In Unix, what are some common dot files?

In Unix, files and directories beginning with a period ( . ) typically hold settings for programs. Here are brief descriptions of many common dot files, generally stored in the root directory of your account:

`.addressbook`	Email address information
`.addressbook.lu`	Email address information
`.article`	Most recently edited news posting
`.bash_history`	Previously executed commands for `bash` shell
`.bashrc`	Initialization for `bash` shell
`.cshrc`	Initialization for `csh` and `tcsh` shells
`.elm/`	Directory for Elm mail program configuration
`.emacs`	Initialization and key-mappings for Emacs editor
`.exrc`	Settings used by vi and ex editors
`.forward`	Mail forwarding destination
`.gopherrc`	Gopher information, including bookmarks
`.hushlogin`	Suppress message-of-the-day during login
`.iscreenrc`	Initialization file for `screen` program
`.login`	Startup commands for login shell
`.logout`	Commands to execute upon exiting shell
`.lynxrc`	Configuration for Lynx web browser
`.mh_profile`	Mail Handler configuration information
`.ncftp/`	Configuration directory for ncftp FTP client
`.netscape/`	Configuration directory for Netscape web browser
`.news_sig`	Alternate signature file, included in editing
`.newsrc`	Newsgroup and article information for newsreaders
`.nn/`	Configuration directory for `nn` newsreader
`.oldnewsrc`	Backup of previous copy of `.newsrc` file
`.pgp/`	Configuration directory for PGP
`.pinerc`	Configuration information for Pine mail program
`.plan`	File of information displayed by finger
`.profile`	Initialization file for `ksh`, `bash`, and `sh` shells
`.project`	Brief line of information displayed by `finger`
`.rhosts`	Users not requiring password to log in
`.rnlast`	Information from last session of newsreader
`.rnsoft`	Soft-pointer information for newsreaders
`.signature`	Brief file appended to email and news postings
`.ssh/`	Configuration directory for `ssh1` and `openssh`
`.ssh2/`	Configuration directory for ssh2
`.tcshrc`	Initialization for `tcsh` shell
`.telnetrc`	Configuration for telnet
`.tin/`	Configuration directory for tin newsreader
`.zlogin`	Initialization for `zsh` run upon login after `.zshrc`
`.zlogout`	Commands to execute upon exiting `zsh` shell
`.zshenv`	Initialization for all `zsh` invocations
`.zshrc`	Initialization for all interactive `zsh` sessions

Note: zsh and rsh are not available any UITS systems.

You can include dot files in a directory listing by using the -a option with the ls command, which will list all of the files in the current directory, including the dot files. At the Unix prompt, enter:

ls -a

To list all of the dot files in your home directory, at the Unix prompt, enter:

ls -lad ~/.*

At Indiana University, to get support for personal or departmental Linux or Unix systems, see At IU, how do I get support for Linux or Unix?

Also see:

This is document afyy in domain all.
Last modified on August 22, 2008.

Please tell us, did you find the answer to your question?