only the filenames, but to get the top 5 files one can also use:
ls -lht | head -6
where:
-l outputs in a list format
-h makes output human readable (i.e. file sizes appear in kb, mb, etc.)
-t sorts output by placing most recently modified file first
head -6 will show 5 files because ls prints the block size in the first line of output.
I think this is a slightly more elegant and possibly more useful approach.
Example output:
total 26960312
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 1.2K 11 Jan 11:22 phone2.7.py
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 2.7M 10 Jan 15:26 03-cookies-1.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 9.2M 9 Jan 16:21 Wk1_sem.pdf
-rw-r--r--@ 1 user staff 502K 8 Jan 10:20 lab-01.pdf
-rw-rw-rw-@ 1 user staff 2.0M 5 Jan 22:06 0410-1.wmv
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
answered Jan 11 '18 at 11:37
samisnotinsanesamisnotinsane
14519
14519
add a comment |
add a comment |
ls -t list files by creation time not last modified time. Use ls -ltc if you want to list files by last modified time from last to first(top to bottom). Thus to list the last n: ls -ltc | head ${n}
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
1
Which platform/version do you refer to? Can you provide a link? Looking at the linux man-page yields the opposite of what you state:-t sort by modification time, newest first
– Joma
Sep 8 '16 at 21:35
add a comment |
ls -t list files by creation time not last modified time. Use ls -ltc if you want to list files by last modified time from last to first(top to bottom). Thus to list the last n: ls -ltc | head ${n}
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
1
Which platform/version do you refer to? Can you provide a link? Looking at the linux man-page yields the opposite of what you state:-t sort by modification time, newest first
– Joma
Sep 8 '16 at 21:35
add a comment |
ls -t list files by creation time not last modified time. Use ls -ltc if you want to list files by last modified time from last to first(top to bottom). Thus to list the last n: ls -ltc | head ${n}
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
ls -t list files by creation time not last modified time. Use ls -ltc if you want to list files by last modified time from last to first(top to bottom). Thus to list the last n: ls -ltc | head ${n}
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
answered Aug 25 '16 at 23:13
victrrvictrr
292
292
1
Which platform/version do you refer to? Can you provide a link? Looking at the linux man-page yields the opposite of what you state:-t sort by modification time, newest first
– Joma
Sep 8 '16 at 21:35
add a comment |
1
Which platform/version do you refer to? Can you provide a link? Looking at the linux man-page yields the opposite of what you state:-t sort by modification time, newest first
– Joma
Sep 8 '16 at 21:35
1
1
Which platform/version do you refer to? Can you provide a link? Looking at the linux man-page yields the opposite of what you state:
-t sort by modification time, newest first– Joma
Sep 8 '16 at 21:35
Which platform/version do you refer to? Can you provide a link? Looking at the linux man-page yields the opposite of what you state:
-t sort by modification time, newest first– Joma
Sep 8 '16 at 21:35
add a comment |
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7
Reverse the order
ls -lrtmight help somebody.– PJ Brunet
Jan 12 '15 at 14:51
Love it @PJBrunet. I've formed the habit of always ls'ing with
tharlas it tends to have everything I need.– Adam Grant
Feb 15 '18 at 16:57