Editing Cd (command) (section)

== Use ==
Use of the command varies by context, but there are widespread similarities among variants. The examples below, mostly apply to Unix and Unix-like shells, PowerShell and Command Prompt.

To separate the directory names of a path, a program imposes command-line syntax such as a delimiting text between names {{endash}} which varies by program. In particular, Unix and Unix-like shells use a forward slash {{code|/}}, Command Prompt uses backslash {{code|\}} and PowerShell supports either. For simplicity, paths are shown with forward slashes here.

Commonly, a dot is short-hand notation for the working directory and two dots is short-hand for its parent. For example, given working directory {{code|/user/bin/tmp}}, {{code|.}} refers to it and {{code|..}} refers to {{code|/user/bin}}. The parent notation is often used to form a relative path that specifies a path that is both up and down the hierarchy. For example: starting with {{code|/usr/bin/tmp}}, {{code|cd ../../local}} specifies path {{code|/usr/local}}.

=== Common ===
Features that are commonly found for any change directory command:
* {{code|cd path/to/dir}} For a relative path (no leading slash), the path is appended to the working directory path; moving the context deeper into the directory tree hierarchy; for example, if the working directory is {{code|/usr}}, then {{code|cd bin}} changes the working directory to {{code|/usr/bin}}
* {{code|cd /path/to/dir}} For an absolute path (leading slash), the working directory is replaced with the specified path; for example, {{code|cd /bin}} sets the working directory to {{code|/bin}}
* {{code|cd ..}} Moves the directory tree context up one directory; for example, starting at {{code|/usr/bin/tmp}}, {{code|cd ..}} changes the working directory to {{code|/usr/bin}}
* {{code|cd .}} Does not change the working directory but is useful to recover after a directory is recreated by another process
* {{code|cd}} With no arguments, the command changes the working directory to the user's home directory; exception: Command Prompt reports the working directory path

=== Unix shells ===
Unix-based shells and PowerShell generally share these features:
* {{code|cd ~}} Changes the working directory to user's home directory
* <code>cd ~''username''</code> Changes the working directory to the specified user's home directory
* {{code|cd -}} Changes the working directory to the previous directory; for example, starting at {{code|/usr/bin/tmp}}, then {{code|cd /etc}}, and then {{code|cd -}} returns to {{code|/usr/bin/tmp}}; this supports toggling between two directories without [[pushd and popd]]

=== Legacy Microsoft shells ===
DOS maintains separate working directories for each [[Drive letter assignment|lettered drive]], and also has the concept of a current working drive. The {{code|cd}} command can be used to change the working directory of the working drive or another lettered drive. Typing the drive letter as a command on its own changes the working drive, e.g. {{code|C:}}; alternatively, {{code|cd}} with the {{code|/d}} switch may be used to change the working drive and that drive's working directory in one step.
Modern versions of Windows simulate this behaviour for backwards compatibility under [[CMD.EXE]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/2010/10/11|title=October 11, 2010|website=The Old New Thing}}</ref>