In the world of Linux, the ls command is one of the most frequently used commands for listing directory contents. It has several options that can be combined to provide useful information about files and directories. In this article, we will focus on the ls -s command and the unit it uses to display file sizes.
The ls -s command uses blocks as the unit to display file sizes. The default unit of measurement is 1024 bytes, also known as KiBs (Kibibytes). However, you can use the -h option to display the sizes in a more human-readable format, such as Kilobytes (K), Megabytes (M), or Gigabytes (G).
Understanding the ls Command
The ls command, short for list, is used in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems to list information about files and directories within the file system. By default, it displays the names of files and directories in the current directory.
The -s Option
The -s option in the ls command is used to display the allocated size for each file and directory. When you use ls -s, the sizes are displayed in blocks. A block, in this context, is a unit that the system uses to read or write files.
Units of Measurement
By default, the ls -s command displays the file sizes in units of 1024 bytes, also known as KiBs (Kibibytes). This means that if the command shows a size of 64, it represents 64 KiBs or 64 * 1024 bytes.
ls -sHuman-Readable Format
While the default unit of measurement is useful, it can be difficult to interpret, especially when dealing with large files. To make the sizes more understandable, you can use the -h option along with -s, like ls -sh. This will display the sizes in a more human-readable format, such as 64K, 1.5M, or 2G, where K represents Kilobytes, M represents Megabytes, and G represents Gigabytes.
ls -shUnderstanding Allocated Size
It’s important to note that the size displayed by ls -s represents the allocated size of the file, not the actual file size. The allocated size is the amount of disk space reserved for the file, which can be larger than the actual file size. This discrepancy can occur due to factors like file system overhead or fragmentation.
Symbolic Links
Another point to consider is that when using ls -s, symbolic links are shown as taking 0 space, while ls -l displays the size of the link. This is because symbolic links only contain the reference to the actual file location, and do not occupy the same amount of space as the file itself.
Conclusion
The ls -s command in Linux is a powerful tool for understanding how disk space is allocated in your file system. By understanding the unit of measurement it uses and how to convert it into a more human-readable format, you can gain a clearer picture of your file sizes. For more detailed information and options related to the ls command, you can refer to the manual page by typing man ls in the terminal.
Remember, mastering these commands and their options can greatly enhance your productivity and understanding of your Linux system.
The ls -s command displays the allocated size of files and directories in blocks, while the ls -l command displays the detailed information about files and directories, including the size in bytes.
The unit of measurement for ls -s is fixed at 1024 bytes (KiBs). It cannot be changed. However, you can use the -h option along with -s (e.g., ls -sh) to display the sizes in a more human-readable format.
The allocated size represents the disk space reserved for the file, which can be larger than the actual file size. This discrepancy can occur due to factors like file system overhead or fragmentation.
When using ls -s, symbolic links are shown as taking 0 space. This is because symbolic links only contain the reference to the actual file location and do not occupy the same amount of space as the file itself. To see the size of the link, you can use ls -l.
You can access more detailed information and options related to the ls command by typing man ls in the terminal. This will bring up the manual page for ls which provides comprehensive documentation.
