LAB-NAV-02 - Paths, Symbols & Tab Completion

Part A: The Field Guide

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What and Why

Navigation gets easier once you stop treating every path as a fresh string to memorize.

Paths follow a few consistent rules. Learn those rules and the terminal becomes much less fragile.

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The Core Distinction

Absolute paths

Absolute paths start from the top.

Examples:

• /var/log
• /etc/passwd

Relative paths

Relative paths start from where you are now.

Examples:

• Documents
• ../Downloads

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The Three Symbols You Need

..

Go up one level.

.

Means the current location.

~

Means your home directory.

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Tab Completion

Tab completion is not a luxury feature. It is an error-reduction tool.

Use it because it helps you:

• type less
• catch wrong folder names earlier
• learn real path names faster

If nothing completes, pause and check spelling or location.

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Common Beginner Failure Points

These show up constantly:

• using a relative path from the wrong starting place
• confusing / with ~
• forgetting that ./script.sh means "run the script in this directory"
• ignoring Tab completion and making avoidable typos

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Part B: The Drill Deck

Terminal Required: Use your Linux terminal for these exercises.

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G

Guided Step by step - type exactly this and compare the result

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Exercise G1: Absolute versus relative

1. Run cd /tmp.
2. Run pwd.
3. Try cd var and notice why it fails.
4. Run cd /var and notice why it works.
5. Run cd log and confirm where you landed.

Exercise G2: Use the symbols

1. From /var/log, run cd ...
2. Run pwd.
3. Run cd ~.
4. Run pwd.
5. Explain the difference between .. and ~.

Exercise G3: Try Tab completion

1. Start at /.
2. Type cd u and press Tab.
3. Continue into /usr and one subdirectory using Tab completion as much as possible.
4. If completion does nothing, stop and inspect why.

S

Solo Task described, hints available - figure it out

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Exercise S1: Absolute jumps

Use only absolute paths to visit:

1. /etc
2. /var/log
3. /usr
4. /tmp

Verify each with pwd.

Exercise S2: Relative crawling

Start in /usr/share and reach /usr and then /tmp using relative movement and .. where appropriate.

Exercise S3: Home shortcuts

From /var/log, do all three:

1. list the contents of your home directory without moving there
2. jump to your home directory
3. jump back to the previous directory if your shell supports cd -

M

Mission Real scenario - no hints, combine multiple skills

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Mission M1: Minimal typing

Pick a deep directory that exists on your machine, such as /usr/share or /var/log.

Navigate there using Tab completion as much as possible. The goal is to reduce typing errors, not to win a speed contest.

Mission M2: Explain the path, not just the command

For each of these, explain why it works before you run it:

1. cd /var/log
2. cd ..
3. cd ~
4. ./script.sh

If you can explain the rule behind each one, you understand more than just the syntax.