'cd' option to change to the previous directory

Question

I remember there was a way to execute the cd command, automatically returning to the previous directory (without an explicit cd ...). Is it possible?

Just to be curious, why that vote as "not a real question"? :S Please leave a comment and I'll try to clarify... — Roberto Aloi, Mar 09 '10 at 11:21

score 19 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 09 '10 at 11:11

19

If you just want to go back to the last directory, you can use cd -.

If you need more places to go back to, try pushd <dir> (instead of cd <dir>) and then you can go back with popd.

answered Mar 09 '10 at 11:11

Aaron Digulla

321,842
108
597
820

Accepting. Even if I'm starting a couple of sub-shells in my own script, this sounds as the best alternative. – Roberto Aloi Mar 09 '10 at 11:28

score 4 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 09 '10 at 11:08

4

Found! I can execute it as a sub-shell.

A command list embedded between parentheses runs as a subshell.

SOURCE: http://tldp.org/LDP/abs/html/subshells.html

answered Mar 09 '10 at 11:08

Roberto Aloi

30,570
21
75
112

2

Do note that running it in a subshell means that things like setting environment variables to be used outside won't work. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Mar 09 '10 at 11:16
2

Strictly speaking you don't "return" to the current directory since you never left it in the scope of the parent shell. – sorpigal Mar 09 '10 at 11:17
@Ignacio: Yep, but for what I need is fine. @Sorpigal: Good point. I'm aware of that :) – Roberto Aloi Mar 09 '10 at 11:20

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 09 '10 at 11:10

1

Also, pushd and popd can come in very handy - they represent operations on a stack of directory locations - allowing you to "travel back in time".

answered Mar 09 '10 at 11:10

vstrien

2,547
3
27
47

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited May 11 '21 at 15:36

You can also try the cdargs package. There is a tutorial.

Summary:

yum -y install compat-libstdc++-296
wget http://www.skamphausen.de/downloads/cdargs/cdargs-1.31-1.i386.rpm
rpm -ivh cdargs-1.31-1.i386.rpm
updatedb
source `locate cdargs-bash.sh`
# You can use any method you like for locating this file and running it
# Also, you need to put it in the ~/.bash_profile file to run it every time you log in
echo source `locate cdargs-bash.sh` >> ~/.bash_profile
cdb

Mark a directory and move around:

cd /etc/conf/httpd/ext/
mark apaconf
cd /usr/local/src/
cdb apaconf

See the link for other commands or search the Internet.

'cd' option to change to the previous directory

4 Answers4

Linked