Kali Linux and Linux is an open-source platform that helps to solve many issues and also helps to prepare security assignments. Offensive Security develops a Kali Linux operating system. If you are a regular user of Linux or are new to it, this list of commands will be so helpful to you.

Kali Linux is one of the most popular operating systems used by security experts and hackers. It comes with the best features and functions. However, if you are a newbie who wants to try this operating system, you must first know the basics of Linux Kernel and Terminal. So, for all those here, the Kali Linux commands pdf will help you out.

Before we get into the details, let’s look at Kali Linux Introduction.

What is Kali Linux?

What is Kali Linux - 1 What is Kali Linux - 2

Kali Linux is an operating system that hackers use. Kali Linux is installed on a computer’s hard disc and requires a minimum of 20GB of hard disk space. You can also boot it with a CD or USB if you want.

Kali Linux comes with more than 500 penetration-testing programs pre-installed in it. The programs include Nmap, a port scanner, Armitage, a graphical cyber attack management tool, Wireshark (a packet analyzer), and much more.

It is a Debian-based Linux distribution trained in advanced Penetration Testing and Security Auditing. There are many tools available in Kali Linux that are provided for the information of security tests like Penetration Testing, Security research, Computer Forensics, and Reverse Engineering.

Linux is a custom-built kernel that is mended for 802.11 wireless injections. The developers added this because they had to do a lot of wireless assessments.

Also Read- Install Kali Linux on Any Android Without Root

One can find Kali Linux on devices like:

  • BeagleBone Black
  • EfikaMX
  • HP Chromebook
  • CuBox, CuBox-i
  • Odroid U2, Odroid XU, Odroid XU3
  • Samsung Chromebook
  • Galaxy Note 10.1
  • CubieBoard 2
  • Raspberry Pi
  • Utilite Pro
  • SS808.

Kali NetHunter is also introduced, so Kali Linux is officially available on many other devices, including Nexus 5, Nexus 7, Nexus 9, Nexus 10, OnePlus One, and Samsung Galaxy models.

Apart from all this information, you must know the Linux Commands if you want to use Kali Linux. If you are unclear with the commands, you will end up sticking in one place. So, before using Kali Linux, check out the commands of Linux and then start using it.

Below is the list of Kali Linux Commands which are mostly used. So, let’s get started without any delay.

List of Kali Linux and Linux Commands

This is the list of working Kali Linux commands and its pdf file. We hope this list of commands was beneficial for you.

Linux CommandFunctions
aproposSearch Help manual pages (man -k)
apt-getSearch for and install software packages (Debian)
aptitudeSearch for and install software packages (Debian)
aspellSpell Checker
awkFind and Replace text, database sort/validate/index
basenameStrip directory and suffix from filenames
bashGNU Bourne-Again Shell
bcArbitrary precision calculator language
bgSend to background
breakExit from a loop
builtinRun a shell builtin
bzip2Compress or decompress named files
calDisplay a calendar
caseConditionally perform a command
catConcatenate and print (display) the content of files
cdChange Directory
cfdiskPartition table manipulator for Linux
chgrpChange group ownership
chkconfigSystem services (runlevel)
chmodChange access permissions
chownChange file owner and group
chrootRun a command with a different root directory
cksumPrint CRC checksum and byte counts
clearClear terminal screen
cmpCompare two files
commCompare two sorted files line by line
commandRun a command – ignoring shell functions
continueResume the next iteration of a loop
cpCopy one or more files to another location
cronDaemon to execute scheduled commands
crontabSchedule a command to run at a later time
csplitSplit a file into context-determined pieces
cutDivide a file into several parts
dateDisplay or change the date and time
dcDesk Calculator
ddConvert and copy a file, write disk headers, boot records
ddrescueData recovery tool
declareDeclare variables and give them attributes
dfDisplay free disk space
diffDisplay the differences between two files
diff3Show differences among three files
digDNS lookup
dirBriefly list directory contents
dircolorsColour setup for `ls’
dirnameConvert a full pathname to just a path
dirsDisplay list of remembered directories
dmesgPrint kernel & driver messages
duEstimate file space usage
echoDisplay message on screen
egrepSearch files for lines that match an extended expression
ejectEject removable media
enableEnable and disable builtin shell commands
envEnvironment variables
ethtoolEthernet card settings
evalEvaluate several commands/arguments
execExecute a command
exitExit the shell
expandConvert tabs to spaces
expectAutomate arbitrary applications accessed over a terminal
exportSet an environment variable
exprEvaluate expressions
fdformatLow-level format a floppy disk
fdiskPartition table manipulator for Linux
fgSend job to foreground
fgrepSearch files for lines that match a fixed string
fileDetermine file type
findSearch for files that meet a desired criteria
fmtReformat paragraph text
foldWrap text to fit a specified width
forExpand words, and execute commands
formatFormat disks or tapes
freeDisplay memory usage
fsckFile system consistency check and repair
ftpFile Transfer Protocol
functionDefine Function Macros
fuserIdentify/kill the process that is accessing a file
gawkFind and Replace text within files
getoptsParse positional parameters
grepSearch files for lines that match a given pattern
groupaddAdd a user security group
groupdelDelete a group
groupmodModify a group
groupsPrint group names a user is in
gzipCompress or decompress named files
hashRemember the full pathname of a name argument
headOutput the first part of files
helpDisplay help for a built-in command
historyCommand History
hostnamePrint or set system name
iconvConvert the character set of a file
idPrint user and group id’s
ifConditionally perform a command
ifconfigConfigure a network interface
ifdownStop a network interface
ifupStart a network interface up
importCapture an X server screen and save the image to file
installCopy files and set attributes
jobsList active jobs
joinJoin lines on a common field
killStop a process from running
killallKill processes by name
lessDisplay output one screen at a time
letPerform arithmetic on shell variables
lnCreate a symbolic link to a file
localCreate variables
locateFind files
lognamePrint current login name
logoutExit a login shell
lookDisplay lines beginning with a given string
lpcLine printer control program
lprOff line print
lprintPrint a file
lprintdAbort a print job
lprintqList the print queue
lprmRemove jobs from the print queue
lsList information about files
lsofList open files
makeRecompile a group of programs
manHelp manual
mkdirCreate new folders
mkfifoMake FIFOs (named pipes)
mkisofsCreate an hybrid ISO9660/JOLIET/HFS filesystem
mknodMake block or character special files
mmvMass Move and rename files
moreDisplay output one screen at a time
mountMount a file system
mtoolsManipulate MS-DOS files
mtrNetwork diagnostics (traceroute/ping)
mvMove or rename files or directories
netstatNetworking information
niceSet the priority of a command or job
nlNumber lines and write files
nohupRun a command immune to hangups
notify-sendSend desktop notifications
nslookupQuery Internet name servers interactively
opOperator access
openOpen a file in its default application
passwdModify a user password
pasteMerge lines of files
pathchkCheck file name portability
pingTest a network connection
pkillStop processes from running
popdRestore the previous value of the current directory
prPrepare files for printing
printcapPrinter capability database
printenvPrint environment variables
printfFormat and print data
psProcess status
pushdSave and then change the current directory
pwdPrint Working Directory
quotaDisplay disk usage and limits
quotacheckScan a file system for disk usage
quotactlSet disk quotas
ramram disk device
rcpCopy files between two machines
readRead a line from standard input
readarrayRead from stdin into an array variable
readonlyMark variables/functions as readonly
rebootReboot the system
remsyncSynchronize remote files via email
renameRename files
reniceAlter priority of running processes
returnExit a shell function
revReverse lines of a file
rmRemove files
rmdirRemove folders
rsyncRemote file copy (Synchronize file trees)
scpSecure copy (remote file copy)
screenMultiplex terminal, run remote shells via ssh
sdiffMerge two files interactively
sedStream Editor
selectAccept keyboard input
seqPrint numeric sequences
setManipulate shell variables and functions
sftpSecure File Transfer Program
shiftShift positional parameters
shoptShell Options
shutdownShutdown or restart linux
sleepDelay for a specified time
slocateFind files
sortSort text files
sourceRun commands from a file
splitSplit a file into fixed-size pieces
sshSecure Shell client (remote login program)
straceTrace system calls and signals
suSubstitute user identity
sudoExecute a command as another user
sumPrint a checksum for a file
suspendSuspend execution of this shell
symlinkMake a new name for a file
syncSynchronize data on disk with memory
tailOutput the last part of file
tarTape Archiver
teeRedirect output to multiple files
testEvaluate a conditional expression
timeMeasure Program running time
timesUser and system times
topList processes running on the system
touchChange file timestamps
trTranslate, squeeze, and/or delete characters
tracerouteTrace Route to Host
trapRun a command when a signal is set(bourne)
trueDo nothing, successfully
tsortTopological sort
ttyPrint filename of terminal on stdin
typeDescribe a command
ulimitLimit user resources
umaskUsers file creation mask
umountUnmount a device
unaliasRemove an alias
unamePrint system information
unexpandConvert spaces to tabs
uniqUniquify files
unitsConvert units from one scale to another
unsetRemove variable or function names
unsharUnpack shell archive scripts
untilExecute commands (until error)
uptimeShow uptime
useraddCreate new user account
usermodModify user account
usersList users currently logged in
uudecodeDecode a file created by uuencode
uuencodeEncode a binary file
vVerbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b’)
vdirVerbosely list directory contents (`ls -l -b’)
viText Editor
vmstatReport virtual memory statistics
waitWait for a process to complete
watchExecute/display a program periodically
wcPrint byte, word, and line counts
wgetRetrieve web pages or files via HTTP, HTTPS or FTP
whereisSearch the user’s $path, man pages and source files for a program
whichSearch the user’s $path for a program file
whileExecute commands
whoPrint all usernames currently logged in
whoamiPrint the current user id and name (`id -un’)
writeSend a message to another user
xargsExecute utility, passing constructed argument lists
xdg-openOpen a file or URL in the user’s preferred application
yesPrint a string until interrupted

Download Kali Linux Commands PDF in 2022

Many users want these kali Linux commands in PDF format , so we also create a PDF file you can download on your computer for later offline use. Those are the same commands that are mentioned above.

Download PDF File

From Editor’s Desk

People who just jumped into kali Linux should know about these commands. Because the Linux operating system runs based on commands, you better be ready with these basic and advanced kali Linux commands. You can comment below if you want to know more about Kali Linux.