pushd Command in Linux with Examples

The 'pushd' command is a built-in shell command that simplifies the navigation and management of directories by using a directory stack. This stack operates on the Last In, First Out (LIFO) principle, allowing users to push directories onto the stack and easily switch between them.

By appending a directory to the top of the stack, pushd makes it the current working directory. Unlike the cd command, which only changes the current directory, pushd maintains a stack of directory paths, making it highly efficient for navigating nested directories or frequently visited locations.

Syntax of 'pushd' command:

pushd [directory]

How does the 'pushd' Command Work?

When pushd [directory] command is executed, the directory specified becomes the present working directory. The path and name of the directory are added to the top of the directory stack. The directory stack is displayed as a space-separated list of directories. If pushd command is executed without any directory name, then the directory at the top of the stack becomes the current working directory i.e, the first two directories exchange their position in the directory stack.

1. Adding directories using pushd command:

pushd command pushes directories onto a stack.  Execute the following commands:

pushd ~/Desktop

Now, Desktop becomes the present working directory and is pushed onto the stack and the list of directories is displayed. The same operations will be performed for the other commands below.

pushd ~/Templates
pushd ~/Videos
pushd ~/Downloads
pushd ~/Music
pushd ~/Downloads

It can be observed that after each pushd command the directory specified becomes the new directory. It can be seen that 'Downloads' has been added to the directory stack twice but there was no error as the directory stack allows duplicate directories. The directory stack can be displayed using the following command.  It can be observed that the command which is entered at the beginning is displayed at the last position and the most recent directory added is displayed at the top. 

dirs -l -v

2. Adding a directory without changing the current directory:

Whenever a new directory is added onto the stack, the current directory is changed to the new one. But a new directory can be added keeping the current directory unchanged using "-n" along with pushd command. This command will push the directory to the second spot and the present directory remains unchanged at the first spot rotated. The syntax for the command is:

pushd -n [Directory]

3. Moving to a directory at any position in the stack:

We can use numeric parameters along with pushd command to move to any directory present in the stack. Here the numeric parameter represents the position of the directory in the stack. The directory at that position becomes the current directory and the stack is rotated. pushd +n counts n from the top of the directory stack. pushd -n counts n from the bottom of the directory stack.

pushd +N #N is a numeric parameter
pushd -N #N is a numeric parameter

Advantages of 'pushd' command over 'cd' command

The 'pushd' command offers significant advantages over the traditional cd command, particularly when dealing with complex directory structures:

• Efficiency in Navigation: Using 'cd', you may need to issue multiple commands to move up and down nested directories. With 'pushd', you can navigate directly between any directories in the stack, reducing the steps needed and saving time.
• Maintaining Context: 'pushd' allows you to maintain a stack of directories, making it easier to switch back and forth between frequently used paths. This is particularly useful in scripting and development workflows where you often need to return to previous directories.
• Flexibility: 'pushd' lets you add directories without changing the current directory using the '-n' option, providing greater flexibility compared to 'cd'.

Conclusion

The 'pushd' command is an incredibly versatile tool for managing directories in Linux. Its ability to push directories onto a stack and rotate between them makes it far superior to the 'cd' command for tasks that involve frequent switching between directories. Using 'pushd' along with other stack manipulation commands like 'popd' and 'dirs', can help achieve complex directory navigation and manipulation tasks with ease, making it an essential tool for any Linux user or system administrator.